Students Combat Environmental Waste

By Carly Aulicky

An environmental movement is underway.

Renewed interest in environmental issues has led to the resurrection of the Environmental Club after several semesters of inactivity. Renamed R.E.A.L., Raritan Environment Action League, the club has ambitious goals for this semester.

One goal is to increase the amount of recycling bins throughout campus and to have bins put in classrooms. More bins will make it easier to properly dispose of recyclable materials. If need be, R.E.A.L. plans to raise money for more recycling bins.

“People still tend to throw things on the ground or use the improper container,” said John Trojan, VP of Finance and Facilities. Lack of compliance, according to Trojan, is why there are no recycling bins in classrooms.

The school is unwilling to have both recycling and trash containers in classrooms because it is too expensive to have bins emptied.

“If people know there are recycling containers in the hallway, why can’t they throw it out in the hall? Why do they need instant gratification in the classroom,” said Trojan.

R.E.A.L.’s recycling project also includes having existing bins more clearly marked. Many do not recycle because they do not know what the bins are for. 

According to Trojan, the problem is not that bins are not clearly marked. Bins are distinctly marked by a blue bottom, green top, and a round hole for bottles. The problem with recycling is that students do not use the bins.

R.E.A.L. also intends to have paper recycling bins put in classrooms. The only known paper recycling by the club was in the math lab. The only known bin was a singular, unmarked box in the Science Building. According to club advisor Professor Jay Kelly, most people do not even know there is a paper recycling bin in the building and if they do, they often have trouble locating it after it has been emptied.

According to Trojan, paper recycling bins are not put in classrooms for fear of people using them as trash disposals. “We could do a better job of recycling paper,” Trojan said.

Another R.E.A.L. project is finding an environmentally friendly alternative to the un-biodegradable Styrofoam trays used by the Cafeteria.

According to Trojan, until something cheaper becomes available, Styrofoam will continue to be used. Any environmentally friendly alternative, such as dishes, would result in cost increase.

To combat the waste, R.E.A.L. is collecting used trays in containers. The trays are hand washed by club members to be reused, said Lindsay Troyer, a club leader.

This year’s theme is the environment, and students and faculty can do a few simple things to get involved. Shut off unused lights or computers when they are not in use. Put recyclable products in the correct container and Styrofoam trays in one of R.E.A.L.’s bins so it can be reused. Use automatic door openers only if it is necessary. By doing these simple things, everyone can take part.

“It’s easier to live green then what it seems,” said Prof. Kelly.

In addition to environmental projects, R.E.A.L. advents planned include: a pot-luck movie night every third Thursday of the month and an Eco-friendly fashion show for Earth Day, April 22^nd.  The next is movie night scheduled for March 6^th, with a focus on water issues. For more information, contact club representative Lindsay Troyer at ltro7998@mail.raritanval.edu or club advisor Prof. Jay Kelly at jkelly@raritanval.edu.