The Crow's Nest

Jerrod Simpson
Contributing Writer

The average American throws away 600 times his adult body weight during his lifetime. That’s a lot of trash.

Over 80 percent of this trash is recyclable or compostable—and probably worth some money. Last year, 36 billion aluminum cans tossed in landfills had a market value of $600 million.

The energy we would save from recycling one can could run a computer for three hours, or a television for two hours, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Why are we burying money and wasting so much energy? A campus survey says that many students feel it’s too inconvenient to recycle on campus, and many of them don’t even know where the recycling bins on campus are located.

One student, Chris Hastings, recognized this problem and formed a band of rangers to take up the cause of redirecting the rubbish. The Recycle Rangers sift through the waste stream, contributing sweaty volunteer hours to the cause of carbon reduction.

Within a year of formation, the Recycle Rangers increased recycled material recovery rates on campus up to 33 percent, saving an estimated $2,000 a year.  They hope to double that, but with a zero-dollar budget for recycling on campus, expanding the operation may be a bit of a pipe dream. Some deans oppose the idea of adding more bins to increase convenience, according to Hastings.

“They only allow a certain number of bins per building and we are at max capacity already,” he said.

The bins were removed from the dorms previously because students were throwing too much trash in them. Trash can contaminate an entire bin of recycled materials.

“I don’t understand why people go against their own self-interests,” said Karyn Kaplin, recycling program director for University of Oregon.

Kaplin and a few other student volunteers started the recycling program at UO 22 years ago. Today, she manages a budget of over $700,000. The UO student government provides nearly half their budget.

She also has contracts with on-campus soft drink vendors who pay monthly fees for recycling services. The National Recycling Coalition provided a tool-kit to instruct them on how to obtain these contracts.

UO’s recycling program has saved the school hundreds of thousands of dollars since its inception, and has provided students with learning opportunities through workshops, classes, internships, and other professional opportunities. Currently they have six full-time employees and 45 part-time student employees.

With new composting campaigns coming to campus, Kaplin hopes to see recovery rates go into the 80th percentile, putting UO even closer to a zero garbage institution.

“It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point and it could still be a lot better,” Kaplin said.

At USF St. Petersburg, the Recycle Rangers remain optimistic, and plan to provide every dorm with its own bin. They also want a bin next to every trashcan.

“Right now, we’re seeing the 95-gallon bins on each floor filled up to the very brim. The students are recycling a lot,” Hastings said. “It needs to be just as convenient as throwing something away.”

It’s estimated that the new campaign will almost double recovery rates pushing USF St. Petersburg closer to 50 percent. With the help of Waste Services, Inc., a private company that volunteered to pick up the materials for free, the goal is set for 70 percent. WSI profits from these materials and donates the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House.

“We haven’t had to increase the amount of dumpsters on campus because of the recycling program,” said Kevin Cortmill, custodial superintendent.

Cortmill understands the limits of operating without a budget, but also recognizes that the program needs physical support more so than fiscal.

“Without the effort of the students, we would not have gotten this far no matter how much money you throw at it,” he said.