Questions arise over recycling program
Campus Times
February 28, 1997
Recycling has become a modern contingency throughout today's society.
Recycling at the University of La Verne was to be one of those concerns,
but, according to concerned students and residents of the University, the
precedence of the matter seems to have been thrown in the trash.
The recycling issue began with the nearly $1,000 purchase of recycling
bins in August 1994 by former Vice President of Administration and Finance
Bruce Baron. He had the bins placed around the campus and dorms for the
installment of the planned program. The program is nonexistent today.
Jeff Boster, director of safety for ULV said, "The bins were installed
for the basic recycling needs of those like aluminum cans, plastics and
glass. There is a definite need for the revamping of that particular program.
Basically someone needs to be appointed responsible for the program because
it was Baron's project and he is no longer present. We are managing other
important efforts of recycling around campus."
According to Brian Worley, director of facilities management, there
is an effort being put into the recycling program.
"There is room to develop further areas of recycling, one of the
big problems is that it takes manpower, time and a commitment that we have
not been able to get on a continuous basis," he said.
According to Boster, housekeeping is currently responsible for the sorting
of the bins throughout the campus and maintenance then takes over the recycling
duties.
Questions arose when students and residents on campus became aware of
the housekeeping crews utilizing the bins for what looked like personal
use, including taking the recyclables home.
Senior chemistry major Dan Ferguson said, "It upsets me to see
that the residents utilize the bins for recycling only to have the maids
take off with the cash. So, I started recycling the items in the bins myself
since I am always making sure to use them. I really feel that someone needs
to be appointed to follow through with the program, if there even is one."
Worley also said, "There are different groups on campus that do
have collection points for certain recyclables. If you look in the Mainiero
Building you'll find that Jay Jones and some of his science staff are reaping
the benefits of recycling there for the science program."
Joann Gonzales, director of housekeeping, said, "We gather the
recyclable and maintenance takes it from there with the actual recycling.
However, at the present time there is no organized recycling program, and
this leads to infestation of ants at the bins, so I informed the housekeeping
crew to recycle the items at their own will."
"As long as there is an organized effort to recycle those bins
we can tell housekeeping to stay away from them, but until there is that
effort, I see no problem with housekeeping recycling the materials that
would be just thrown away unrecycled," said Worley.
Junior business administration major Joel Harworth said, "I think
that it is great that we want to recycle, but we need a responsible party
taking action and carrying out the actual recycling rather than leaving
the recycling to whomever wishes to do so."
Gonzales went on to add, "As far as I know there are no responsible
parties following the program. I know that there used to be a program but
it doesn't exist today to my knowledge."
Efforts to compose a position entirely dedicated to recycling or environmental
procedures has been discussed in the past, although no decision has been
reached.
Worley said, "It is entirely possible to create such a position.
However, one of the issues that stands before us coming to that decision
is an infrastructure problem that needs to be addressed to fully implement
a full-on recycling/environmental position or program, for that matter,
on this campus."
In researching the possibilities for such a position at this campus,
Worley decided to talk with an employee at the University of Redlands who
holds the job responsibilities of recyclables management. He found his discussion
with that employee, payed largely by the profit from the recycled materials,
was far-reaching and demanding in accordance with his salary.
Groups or organizations on campus wishing to pursue the recycling efforts
at ULV can contact Worley at ext. 4340.
President Stephen Morgan was out of town and unavailable for comment
on the issue.