Collegiate Times

Though Sustainability Week has already passed, it's still important to take a close look at what the Virginia Tech community can be doing to improve the environment. Recycling is one easy way that students can contribute to our planet's future.

Virginia Tech Recycling was established in 1991 thanks to an initiative by faculty, staff and students. VTR now runs a daily collection route for corrugated cardboard and a twice-weekly collection for commingled containers such as glass, aluminium and most plastic bottles.

"My roommate recycles the most, and I throw my bottles in there when I am done with them, but I usually reuse them a couple times first," said freshman, architecture major, Katie Hanley, who lives in West Ambler-Johnston Hall.

"Recycling is just as easy as throwing something away so it's pointless not to, to me. I think more people do need to recycle to make things easier on the environment, and maybe things need to be improved on campus to encourage that. I like how they give you a recycling bin in our rooms, but a lot of people just use it as a trash bin, which is not good," Hanley said.

VTR bins are located outside residence halls on campus. Green and brown containers should be used for trash and maroon containers for recyclable bottles. It is up to the students to sort their own refuse and recyclables.

"There are recycling bins outside, on either side of the building, just a short walk (away)," said freshman animal and poultry sciences major Stefanie Kitchen, who lives in Lee Hall. "I do recycle, because it's an easy way to help the environment. If there were better facilities I would recycle more, because right now they only offer places to put plastics and aluminum. I haven't seen newspapers."

VTR converted the newspaper recycling bins into commingled bottle bins in 2003. Any campus residents wishing to recycle glossy magazines or office paper can talk to their resident advisors or contact VTR.

Another initiative students can take is to join the Tech environmental coalition or volunteer for VTR.

With recycling bins available outside every dorm building, the on campus Tech community has it easy. The many apartment complexes off campus, however, seem to lack the necessary facilities to encourage students to recycle.

Foxridge Apartments has seven recycling bins for its large student population. Convenience is important to people, and more bins would likely lead to more recycling from residents.

"I live in Foxridge, and the only reason I recycle is because my roommates make me. I also recycle aluminum cans because I'm broke, and I like any amount of money I can make," said junior university studies major, Stefanie Cardillo. "I really have no idea where the recycling is. I know recycling is really important, but sometimes I like to pretend it isn't (because) I'm kind of lazy and it's easier to just throw things in the trash. I hate that there isn't a recycling dumpster right next to the trash dumpster. It's like Foxridge doesn't want me to recycle. I would be much more willing to recycle if it was as easy as taking out the trash."

Sarah Barlow, another Foxridge resident and senior animal and poultry sciences major, said she doesn't recycle but probably would if the recycling bins were closer to her apartment.

Sophomore animal and poultry sciences major, Kelsay Johns, said she would recycle if it were less of a hassle.

"I live in Clover Valley Estates. There are only dumpsters in our complex, and I have not seen any kind of recycling designated areas that we can use," Johns said. "The dumpsters are at the end of each block, and on the way in and out of the complex, so they're very easy to access. I feel recycling is important, and I could definitely be a little better about it. If there was a place to recycle within our complex I would definitely use it. It's a pain to drive somewhere separate to recycle especially with gas prices as high as they are," Johns said.

Senior English major, Haily Stansberry, said she feels the same way.

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