Recycling at Fletcher:
Are You Doing Your Bit?

by Malini Goel, MALD '03, Ioli Cristopoulou, MALD '03 and EEF

What is this gray bin for? Is this a trash bin or a recycling bin? 

Is this bin for trash, commingled containers, or paper? What is this label for? What are the new brown bins for? Perhaps we can provide some answers…

Recycling and energy efficiency at Fletcher are the result of a coordinated effort among members of the Fletcher and Tufts communities.  In response to student confusion over the recycling procedures at Fletcher, members of the Energy and Environment Forum undertook a study to explain the recycling at Fletcher and how it can be improved.  The results have been a bit disappointing, but leave room for optimism that the system can become more efficient, with the help of the faculty, staff and the student body.

Pat Jacobs, coordinator of Recycling at Tufts University, explained to the Energy and Environment Forum that during the past 6 years, Tufts has initiated a recycling project that aims at getting paper and commingled containers out of the waste stream and into the recycling stream. This past summer, Dean Sheehan’s office spent $8,000 on new recycling containers (the ones that just arrived at Fletcher and were placed in the perceived flow of student traffic near the Hall of Flags), which were the product of years of efforts by the student council.

Currently, the University recycles nearly twelve to fifteen tons per week of mixed paper and commingled containers.  According to Pat Jacobs, all Tufts University faculty members and staff offices have desk-side paper recycling bins.  There also “should be containers for papers and containers for commingled containers in the common areas and near the vending machines,” according to Jacobs.  The dorms are supposed to have functional bottle, trash and paper containers on every floor. 

It seems that the system goes most array in the academic buildings.   Students think the recycling system at Fletcher is inefficient and in some cases, not even operational.  The bins throughout Cabot and Mugar are inadequately labeled.  Students throw recyclable items and trash into the same bins, especially during guest lectures.  The result is that everything gets contaminated. Another problem occurs when dumpsters are not locked and people throw garbage into the recycling dumpsters, added Ramos.

Sadly, new bins alone will not keep cans, paper and other recyclable goods out of the Fletcher waste stream.  It’s a question of ethics, said Jacobs.  “Faculty and staff do a much better job of recycling.   But some students just have poor recycling ethics,” he said.

Although it seems that faculty might be doing a better job than students, recycling is made more readily available to them.  It is less difficult to misfire into a desk-side container than into a sea of gray bins throughout the buildings.  One Fletcher student, who has seen how effective Harvard’s recycling program has been, commented that recycling containers should be kept in prominent places, should be clearly marked, and should be next to every trash container in the building so that people have a choice where to throw their and their recyclables, wherever they are.

The question then is: Should the recycling system cater to busy students who are up to their ears in midterms by designing a clear, user-friendly system with signs and bins telling us where and what to recycle? Or should the students be “ethical” and “smart” enough to understand the importance of the recycling system and go out and proactively find the bins?   Probably a bit of both.  “I expect people to call me if there is a recycling problem,” says Jacobs.  “Recycling at Tufts is a voluntary effort,” he added. “How do I know what is being recycled?” he asked.

Though there is no official ‘monitoring system,’ some progress is being made.  According to Jacobs, 671.4 tons of paper and 97 tons of bottles and cans are recycled annually at Tufts.  Still, the University cannot neglect the statistic that it recycles 40% of trash, below the state goal of 43%-47% by 2005.  A member of the Tufts Climate Initiative estimated that that number would be far less, if yard waste was eliminated from that figure.  Tufts and especially Fletcher, has the opportunity to make a 60% improvement.

Where does our trash go anyway? 

So where does that can goes after you’ve slurped up the sugary Coca-Cola manufactured contents and throw it away?  Recyclable materials go from: 1) our hands to 2) the appropriate containers (you determine the fate of the can here- whether it will go to a landfill or recycling plant) to 3) One Source handling to 4) the dumpsters outside to 5) Conigliaro Co., which picks up the recycled material each week to 6) recycling plants.  If we throw recyclables into the right containers, they should get to the right place, rather than a landfill.

According to Dale Tunstell, Project Manager at One Source, One Source is responsible for solid waste management at 105 of the 180 buildings on the Tufts campus

The Tufts custodial staff at Tufts has recycling training 3 times a year. “They tell you what and what not to recycle,” said Elba Ramos, adding that pizza boxes, for example, cannot be recycled.Ramos, who cleans the bins out at Blakeley says that students are responsive and responsible but that the only area where recycling is lacking is the kitchen.  If a bin is provided and if students rinse out their cans and bottles, Ramos thinks that recycling can work there.

One could argue that contamination is a consequence that stems lack of education and information, logistical setup, inadequate bins and labeling and other problems.  Students do not know where to throw things.  “I did not even notice the new containers until they were pointed out,” said one student.           

Trios is another place where recycling could become more effective.  Paper plates and cups currently constitute a significant amount of unnecessary waste.  Students should be aware that Trios has a policy in place where students and faculty can request "real" (ceramic) plates for all in-house dining, except for the salad bar (since the salads must be weighed).  Ed Pinkum, Manager at Trios, said that if enough people start asking for real plates, he will be more than happy to accommodate requests. He added that this would also help cut costs, as less paper plates would be used.  Students should also be aware that if they bring their own cups to the cafeteria, they can get a small discount on coffee and tea.

The morning coffee service is also an area where waste could be reduced.  The paper cups that are provided are not recyclable but often get thrown into the recycling bins, contaminating the system.  The Energy and Environment Forum urges all students to bring their own re-usable mugs to school and use them until a better solution can be found.   Recycling of batteries, which constitute hazardous waste, can also be recycled at Tufts, however, so far, the response to this effort has been minimal.  Resident Advisors and faculty are given padded envelopes at the beginning of the year to send their dead batteries to Tufts Recycles via campus mail.  Faculty is instructed to put their return address on the envelope so that the envelope can be returned and reused for the next battery. So far, throughout this semester, zero batteries have been returned to Tufts Recycles.

Initiatives

Despite Dean Sheehan’s Office $8000 purchase of the new recycling containers, the annual University-wide recycling budget is only $50,000 – the equivalent of 2 student tuitions. According to Pat Jacobs, $40,000 of this goes towards handling fees.  That leaves only $10,000 for containers, education, campaigns, and awareness. While the University clearly needs to give more importance to recycling, so do students.  Although the amount of university money spent on recycling is minimal, Pat Jacobs is willing to fund recycling efforts and awareness campaigns at Fletcher.  “It is a community effort,” said Jacobs.

Creative reducing, re-using and recycling is also great way to prevent waste.   Reusing post-printer paper (with minimal print) in the computer lab is one way to save paper waste.  Jeff Gradner, the library Director, is willing to work with students to devise ways to prevent paper waste in the library.  Still other students, like Aurelie Boukobza, use the small black plastic plates from Trios as plant holders, or the Fletcher logo plastic cups as pencil holders. 

Some students have asked whether or not these plastic plates and glasses that we use at guest lectures and receptions can be recycled. These items are recyclable, provided they are not contaminated with excess food and drink. 

It is being investigated as to whether the commingled containers in Cabot can accept these plastics for recycling.  You will be informed! Also, better labeling and placement of containers are underway!

For more information see http://www.tufts.edu/tuftsrecycles/