November 14, 2004

Who Recycles?  CU Recycling adding 17 new stations; Hopes to increase recycling and recyclable materials in the future

Recycling may have just gotten a little bit easier on the CU-Boulder campus.

CU Recycling, one of the oldest campus recycling centers in the country, is adding 17 new stations to high traffic campus areas this week in honor of "America Recycles Day" today and to increase recycling convenience and visibility on campus.

CU Recycling Director Jack DeBell said while the campus program and recycling statistics are not bad, other campuses around the country have caught up and surpassed CU's older program.

"CU's program here is being eclipsed by other programs around the country at other colleges," he told the Colorado Daily Friday. "It's something that we're deeply concerned about, but on the bright side, we are ready to go from good to great again."

CU Recycling, which has been on campus since 1976, reports that roughly 40 percent of waste is recycled in academic buildings compared with only approximately 20 percent in the dorms.

But the university isn't the only entity looking to bolster recycling numbers. According to several studies, Colorado has one of the lowest recycling rates in the country, recycling approximately one-tenth the amount of the average state. (Boulder, conversely, has one of the highest city rates) Nationally, container recycling hit its lowest rate in 25 years in 2004, according to the Container Recycling Institute (CDI).

"Access to curbside recycling has tripled over the last 12 years, but residential recycling programs simply can't be expected to target all the beverages being consumed away from home," said CRI research director Jenny Gitlitz in a press release earlier this year. "The recycling picture is getting worse, not better, but it could be turned around."

At CU, DeBell said there are several approaches to increasing recycling in addition to the new stations, which will bring a total of 25 to CU's campus. He said one of CU's goals over the next few years is to expand the types of materials that are collected. He said many other campuses, UNC-Chapel Hill for example, have instated "zero waste" policies by composting and collecting organic materials, cooking oils and grease, something CU plans to do more of in the coming years.

According to a UNC sustainability study, the extra recycling saves that campus $800,000 annually in avoided landfill fees. CU saves approximately $235,000 per year with current recycling policies and could see more savings if collection is increased.

DeBell said CU will also continue to work on lobbying and providing research solutions for policy makers and companies.

National recycling statistics are down, he said, not only because people are "on-the-go," but also because of the recent increase of plastic over aluminum sales in vending machines and grocery stores. DeBell said the national recycling rate for aluminum is triple that of plastic because aluminum is cheaper and easier to recycle than plastic. Some kinds of plastic containers are still not even recyclable at all DeBell said, adding the plastic industry has not devoted the same energy to making recyclable products as the aluminum or paper industries.

"The university is one of our best assets to apply real research in this industry to the state," he said. "Students over the next few years will be working much more closely with off-campus agencies and companies to try and find positive solutions."

CU Celebrates America Recycles Day today through Wednesday on Hellem's Lawn with 3-D recycling displays and information tables from noon to 2 p.m.