Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Features

Cleanin' it up ­- A recycling initiative has begun to take place in one of the buildings on campus that needs it the most, Lovinger. Students can recycle various objects including cell phones, phone books and cans.

Most campus buildings have fliers taped to walls: advertising group meetings, new classes to register for and events happening around campus.

However, Lovinger Building seems to have an abundance of these fliers.

They paper the walls. They're taped to every door, post and window. Most of these fliers are for various psychology classes, ads for experiments to volunteer for and a listing of the Psychology Club T-shirt prices. For $10, a psychology student can proudly wear a shirt that states, "If you're OCD, and you know it, wash your hands!" or "I see crazy people. UCM 2."
However, one flyer stands out above the rest. It's a simple design with green and red lettering, but its message is clear.

"Attention," the flyer states, "Americans throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12-foot-high wall of paper from New York to Los Angeles." The flyer then includes recycling bin locations and a list of recyclable items.

"I think recycling is very important," junior graphic design major Jen Guilford said. "It's good for the environment, and it teaches [students] responsibility. If we don't start taking care of our planet now, it could be too late for future generations."

"The 'hippy' side of me thinks that recycling is very important," junior Lindsey Lukosius said. "But I know I'm also too lazy to do anything about it. If recycling bins were more convenient, I would totally recycle more often."

Convenience is an important word in today's society. Most people look for the most convenient way to do anything easier. Recycling is largely no different.

According to the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, a group that specializes in normal recycling programs as well as ones that recycle tires, cell phones, batteries and appliances, recycling is very important to helping the environment.

Recycling reduces emissions to air and water, saves energy and natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.

Continued...

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