UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 15, Page 6
December 16, 1993
Campus recycling
Pitching in; Campus recycling efforts refined

     Recycling efforts at the University continue to be refined. Roger
Bowman, grounds supervisor and coordinator of the University's recycling
effort, says that some changes in the recycling program on campus have made
it more efficient and effective.
     Instead of outside contractors, student workers who have an interest
in environmental concerns have been hired part-time to collect and deliver
aluminum cans, glass, paper, plastic and cardboard to a Newark vendor. "We
originally worked with the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC),
which has been the most consistent, pro-active student group in recycling,
to get the program started. Student involvement is important, and recycling
is even more cost-effective since we do the collection and delivery
in-house," Bowman said.
     Another improvement is an increase in mini-igloo sites to make
recycling easier and more convenient. Ray street A and C, Thompson, Lane,
College Town, Conover and Smyth residence halls, Lammot du Pont Lab,
Harrington Commons and the personnel offices at the former WSFS building on
Main Street have been equipped as additional recycling locations, according
to Bowman.
     The University now recycles organic matter from landscaping instead of
sending it to the landfill. Branches, clippings and other materials from
healthy trees are chipped and used as mulch across campus. Diseased elms
and other trees are removed from campus and are not included in this
portion of the campus recycling effort.
     The procedure for recycling corrugated cardboard has changed. It
should be flattened and collected by custodians but is no longer bailed.
Instead, it is collected in one truck until five tons are gathered. Then it
is delivered to a vendor.
     Bowman reminded employees that old campus directories and telephone
books can be recycled, and may be given to custodians for disposal.
     During July, August and September, 33 tons of recyclable material were
collected, Bowman said. But as the fall semester got  under way with
students, faculty and staff back on campus and into the swing of recycling,
the amount increased significantly.
     "Our goal is to get everyone to pitch in and recycle and help the
environment. I am available to talk to any office or group in the campus
community about the recycling efforts at the University," Bowman said.
     Commenting on the overall state of recycling on campus, Tom Vacha,
director of plant operations, said, "Recycling is alive and going strong at
the University, but we're always interested in improving the program."
     Vacha added that his office is interested in hearing from employees
who may have ideas to propose or who may find it difficult to comply with
campus-wide procedures that may not fit the individual unit's needs or
circumstances.
     According to Vacha, "Last year, 250 tons of materials were recycled
while 3,000 tons went to the landfill." Cooperation from faculty, staff and
students has been excellent. Custodians and Dining Services workers deserve
special recognition for their role in the recycling process," Vacha added.
     Recycling is not profitable from a dollars and cents point of view, he
said, but the University is committed to recycling because of its
conviction that recycling materials and conservation of resources are
important for a better environment.
     "We hope everyone will join together in this common cause and make
this next year even more successful than last year," Vacha  said.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure