UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 18, Page 8
February 4, 1993
Program success depends on education, cooperation

     One reason the University's recycling program has been so successful
is that it originated with students and has tremendous student support,"
according to Stuart Sharkey, vice president of student life and chairperson
of the Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC).
     The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) has been pro-active
in the area of environmental concerns and helped to originate the program,
he said. SEAC is represented on the committee along with representatives
from the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC), the Resident
Student Association (RSA) and Public Relations Student Society of America
(PRSSA).
     Other committee members represent Dining Services, which has an
ongoing recycling program, and the Office of Housing and Residence Life,
which is actively involved in recycling with igloo receptacles for cans,
glass and paper, and the recently established Ecolympics program to
conserve utilities in residence halls.
     The Environmental Concerns Committee has been charged with educating
the University community about recycling and encouraging lifelong practices
for recycling and conservation, according to Sharkey. There are four
subcommittees to carry out its goals-recycling, education, marketing and,
more recently, studying source reduction.
     ECC began a pilot recycling program in three buildings on the Newark
campus, and based on its success, launched a University-wide recycling
program for paper and aluminum cans in the fall of 1991.
     Employees have deskside containers for collecting recyclable paper,
and soon blue desktop folders will be distributed for recycling high
quality paper, which is highly marketable, Sharkey said.
     In the area of source reduction, ECC urges the University community to
use UpDate and e-mail for announcements and communications. The University
Bookstore has canvas bags on sale to replace plastic throw-aways, as well
as a container for collecting used bookstore bags. Dining Services offers
reusable mugs.
     "Our most important mission is education- enhancing awareness of the
importance of recycling-and cutting down on waste., Sharkey said. "To
orient new employees and to remind others in the University community, SEAC
member Patricia Kennedy is visiting offices across campus to answer
questions and encourage recycling.
     "Recycling and reducing the amount of materials used may take more
time and trouble for students, staff and faculty, but the overall benefits
for the environment make it worthwhile and satisfying," he said.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure