By Dan Hager and Schuyler Daugherty Hypothesis: Recycling Among Students is greater within Lennon when compared to the library (or so we thought) By Dan Hager and Schuyler Daugherty SUNY College at Brockport Statement: “Our future depends upon recycling. All students are strongly encouraged to participate in our recycling program. Each room/suite is provided with bins for recycling. Details are available from your resident director (brockport.edu).”

National Facts “Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000 curbside programs had sprouted up across the nation. As of 2005, about 500 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials (epa.gov).” 50 percent of all paper is now recovered for recycling (epa.gov)

Campus Recycling Trends (brockport.edu) 2003-2004 226.4 tons recycled 45.28% of waste was recycled 2004-2005 204.7 tons recycled 40.94% of waste was recycled 2005-2006 207.8 tons recycled 41.56 % of waste was recycled

Monroe County Trends (monroecounty.gov) Homes: Optional recycling Metal cans, empty aerosol cans, plastic (1/2), glass, gable top cartons and drink boxes. Business/Institutions: Includes school districts and colleges Are required to recycle office paper and corrugated cardboard. Restaurants (including bus./inst. with cafeterias): Following containers required: metal food and beverage cans, plastic bottles and jars, glass bottles and jars and gable top cartons.

Methods Compare the amount placed in recycling vs. trash bin Used a single island in the Library Vs. the Lennon Computer Lab Recycling bin near printer vs. trash bin Placement of bins next to each other Simultaneously survey: one person in the Library a second in Lennon Peak time of day.

Methods Cont. At 10:30 on Friday 4:20 Observed student recycling trends for one hour At both sites: Trash can placed closer to the printer than recycling bin Only inches apart Normally the bins are separated

Results Lennon Library trash recycle Paper 5 bottle other (non)   trash recycle Paper 5 bottle other (non) other (recy) about 12 ppl Library   trash recycle paper 8 food container 3 coffee cup 2 about 14 ppl

Results Cont. Lennon Library 100% of the recyclable items were placed in the trash. Library 100% of recyclable items were placed in the recycling bin

Conclusion Hypothesis was proven incorrect Further Testing Possibly due to the placement of the trash bin Function of convenience -> Indicates laziness Lack of observance to which receptacle was being used Lack of education Further Testing Larger population Time: Different/Longer Locations of bins (laziness theory)

Implications of Results Direct Environmental Effects More waste in landfills Cost effectiveness (buying more paper) Indirect Effects Loss habitat Deforestation Increase fuel consumption Pollution from processing plants/factories

Ways to Increase Recycling Location of bins One bin/trash can High traffic areas/use areas Education Importance of recycling What can be recycled in Monroe County Government Encouragement (Miller, 265) Increase subsidies and taxbreaks recycled materials. Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for manufactured items that are made from raw material.

Work Cited http://www.brockport.edu/publications/yrtk/html/oncampus.html http://www.brockport.edu/facilities/policies/recycle.htm http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/recycle.htm#Figures http://www.monroecounty.gov/des-residentialrecycling.php Miller, G. Tyler. Sustaining the Earth. Brooks/Cole. Pacific Grove, CA. 2005.