Encouraging the Act of Recylcing

Story and Photo by Broadside News Editor Asma Chaudhary

Students and resident advisors met for a small group session at the Recycling Center last Wednesday to sort recyclables as part of a volunteer effort during George Mason University’s Earth Week.

Residential advisor coordinator Laura Anthes discussed how great it was to see students work with each other on a hands-on project.

“I’ve been working with housing’s green group and with Ron Lim to encourage recycling more on campus,” Anthes said. “There is a lot that students are not aware of, specifically with the impact of residences on the environment.”

However, Anthes said that students need more information about recycling and to be more actively involved for the cause.

“It takes the community to come together through education in order to understand the impact that they’re making,” Anthes said. “Ever since I started recycling, I wonder if each item is either a ‘1’ or a ‘2.’”

At the event, there were approximately 14 bins used to separately collect items made from plastic, aluminum cans, glass and paper. The recyclables were in large plastic trash bags, which required pulling and sorting with blue latex gloves for sanitation and safety.

Ryan Rosado, a junior marketing major, discussed his experience sorting various aluminum cans and bottles, which were mostly alcoholic products.

“This is gross,” Rosado said. “I think this [bin is] from a frat house and I wonder now how much frat guys recycle. I felt like I was in an episode of Dirty Jobs, but I still felt good about it.”

Katie Raney, a senior and residential advisor came to the event to represent her dorm and raise awareness.
“A little smelly and gross, but it provides insight of what it takes to recycle,” Raney said.

Abhijeet Suryawanshi, a graduate student in telecommunications, works with recycling and waste management almost on a daily basis to sort trash and recyclables.

“We have to empty the liquids and sometimes you wonder what things you’re getting here that people think they can recycle,” Suryawanshi said. “People don’t care because they [think] we can’t recycle certain bags and items that are wet and contaminated and have trash stuck to them.”

“I’d like to see it continue in order to get enough people who can get down and get dirty for a cause,” Anthes said.

“There needs to be a desire to do it and Ron Lim is working on different initiatives to get students involved and to get more recycling bins for future events.”