One semester later, and we still have no recycling program.
At the beginning of the semester, I wrote a blog post about the lack of a recycling program in our Journalism School. I was dismayed by the lack of one, but optimistic that a program would eventually be implemented with a reasonable amount of effort.
My predictions turned out to be wrong. There’s more red tape than expected, and frankly I’m confused by some of it. I’m also disappointed by my inability to bring some change to this situation, but at the same time, I think this is bigger than one person.
Just to recap, our building – a commercial building – is not legally required to recycle glass and metal items, including bottles and cans. However, we are legally required to recycle the following items:
• Corrugated Cardboard (flattened boxes)
• Office Paper
• Magazines, Catalogs, Phone Books
• Newspapers
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)
So first thing is first – we should comply with the law and recycle paper. However, paper recycling is not happening at this school, and we are therefore effectively violating New York City law.
In conversations with Judith Watson, she noted my concerns, but also said that in order to move forward, the Graduate Council must pass a resolution stating the following:
1. Students are concerned about the environment and the need for recycling.
2. The J-school community notices recycling is not taking place at the J-School, and;
3. We urge the J-School and its landlord to adopt a recycling program.
The resolution would then be given to the landlord of our building. This all sounds great, but honestly, I’m not sure why we need a resolution in order to start complying with the law. I think the law takes precedence over a student council resolution.
Is it because the landlord is not complying? When I talked to the landlord of the building, he claimed that the building does paper recycling and he is aware that they are legally required to do so. (Also, if you believe that your building is not complying with paper recycling, the Department of Sanitation has a violation form on their website).
I don’t think it’s the landlord who is the cause of this situation though. Instead I think we are just collectively confused. Nobody knows where to put what, and frankly, that needs to change. We need to start recycling even if we’re not sure that the building does it. Yes, a resolution sounds fine and dandy, but we can start separating our trash without one.
- So here’s what I propose. Let’s start recyling paper, and let’s start in January. Confused about where to put paper? Let’s designate bins in the school that are for paper only. Print the sign below, and start hanging it up around the school above recycling bins. Let’s pick the big recycling bins, and perhaps keep it to one bin per room. Download the poster here: RECYCLE PAPER SIGN
- The Governance Council must pass the resolution. We can also voice our concerns to the landlord before the resolution is passed.
- I suggest that an environmental committee be formed within the school. Basically our goal should be to make sure we have a comprehensive recycling program in place before we graduate. This includes bottle and can recycling, as well as paper recycling. I’ll be happy to start it, and I welcome other concerned students to join. Please email me if you’re interested.
Anyway, with that, I wish all a happy holiday! See you in January…
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Great ideas, Jackie. To add to that list, I think we need to make sure that the maintenance staff have the resources (i.e. separate trash rolling bins) and the “orders” to keep the recyclables separate from the trash. Because currently, at least when I see them at the end of the day, they put items from recycling bins and trash bins together in their rolly cans, which effectively defeats the purpose of separating them in the first place. So the Governance Council and environmental committee could/needs to make sure a copy of the resolution gets to maintenance, too!
December 24th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hey Jackie, so glad you followed up as I have been waiting to see what would result from your first post on this situation.
Your attempts to determine what’s going on and resolve it could easily be mistaken for a Kafka story.
One key thing we will need for this to succeed — and I suspect the building will have to provide — is clear recycling bags for the bins we designate for paper. It’s hard enough to get people to pay attention to signs and symbols on the side of bins. The black trash bags that are now ubiquitous at the school could too easily counteract whatever signage we put up.
I am willing to help you out with whatever we need to do to get a full-blown recycling program going in January.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. Thanks for going the distance on the issue by talking to the landlord, etc. I’m a recycling nut and will try to help you in any way I can (including putting boxes with recycle signs in classrooms and kitchen)