Recycling Forum
Over 90 students and staff filled Br. Willie's Pub on Tuesday , Nov. 16th, 2010 to partake in the inaugural Community Sustainability Forum. The goals for this forum were three fold: to inform, answer questions, and get the wider community involved. Trash, recycling, and zero waste were the topics on tap for the inaugural forum.
The community discussion began with three short, student presentations on how recycling works at the respective campuses, where our trash ends up, and zero waste. Out of these presentations came a lively discussion on different options for waste/recycling at CSB and SJU. Most of the discussion revolved around implementing composting, banning plastic water bottles and finding out ways to get more recycling on two campuses.
Following the forum, students signed up for a recycling committee at SJU and are making it their first order of business to implement an outdoor recycling program on campus. CSB also has a recycling committee as a part of their larger sustainability council.
Pick our Brains: Q: and A:
Several questions were asked, and we'll answer them to the best of our ability.
Q: How feasible would it be to get compost bins at SJU?
A: It is possible, but will take a lot of work for any kind of large scale composting pile. There are commercial machines that cost about $70,000. For a pile, someone needs to take the initiative to see the initiative through. We'd love to at the office, but this isn't our first priority. Then we'd need to determine if there would be any runoff from the compost pile and find if it would be too close to a body of water. Right now our compost pile for grass is near the boneyard (on 51) and if expanded would need a review to make sure we don't contaminate the lake and a method to keep animals out. Then we'd have to get funding for bins and a way to promote and educate people on what is compostable. The bins would also have to be approved by the Saint John's design committee. Small scale is possible, the guys at Edelbroch have a bin, and I have a vermiculture bin in my front entryway.
Q: What are the economic ramifications of banning water bottle sales? What do we tell dehydrated families at Johnny/Bennie athletic events?
A: There is a task force set up at CSB that is looking into that very question. Students and staff spend a lot of money on water every year (which brings in revenue), but we also spend money on water coolers and on providing guests with water bottles (which costs us money). FAP is the model group in this case, they provide a reusable bottle to their speakers and performers and have saved money by not providing them with bottled water. The group is deciding on how to address water at special events like football and volleyball games, but we'll make sure no one goes thirsty!
Q: Everyone at the forum cares, how can we make other people care?
Q: Great question- it starts with you. We need to create a culture that promotes a positive behavior. A good example of this is the Link. There is an order that people stand up, walk out, and say thank you to the bus driver. If you follow the protocol, you get called a first-year. I'm not promoting hazing, but social pressure encouraging people to do the right thing creates a culture and it starts with you.
Q: Why is CSB cutting 40% of their recycling staff?
A: I'm not sure. I talked with Larry Christian briefly about this and he said that they cut his maintenance help by 40%. They may help with recycling as well. You'd have to check with CSB.
Q: If the recycling is co-mingled at SJU, what happens to the paper and cardboard that gets wet?
A: The items that get "soiled" which I interpret to mean wet and dirty, it is discarded. Despite that it is still important to recycle as a lot of it is recycled.
Q: Is there a list of what is compostable somewhere?
A: I would refer you to the Zero Waste event on Dec. 5th, as it can be a little complicated. For some commercial operations meat and dairy can be composted, for most compost piles animal products aren't acceptable.
Q: Why does CSB recycle all plastic numbers and SJU only recycles numbers 1-5? What gives?
A: Here is what gives- Larry Schug at CSB has informed me that they will take any number (as long as it doesn't shatter like prescription medicine bottles). Whether they recycle everything they take or not, I'm not sure. At SJU, we hire Waste Management to take our recyclables to Recycle America in Minneapolis, and they accept most of the plastics which are commonly used. Waste Management’s Site