New steps taken in the effort to recycle

By Melissa M.L. Walker

Ass't News Editor

A new recycling program has been implemented in the resident halls as a result of hard working, environmentally aware students and the Department of Housing and Resident Life. The recycling program gives each resident room a blue recycle container to make recycling easier for on-campus students.

The idea for the student recycling bins originated last year from two Santa Clara students, sophomore Lauren Dake and alumnus Adam Lowry.

"I come from a family where we recycle a lot, and I am from a state where recycling is really big," Dake said. "When I came here, I was really surprised with how much was being wasted."Dake shared her concern with Lowry, and the two of them began to devise a plan of action."We questioned why there weren't any programs for recycling in the resident halls," Dake said.Dake and Lowry met with some opposition since the university had implemented resident hall recycling programs in the past that received mixed results.

"In the past, we have had recycling programs in the halls which have been coordinated by either the residence assistants or Inter Hall Council," Director of Housing and Residence Life Linda Franke said." Some years the program worked great, other years it was haphazard."

According to Franke, one of the major problems with the resident hall recycle bins was the fact that bins were overflowing during certain times of the year.

"Imagine how attractive one hundred surgery cans look to ants," Franke said.

Dake and Lowry worked hard throughout the year, constantly communicating with the Department of Housing and Residence Life, which they eventually presented a proposal to.The proposal and a manufacturer for the bins were accepted and Housing decided to give recycling in residence halls another try.

"Housing and Residence Life spent almost $3,500 on purchasing the containers for each room," Franke said.

Although students must take the recycle bins to the dumpsters themselves, they won't have to sort through their garbage cans in order to recycle.

Hingle hopes that students are kind in their efforts to recycle.

"Don't dump all recyclables in one container, otherwise it will slow us down," Hingle said.He is pleased with the new bins though and encourages the students to use them.

"I think it will be helpful for the people that use them," Hingle said. "As they grab their waste basket they can grab their recycle basket too."

Most students seem to appreciate the new bins, and think the program is a good idea for the dorms.

"I think they really encourage students to recycle," sophomore Cindy Hoffman said. "I did not recycle until I received my bin."

This kind of change is what Dake looks forward to - a change that she hopes more students will make.

"Recycling is something good that's easy to do," Dake said. "It seems pointless not to do it when it is so easy and can make such a difference."

Despite the uncertain response, Dake and Lowry were adamant about their idea. They decided to push forward and continue the long process of implementing a new program into the dorms. Many people helped with the process along the way. Environmental studies students made a Web site with background information on recycling and Santa Clara University Waste Removal.

Recycling Specialist Lucky Hingle advised the students what type of bins would work best. "I gathered some information on different manufacturers, but I pretty much let them do it," Hingle said.