2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Students can help to reduce campus waste
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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11/29/07 - To the Cigar,
As sub-committee members of the University of Rhode Island Waste Minimization Committee, the Recycling Committee would like to inform the URI community of the plans and expectations the university has for reducing its waste.
Our mission is to improve pollution prevention practices at URI by increasing and meeting recycling and universal waste goals, decreasing solid wastes and decreasing both the toxicity and amount of hazardous wastes we generate.
We hope to increase campus participation and awareness of waste minimization goals at URI through campus education, training of faculty, staff and students and management support.
You have probably heard the term "waste minimization," but do you understand the scope of that definition?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines waste minimization as the reduction of wastes at their source, even before they are generated. Sounds good, but how can a community actually reduce its waste?
You may have heard the expression "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle." To produce less waste, practice the Three Rs: reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard; reuse containers and other storage products; and recycle as much as possible, including glass, cans, paper and cardboard. Additionally, repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it. Why not take your own reusable bags to the grocery store?
But what do you do with your batteries? And what about all of those fluorescent light bulbs? Can we order supplies and materials made with the highest possible recycled content, even though their apparent cost is higher than what we are currently paying?
Are we willing to pay more to do the right thing? Can we afford to? Can we afford not to? What about reducing mercury on campus or increasing "Green Chemistry" in labs?
Can we work on ideas about renewable energy such as wind, bio-diesel, water and solar energy?
One of the university's biggest waste streams is food waste. Let's look into composting. And what about networking, listing an unwanted product on Craig's List, or perhaps on The Freecycle Network where re-gifting is the underlying philosophy?
As sub-committee members of the University of Rhode Island Waste Minimization Committee, the Recycling Committee would like to inform the URI community of the plans and expectations the university has for reducing its waste.
Our mission is to improve pollution prevention practices at URI by increasing and meeting recycling and universal waste goals, decreasing solid wastes and decreasing both the toxicity and amount of hazardous wastes we generate.
We hope to increase campus participation and awareness of waste minimization goals at URI through campus education, training of faculty, staff and students and management support.
You have probably heard the term "waste minimization," but do you understand the scope of that definition?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines waste minimization as the reduction of wastes at their source, even before they are generated. Sounds good, but how can a community actually reduce its waste?
You may have heard the expression "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle." To produce less waste, practice the Three Rs: reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard; reuse containers and other storage products; and recycle as much as possible, including glass, cans, paper and cardboard. Additionally, repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it. Why not take your own reusable bags to the grocery store?
But what do you do with your batteries? And what about all of those fluorescent light bulbs? Can we order supplies and materials made with the highest possible recycled content, even though their apparent cost is higher than what we are currently paying?
Are we willing to pay more to do the right thing? Can we afford to? Can we afford not to? What about reducing mercury on campus or increasing "Green Chemistry" in labs?
Can we work on ideas about renewable energy such as wind, bio-diesel, water and solar energy?
One of the university's biggest waste streams is food waste. Let's look into composting. And what about networking, listing an unwanted product on Craig's List, or perhaps on The Freecycle Network where re-gifting is the underlying philosophy?