ASMSU is researching ways to revive its involvement in a newspaper recycling program that faded away shortly after it began in 1996.
The undergraduate student government is re-evaluating recycling programs on campus, and assessing whether those programs could be enhanced by offering people more options.
A decision to launch a new pilot program will be made by March 12.
“What I’m looking for is the ways, means and costs,” said Steve Lovelace, Academic Assembly internal vice chairperson. “My report will be the feasibility of that, and whether or not students or staff will run it.”
Academic Assembly partly funded the newspaper recycling pilot program for the 1996-97 academic school year in Wells Hall after MSU’s Office of Recycling and Waste Reduction asked ASMSU to help with program costs.
About $3,000 was allocated by the assembly to buy 48 plastic containers and eight plastic curb carts. In 1997, an additional $1,600 was allocated to further expand the program.
But by fall 1997, ASMSU stopped funding the program.
“It was basically forgotten about by student government,” Lovelace said.
But Lovelace said he would like to see ASMSU model other universities’ student-run recycling programs. No cost estimates for a new program have been calculated.
A program at the University of Iowa recycles paper and plastic in all academic buildings and is working toward collecting from all residence halls.
MSU’s Residence Halls Association started a recycling program six years ago that collects newspapers, pop bottles and plastic from the residence halls.
Michelle Ginther, coordinator for RHA’s recycling program, said if ASMSU started a recycling program, it would help RHA’s program.
“They would definitely help spread the word,” Ginther said. “They have the money and advertising power. That’s what the biggest thing is.”
RHA revamped its recycling program last fall by adding the Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program.
It gets $1 back for every recycled Inkjet cartridge, which helps to strengthen the program.
In January, RHA renewed a contract with Waste Management, a private hauling company, to take the recyclables to a facility about 60 miles away.
But Peter Pasterz, manager of MSU’s Office of Recycling and Waste Reduction, said collecting multiple recyclables is not cost-efficient for the entire university because of the long hauling distances to recycling centers.
Pasterz said there are not enough recyclables collected on campus to account for the long hauling distances.
In the future, Pasterz said he might propose building a recycling facility on campus or nearby, which he estimated would cost at least several hundred thousand dollars.
The office recycles office paper from academic and administrative buildings, cardboard from residence hall kitchens and some materials from university apartments. The office hauls collected recyclables with university vehicles.
“There’s no question in my mind that we could do more and should do more,” Pasterz said. “I would certainly be interested in talking to (ASMSU) about that.”
