Student researches campus recycling
November 18, 2010
All across the country, and the world at large, people have been actively getting involved and taking the initiative to lower the amount of pollutants put into the atmosphere. One such way these pollutants can be monitored is through recycling items such as paper, aluminum byproducts, plastics, cardboard and glass.
Oklahoma Baptist University has done its share as well in fighting to keep the environment clean. OBU has actively been a faithful recycler of paper, aluminum, cardboard and plastics for over 20 years. According to Larry Walker, the campus service director, OBU began with a few recycling bins placed in both the Geiger Center and Owens Hall.
Today, blue recycling bins for paper products sit in just about every office and many of the buildings, such as Montgomery Hall, the Bailey Business Center, Wood Science Building and even the resident halls house recycling stations for paper and plastics.
“The whole society has to be involved,” said Walker.
He explained how the amount of items recycled would have to be great enough to keep up with the cost in having companies such as Aramark, Xerox and Face Seven come pick up the recycled products from the OBU campus. Campus recycling, like all things, had to be an ongoing process for OBU to take part in it.
“[It did not really catch on] until we got the university administration involved, doing it student led doesn’t work,” said Walker.
Still, some students have found ways to be eco-friendly, “I recycle my cans and take off the little tabs,” said freshman English Education major Erin Lowry.
“In Taylor we have paper and aluminum recycling bins,” said Tiffany Zenner, sophomore Special Education major, “I always take all my stuff up there.”
Not all students participate in this act however, “I used to recycle, but not anymore,” said sophomore Special Education major Ashyln White.
Even so, the resources for recycling are available for all students to take advantage of if they so please.
