Recycle center boasts improvements

There is enough trash on campus to fill the Hornet stadium four stories high, according to the CSUS recycling center. Judging from a survey taken in the spring, students want to recycle more of that trash.

"Because our students are our customers, we want to give them what they've asked for, which is an expanded recycling service," said University Conservation and Recycling Coordinator Mark Kennedy.

In response to the survey, the center plans to start recycling cardboard at the major dining areas including the University Union, the Dining Commons and the River Front Center.

The center is also bringing 20 new recycling bins for cans, glass and plastic to campus. They will be placed in front of main buildings and in all outdoor eating areas.

To combat paper waste, the center will continue the same plan put into place two years ago, according to Kennedy.4

"On all university campuses, paper and paper products dominate 50 percent of recyclable items thrown away," he said.

Kennedy also said since 1996, paper recycling containers have been increased from 90 to 500 bins.

Associated Students Inc. and the university provide the recycling center's $55,000 budget. The money provides salaries for Kennedy and three student employees.

The center's three-year funding contract terminates this year. Kennedy said he hopes ASI and the University acknowledge the center's progress and renew the contract.

"If the commitment is lost from the university, we will lose our grant money and equipment," he said.

The recycling program was founded 20 years ago by Nancy Ostiguy, a student who later became a professor of environmental science. She has since retired.

"The best thing about this program was that it was student-started," said University Conservation Program Supervisor Dave Shorey. "It needs student support to keep up its momentum so we can be a role-model campus."

The center won the 1998 Waste Wise Program Champion award from the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. CSUS' center was selected out of all U.S. universities for this national honor.

The center, located at the south end of campus near the Community Gardens, will be closed through Oct. 31 due to remodeling. The recycling center office is in the parking garage and will remain open.

More information can be obtained online at www.csus.edu/recycle.