The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: JOSH D. WEISS Many students are unaware of the University's efforts to recycle. Athens-Clarke County and the University will participate in a joint effort during football season to improve recycling bin usage around campus on gamedays.

Four hundred acres - that is the size of the Athens-Clarke County landfill. It's big, but not large enough for the 300 tons of garbage dumped there daily.

At the current rate, the landfill will reach its capacity in ten years, according to the county's solid waste department Web site, www.acc-recycle.org.

With space for trash running out, the University is doing its part to provide recycling services for students, faculty and staff.

Sam Whitmore, a University support services manager, said the recycling program at the University has improved over the past three to four years.

"We have put out around campus ten 40-cubic-yard containers," said Whitmore. "There are three compartments (in each container) one for cans, plastic and glass, one for newspaper and office paper and one for cardboard."

In addition to the large bins, there are also recycling containers in buildings, literature about the recycling program and four trucks that run five days a week transporting recycled goods, said Whitmore.

All of the recyclable materials collected at the University are taken to the county's recycling facility.

"We work real close together," said Whitmore of the ACC recycling facility. "If they don't accept it, we can't take it."

Whitmore said the University also is working with Athens-Clarke County to improve recycling efforts during football season.

Since last year, the county has put out recycling containers for football fans to dispose of bottles and cans.

Despite all the improvements to the recycling options, many students are not aware of the on-campus bins.

Bianca Bryant, a freshman from Decatur, said she rarely recycles.

"I should," said Bryant. "If I pass a recycling bin and have something in my hand, I will."

But Bryant said she doesn't know where the large recycling bins are located.

Greg Cousins, a junior from Tucson, Ariz., also said he doesn't regularly recycle, and doesn't know where bins are located.

"If they were more visible, students would use them more," Cousins said.

Ralphel Smith, the assistant director for resident life, said he thinks students

currently living on campus have shown more interest in recycling than students in past years.

Smith said because about 80 percent of students living in campus housing are freshmen, the attitude toward recycling changes every year.

"I've worked here for 10 years and seen ups and downs. Years ago, students pushed for (recycling) bins, then later on students weren't as interested," said Smith. "Now we're seeing an upswing where more and more students are asking about it."

Meghan McMullen, a freshman from Atlanta, said although she uses the recycling bin on her floor in Brumby, conservation is not important to everyone.

"I see people recycling," said McMullen. "About 40 percent (of girls on her floor) know about it and do it. The rest don't."

Students can learn more about recycling by visiting www.ugarecycles.org.

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