CAMPUS RECYCLING

1. CAMPUS RECYCLING Aubrey Eggertsen Heather Hooker

2. Participating Campus Organizations • TUVAC -- Trinity University Voluntary Action Center “Our program provides recycling on campus and is dedicated to creating a stronger bond with the San Antonio community through voluntary clean-up services of public areas (parks, rivers, lakes, etc.) The entire program works with ASR and ENACT to help promote eco-friendly actions and environmental education at Trinity” (TU website). • ENACT– Student run organization that promotes the ideas of sustainable development and ecological wellbeing. • PHYSICAL PLANT– Area of the University that promotes recycling by supporting TUVAC and ENACT initiatives and collecting recyclable items.

3. TUVAC Collects #1 and #2 plastics from campus residential housing and Mabee Dining Hall. • #1 Plastic: Soft drinks, water and beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, and salad dressing containers. • #2 Plastic: Juice, water and milk containers, liquid detergent bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, and cereal box liners.

4. Precautions Bottles must be separated from other garbage: • When trash is found in a recycling container for bottles, the trash is considered “contaminates” and all of the bottles are consequently thrown out. • To prevent this occurrence, physical plant places the recycling containers for bottles furthest from the door, because people tend to throw their trash in the nearest receptacle.

5. Where Does TUVACTake the Bottles? • BFI-ACCO Recycling Center A holding facility that sells recyclable items (i.e. bottles) from Trinity, before they are sent to a separate plant. • What does Trinity get in return? Trinity donates the bottles without making a profit as a voluntary measure to promote reuse of the school’s resources.

6. BFI-ACCO Recycling Center

7. ENACT • Student run organization that promotes the ideas of sustainable development and ecological wellbeing. • ENACT collects paper in all of the academic departments. • All paper is then taken to the sociology department. From here, the paper is turned into recycled notebooks that have cereal box covers. These can be purchased by students on campus in the bookstore.

8. PHYSICAL PLANT • Area of the University that promotes recycling by supporting TUVAC and ENACT initiatives to collect recyclable items. • They Collect the following from dorms and academic buildings: • cans • paper • phone books • ink cartridges (only academic buildings) • Recycled water system, currently through SAWS

9. Cans Cans- • Collected in dispensers throughout campus, found primarily in residence halls and administrative buildings. • Held at the physical plant and taken to Newell Recycling Plant on an as needed basis. Newell pays Trinity for the aluminum by the pound.

10. Paper Paper- • collected twice a week from designated bins in dorms, the post office, and academic buildings. The custodial service takes the paper to the “paper retriever” located either in South or Winn parking lots. • The Abitibi company provides the paper retriever and collects the paper to be recycled.

11. Abitibi Company

12. Recycled Water • During the fall 2000 academic year, San Antonio water systems (SAWS) completed a branch of the recycled water project which allows Trinity University to use Type I recycled water for landscaping, cooling towers, and for fountains on campus. • Type I: Treated waste water from the city, and it is non-potable.

13. SAWS Water Recycling Process SAWS website

14. Purple Pipeline • The current water recycling plan through SAWS delivers 35,000 feet of clean recycled water to commercial and industrial users throughout the city. • The “purple pipeline” is a 64-mile pipeline around the entire city of San Antonio, which delivers recycled water to customers for non-drinking purposes. SAWS website

15. Recycled Water Project • This project started in 1997 with the intent of reducing the use of the Edwards Aquifer; this is where San Antonio acquires all of its water. • The intent of the project was to reduce water demanded on the aquifer by 20%. • The recycled water project is not the only step the University has taken toward water conservation. Restrictions are currently in place that prevent watering established landscape on campus between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. In addition, water conserving shower heads have now been installed in all dorms, and low flow toilets have been installed in public restrooms. (physical plant)

16. University Benefits to Using Recycled Water • Reduces strain on Edwards Aquifer • Sanctions imposed by the city during dry seasons will no longer affect University landscaping. • Although the University had to pay an upfront fee to install the water system, the monthly water costs are reduced using non-potable water for landscaping. • Collaborating with other organizations to set a positive example for San Antonio and beyond.

17. SAWS Stated Benefits Benefits according to SAWS: • protection of public health from waterborne disease • protection of the natural environment and the wildlife that depends on it • protection of downstream water supplies • removal of toxic and hazardous materials that might accumulate in the environment • protection of water sources for recreational use • SAWS website

18. Recycling Centers on Campus • Main locations on Trinity’s Campus: • Residential Housing • Academic Buildings • Dining services • Mabee Dining Hall • Coates

19. Residential Housing • TUVAC picks up bottles • “tear only” cans placed in each room • Garbage is taken by physical plant

20. Academic Buildings • Receptacles found periodically in buildings for bottles and cans. • Paper is collected in department offices, as well as “tear only” cans in some classrooms.

21. Mabee vs. Coates • Coates: • There are no recycling receptacles inside Coates for bottles and cans. • Paper can be recycled through the post office (main source of contamination), however not in the main eating area. • All plastic bags that are unused at the end of each night are cut up and thrown away, rather than reused or recycled. • Mabee: • A cooperative effort by Armark and TUVAC to recycle bottles and cardboard. • Aramark must remove all bottle caps before the bottles can be recycled.

22. Is Recycling Worth It? • Students speak out each year on whether or not organized recycling on campus is worth the time and effort, especially if Trinity is not reimbursed by recycling companies for their donations. • Measured from the semi-annual “face-offs”, students on Trinity’s campus have a wide range of opinions and reasons for their support or objection the toe question, “Is recycling worth it?”

23. “Recycling is Imperative” • At the spring of 1999 face-off , two major views were presented by Trinity students. • The following is in support of recycling: Biology major and sophomore Stephanie Coster stated, “With environmental crises such as global warming, deforestation, pollution and species decline sparking fear and anxiety about the future of life on Earth, I realize that it is hard to see how recycling can make a significant impact in helping the environment. However, recycling is totally worth it because recycling is where the individual can take a stand and make a difference. Recycling saves resources, saves energy, saves the environment, saves money, is good business and, last but certainly not least, it just feels good.” • 1999 face-off article

24. “The Cost Outweighs the Benefit” • The following is a statement against recycling: Junior Economics and Political Science major Neal Fann stated, “Think wisely before assuming costless benefits associated with a perceived good. [Recycling] has a cost which may be greater than its benefit. Take, for example, an instance in which a recycling plant is powered by an oil burning electricity generator. Looking only at the recycling center, we see a pure societal good. Having factored in the power plant, societal costs from air pollution may exceed societal benefit from reduced landfill use.” • 1999 face-off article

25. Education About Conservation Earth Day: • Held to inform students and faculty of the importance of conserving resources and the recycling services on campus. • Environmentalists in the School • Sponsored by ENACT • Teaches about biodiversity and recycling in grades 4-6 to students throughout San Antonio.

26. Recycling at Incarnate Word • Program is called “Recycling Program” • Has had many names and much student involvement, however each of the past programs have failed to be maintained or improved, and the program is now run through the administration. • Students do not have the option to recycle on campus unless they take paper to a receptacle found outside some academic buildings. • Bottles and cans are not recycled anywhere on campus. • Paper can be recycled by faculty, however it is their job to take their own paper out to a receptacle. • The Abitibi company provides the paper retriever and collects the paper to be recycled.

27. Final Thoughts Ways we think TU can improve the recycling system: • Bringing awareness to students about the locations of receptacles and the criteria for their contents. • Add trash cans to the entrances of Coates and recycling receptacles to the eating area.