Recycling available to off-campus students

Most environmentally conscious students would agree that recycling is a win-win situation. Doing it helps the environment and, because it’s free in Bloomington, saves money on trash pickup.

But many students living off campus are not recycling.

“I think it’s kind of hard,” said junior Peter Shayman, who lives in a house off-campus. “The house I lease doesn’t provide us with recycling bins or anything, and I think most other people are in the same boat.”

What most students like Shayman don’t realize is free recycle pick-up is literally a phone call away.

“All they need to do is call here,” said Shelby Walker, City of Bloomington director of sanitation. “If they call here, we’ll deliver the recycle bin to them, along with a brochure that has instructions on what kinds of recycling we take and a refrigerator magnet that gives the exact recycle dates.”

Unfortunately for some students, the process isn’t quite as simple for those living in apartment complexes or houses with five units or more, which are considered apartment complexes by the city.

As of right now, the city of Bloomington does not offer recycle pick-up to these types of residences, Walker said.

But that doesn’t mean students should give up on recycling altogether.

Many students can take their recycling directly to the sanitation garage, 3406 S. Walnut St.

Students in this situation are also encouraged to set up recycling with their landlords or to go to the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District’s Web site at www.mcswmd.org to locate other drop off locations in the county.

Recycling on campus is much simpler and a big focus for the administration.
“This is a huge topic,” said Steve Akers, associate director for environmental operations for Residential Programs and Services.

The RPS recycling system, which was established in 1993 and which Akers re-engineered in 2004, consists of containers on every residence hall floor for commingled glass, plastic, aluminum and mixed paper, as well as containers in every lobby for batteries, toner cartridges and old cell phones.

RPS also has recycling taking place in the dining halls and a compost project starting up at Foster-Gresham and Collins Living-Learning Center, where food waste from the kitchen and dining area will be composted.

Collins started the process last year and Foster began this semester.

Finally, after the Little 500, RPS begins its end of the year collection, where items or non-perishable foods students donate or leave behind are given to local community charities, such as Hoosier Hills Food Bank.

“Last year we had 24 truckloads of items,” Akers said.

While recycling might be a simpler process for students living on campus, those living off campus should know the extra effort it takes to recycle not only saves money on trash disposal but also helps the environment.

Lizz Siegel, a junior living off campus, doesn’t recycle but said that could change. She originally thought the process to be too inconvenient, but after learning about the options that exist for students like her, she changed her mind.

“I probably would recycle,” she said.