Recycling Project

From Ecologic

Recycling Logo

When you look at this logo, does RPI's current recycling program come to mind? If not, why don't we change it? We boast a lofty "Why Not Change The World?" campaign, so let's put it in action! If you're serious about making a difference on campus and want to work with other people who are serious too, you're in the right place. Help us change the way RPI recycles!

1 Overview
2 Recycling Project

[edit] Overview

[edit] Vision Statement

We need to develop this as a group

We want to get everyone on campus to know about recycling, what they can recycle, and to bring recycling into their daily lives. This is to better the planet, and to cut the impact on our wallets (it's cheaper to recycle!).

[edit] Project Summary

As a collaborative effort by student groups Ecologic, ESW, and the RPI Student Senate, students are taking the lead to change the way RPI recycles. A team of 20+ students is now forming to deal with this outstanding issue. Several individuals were working to improve the recycling situation on campus for quite some time, but they joined efforts and formed this group on Sept 25, 2007 at an Ecologic meeting (see Meeting Minutes for details) with about a dozen students present and interested. The group aims to systematically analyze the current status of recycling on campus, gather data on how much recyclable material goes into the waste stream, how much this costs RPI, and what can be done to change it. The group intends to compile their research into a case study and submit a proposal to the powers that be for review. If plans go accordingly, a new and revised recycling program will be underway by the end of (Fall 2007? Spring 2008?).

[edit] Organizations Involved

The following organizations are working together to advance the Recycling Initiative:

We're always looking for other groups to get involved. We're currently seeing if we can get the College Democrats to join us in supporting this important project. If any other group would like to get involved, contact Frank Tobia, Aaron 'AK' Kendall, or Ben Cohen.

[edit] Contact List

Ecologic President: Frank Tobia
Recycling Coordinator: Steve Davis (RPI Staff)(recycling@rpi.edu)(X2284)
Building & Utility Services: Steve Angle (RPI Staff)
ESW Correspondent: AK (major: NE/EP; year: jr/sr)
Student Senate Correspondent: Ben Cohen

[edit] Recycling Project

[edit] Announcements/News

Help us figure out What's Wrong with Recycling?
We are developing a Recycling Pre-Proposal for discussion with the administration
This page will be the hub of all the activity for this project. Come here to find out who's doing what, when things are happening, share and collaborate ideas, host discussions, make announcements & suggestions, or anything else related to the Recycling Project.
Task Organization is currently in the works - see below for the most updated version
So I (Ben Cohen) would like to do some data collection in the union next week. I will contact Steve Davis and see what times he is available to "teach" us how to to this. Once I set a time with him I will post it here.
Steve Davis and I will be meeting in front of the Union on Tuesday, October 2nd at 1:30 pm to collect data for the union garbages and recycling. If you are interested please contact me (cohenb2@rpi.edu) by Monday, as Steve needs a count so he can bring the correct number of "Hazmat" suits.
I would like to thank David Jendras for helping at the first union waste audit. As a result of the data collected I am currently working on getting a proposal approved by the Union Admisitration to do an "experiment" on the third floor of the Student Union in which the bins at the end of each table are removed and recycling and garbage "stations" set up. This will hopefully happen at the end of October/early November and I will be needing help to take data and observe the changes we have made: before, during and after. I will, hopefully next week 17-21 October, have another waste audit in the Union so that we have better data and averages. I will have Frank send out an email when I determine the time of said audit.
Ben Cohen, August Fietka(Student Senate), and Steve Davis are meeting with ResLife on Monday October 17th at 10:15am (meeting was cancled and we are currently making another) to discuss the recycling program in undergraduate dorms and graduate student housing as well. We would like to see bins provided for individual dorm rooms so that waste is sorted in room and brought to stations for continued stream maintenence. With our extra gained time we are going to write up a proposal for specific bins which could be purchased by the institute to provide as in room bins in the dorms. Currenly only a single receptacle is provided, so how are people expected to recycle in the dorms?
I (BC) have also been recieving data from Steve Davis regarding garbage and recyclable disposal, weight and costs, throughout campus for the past few years. If anyone would like to help me sort throught this to help build a strong case for the proposal please contact me (cohenb2@rpi.edu) and we can start working on this more seriously.
I would like to do another union waste audit this Friday (10-19) at 3pm in the union lobby off 15th street. Please contact me by email or just show up on time.

[edit] Roadmap

Steps:

Prove there's a problem
Talk to people in charge, and get them on board:
- recycling guy (Steve Davis)
- Steve Angle
Put together a report showing why we need to do this

[edit] Public Relations

[edit] Now

I have a press release half written whenever we are ready but I need some more information. The purpose of this release will be to generate some expectation and excitement about this project in the community and throughout RPI -Elly

[edit] Future

Pictures: I would also like a picture to send out, perhaps of people dumpster diving/standing on a dumpster. Do you think the photography club would be interested in taking a picture some night when people are dumpster diving?
We can also Look into Releasing the Research after its done. We can include this information at a Terra Cafe event (and have people sign a petition), we can print out a pamphlet preferably on recycled paper, and put them around RPI, and I can also write up a follow-up press release for the poly, and outside media contacts.
After the project is outlined in a proposal, student petitions would be a big help in getting it approved