There are a number of recycling bins that are available around campus for people to dispose of recyclable materials. Yet, many of these recycling containers are not used properly.
Instead of putting in the usual aluminum cans, plastic bottles and paper in the blue bins, people are depositing non-recyclable materials such as frozen food trays or containers, waxed cardboard, styrofoam, and biohazardous waste like bodily fluids.
When non-recyclable materials are placed in the designated recycling bins, it causes contamination and renders the contents of the bin unrecyclable.
Although it may seem that the non-recyclable material in these bins are sorted in the separation process, the janitorial staff is ordered to combine non-recyclable waste with recyclable material instead.
“Our custodial arrangement at the moment does not allow for the differentiation and so all waste collected by custodial staff, even that found in the recycle bins, is being disposed of together as trash,” Anne Lundstrom, the Administrative Assistant for Facilities at FRCC stated.
This means that the recycling service is largely unproductive, because sanitation professionals will ultimately end up collecting recycled materials and regular trash together.
“[The] College is working on a response,” noted David Crawford, the Director of Facilities on FRCC’s Westminster Campus.
There are ways that both students and staff can raise awareness of the recycling contamination, even though the work of the custodial staff is out of their control.
“Yes, I think posters, flyers, a dedicated volunteer team – things like that would help to get more recycled on our campus.” Lundstrom said in response to ways Facilities can raise awareness of what goes into the blue bins.
A poster provided by Lundstrom details the materials that are recyclable and the items that are not, which can be found here.
However, he nor the college did not reach back out with said answer.
Photos for this article provided by Dehnal Tena.
