Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism

As I slugged down the remains of my caffeinated soda fix, I did a quick survey around the lobby to find the closest recycling bin. With nothing in sight, I held onto my aluminum can and chalked off the lack of bins to opening orientation day at CUNY Journalism School. Surely recycling containers would eventually make their way to our 3rd and 4th floors once school kicked off and started, right?

Five weeks into the semester, and there are still no recycling containers to be found. Sure, one can find some blue bins with the recycling logo in our classrooms. However, instead of being devoted to one particular recyclable item, these bins often contain a messy mixture of food, wrappers, cans, and paper.

So, where exactly are we supposed to put our bottles, cans and other recyclable goods?

It turns out that measures are being taken to install a recycling program at CUNY J-School.

When I asked why we do not have a recycling program at this school, the collective answer by students and faculty was that our building does not support recycling.

However, according to New York City law, commercial buildings must recycle the following items:

• Corrugated Cardboard (flattened boxes)
• Office Paper
• Magazines, Catalogs, Phone Books
• Newspapers

Our building – a commercial building – is not legally required to recycle glass and metal items, including bottles and cans. However, we have a duty to separate the above listed paper items from our trash, so that they can be collected by the building’s private carter, a company called IESI.

Further information about the recycling laws in regard to commercial buildings can found here:

NYCWasteLe$$: Business Recycling

Recycling: It’s Not A Choice, It’s The Law. A Handbook for NYC Businesses (PDF)

Rules Governing the Recycling of Private Carter-Collected Waste (PDF)

Judith Watson, the Associate Dean for the CUNY School of Journalism, stated in telephone conversation today that the school wishes to have glass and metal recycling in place this academic year. In fact, the Student Council already proposed a resolution to address this particular issue. According to Watson, the resolution is a statement of commitment to implement a comprehensive recycling program that includes metal and glass. It has not yet been voted on.

However, Gerard Studdert, the Director of Building Operations and Maintenance, stated in a telephone conversation yesterday that the building already supports metal and glass recycling if the items are separated from the trash. He said that recyclable items are handled and separated by IESA, our private trash carrier, on their site.

In response, Watson stated that this was not  the building’s policy in previous discussions. Watson also said that trash and recycling baskets would often go into the same bin for removal by our trash hauler.

Studdert could not be reached for a response.

The issue remains unresolved, and there appears to be miscommunication between parties. I am curious as to how trash and recycling is disposed of. If trash and recycling bags are put into the same bin, are they at least closed bags? Or are they opened and then put into one bin?

Recyclable items must be put in clear or blue colored bags. Unfortunately, these type of bags are not being used in our recycling bins. We often use regular trash bags, as shown in the photographs above, thereby making it impossible for a trash carrier to differentiate between recyclable items and trash.

On a positive note, it appears motions are being taken to ensure that bottle and can recycling in our school is a reality. I’ll add updates as the situation progresses.

In the meantime, our community should work to make certain that the blue recycling bins in our classrooms are devoted to paper products only, and that the bags used are not regular trash bags. Let’s hope that we can add metal and glass bins in the near future.