Spring Break
Recycling progress: existent but slow
A&M hires sustainability coordinator, makes financial, logistical considerations
By: Amanda Grosgebauer
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
After months of not saying anything, Luke Rains had had enough. He was tired of seeing the trash cans at the Student Recreation Center full of plastic, recyclable water bottles. Rains called the Rec several times until he got a response to why there are not recycling bins to handle the large quantities of plastic bottles being used in the facilities.
"The woman I spoke to, while perfectly nice, did not have an answer for me," said Rains, a sophomore general studies major.
Rains recycles from his home with College Station's curbside recycling pick-up.
Recycling is the clearest sign that the University is being environmentally responsible, Rains said. "It is ridiculous that nothing is being done to change this."
What Rains and many other students are not aware of is that there are changes being made to improve recycling throughout campus on many levels, however slowly they seem to be recognized.
TAMU Recycling, a division of the Physical Plant, operates in more than 135 buildings, collecting more than 60 tons of recyclables a month. At the recycling center, the materials - white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum cans and used computer ink cartridges - are processed and packaged for storage and then sold to buyers.
"The recycling center is processing 750 tons of paper products every year," said Nathan Jones, manager for Utilities Operations at the Physical Plant, yet "there is no mandatory requirement for recycling on campus."
Jones said that there are numerous issues inhibiting campuswide recycling, including fire prevention, aesthetics and building space utlitlization.
"The desire to recycle and the ability to recycle are two different issues," Jones said.
The University is taking measures to ensure that the future of Texas A&M includes environmentally sustainable policies and development.
Kelly Wellman was hired in March by the vice president of facilities office to become the first sustainability coordinator for A&M. She will work to develop, coordinate and enhance sustainability efforts of faculty, students and staff and develop implementation plans for the TAMU community.
"The woman I spoke to, while perfectly nice, did not have an answer for me," said Rains, a sophomore general studies major.
Rains recycles from his home with College Station's curbside recycling pick-up.
Recycling is the clearest sign that the University is being environmentally responsible, Rains said. "It is ridiculous that nothing is being done to change this."
What Rains and many other students are not aware of is that there are changes being made to improve recycling throughout campus on many levels, however slowly they seem to be recognized.
TAMU Recycling, a division of the Physical Plant, operates in more than 135 buildings, collecting more than 60 tons of recyclables a month. At the recycling center, the materials - white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum cans and used computer ink cartridges - are processed and packaged for storage and then sold to buyers.
"The recycling center is processing 750 tons of paper products every year," said Nathan Jones, manager for Utilities Operations at the Physical Plant, yet "there is no mandatory requirement for recycling on campus."
Jones said that there are numerous issues inhibiting campuswide recycling, including fire prevention, aesthetics and building space utlitlization.
"The desire to recycle and the ability to recycle are two different issues," Jones said.
The University is taking measures to ensure that the future of Texas A&M includes environmentally sustainable policies and development.
Kelly Wellman was hired in March by the vice president of facilities office to become the first sustainability coordinator for A&M. She will work to develop, coordinate and enhance sustainability efforts of faculty, students and staff and develop implementation plans for the TAMU community.
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