Recycling programs are only successful when there is a complete mindset shift among all those involved. People need to buy into it at every level, starting with the administrative level down to those collecting the recyclables and then to the consumers who toss their bottles and cans in the recycle bin. This shift begins at the top, and it seems those in charge of University Residence Halls and Apartments' waste management program are not doing enough to make UB's recycling program a success, implying students should be responsible for the fact that many recyclables get thrown out with the trash. The program can't work if students don't do their jobs. But it starts at the top. The residence hall administration should do a better job of telling students that recycling is expected of them, and a better job of showing them how to do it.
Recycling in the residence halls started in earnest about three years ago because students saw that the immense amount of garbage produced by over 5,500 dorm residents could be reduced by recycling, and URH&A hired students to collect recyclables and take them to where they were picked up. Unfortunately those students have since graduated and URH&A has not hired more, leaving the residence halls' recycling program as erratic at best. Instead of either recruiting students or utilizing the custodial staff to maintain the program, URH&A has let the program fall by the wayside. The state requires UB to recycle 50 percent of its garbage, but UB recycles only 35 percent, at best.
Recycling is no longer a novelty. Many students are used to separating their paper and plastic at home. The difficulty is there is no consistency with the recycling program in the dorms. Some buildings require students to keep recycle bins in their rooms, while others do not have enough bins for residents who want them. Bins are also not as visible as other campus locations - while there are obvious bins in all lounges, many floors no longer have lounges or kitchens and bins are located in low traffic stairwells.
Unfortunately many students, and even Resident Advisors, do not know where these bins are, as there is no mark on the door indicating the "recycling center." This location also leads to the bins being missed on pick up days, and often overflowing with recyclables.
The presence of recycle bins is not the real problem. URH&A should step up the recycling campaign and encourage students to make use of these bins, maybe by having recycling become a part of the dorm orientation RAs give their residents. This activism will not only help keep the environment clean, but also help keep the dorms clean and makes the job easier on custodians, who can hardly be expected to take a recycling bin full of garbage down to the dock.
Many students claim custodians and management are not holding up their end of the bargain by ensuring the recyclables get to their pickup point, a fact many custodians confirm. Residence hall custodians complain they are understaffed and unable to sort and deposit recyclables because they just do not have time to ensure recyclables make it to their pickup point. They also say management never addresses the issue in meetings. This excuse is a cop-out on the part of both custodians and management. Granted students sometimes throw non-recyclables in these bins, but proper signage and notification from an URH&A indicating what can and cannot go in the bins can go a long way in alleviating that problem.
Recycling is a relatively inexpensive service that does a lot for the environment. URH&A spends about $600 a month for recycling, but this low cost becomes wasteful if it is not properly taken advantage of. While the efforts of the UB Environmental Task Force have made progress in the past, changes in the residence halls have lagged behind the rest of campus. In order for a large-scale change in recycling to occur, a change in mindset needs to start at the top.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
