Bill revising residence hall recycling program goes before SGA
By Emily Turner
Staff Reporter

House of Student Representatives officials say the Residential Concerns Committee will present a bill tonight to the Student Government Association calling for an addition to the current residence hall recycling program.

The revision would require residence halls to distribute one paper bag for plastics and one for paper products to students when they check in after winter break, said Katrina Shutt, residential concerns chairwoman. Shutt said the program will cost $709 and will be reviewed this week by the finance committee before it is voted on next Tuesday.

Shutt, a sophomore marketing and finance major, said SGA posted signs in halls last month but students have not recycled more.

Although residents would still have to take the bags to larger recycling bins on each residence hall floor, Shutt said she hopes having the bags in their rooms would encourage students to recycle.

“The new program would give students the means to recycle right in front of them,” Shutt said. “7.”

Currently, Shutt said it is difficult for students living in residence halls to recycle. Students rarely take time to sort through their trash and retrieve items that can be reused, she said.

Jennifer Gideon, the Jarvis Hall head resident assistant, said even though the proposed program would help somewhat, students will remain hesitant to carry bags to the larger bins on each floor.

“Even if the bags were in the rooms and students recycled there, as long as the bins are far away, I don’t think anything will change,” said Gideon, a senior social work major.

Some students living on campus disagree with Gideon and said the new program would completely change their outlook on recycling.

Sabrena Gordon, a freshman kinesiology major and Sherley Hall resident, said she has recycled all semester and is relieved to hear that SGA has proposed a resolution to make the process easier. She said the resolution would make residents more aware of the issue.

“My next door neighbor doesn’t recycle because she doesn’t like to sort her trash,” Gordon said. “The new program would really make a difference. If the girls see the bags in their room, they are more likely to recycle right then.”

Shutt said that SGA cannot require residence halls to pass out the bags, but she is plans to talk to resident assistants at upcoming residential hall meetings.

Robert Sulak, director of landscape and coordinator of trash and recycling pick-up on campus, said placing recycling dumpsters near residence halls has failed encourage more recycling.

“We have tried to put recycling dumpsters by dorms,” said Sulak, who supports giving out the recycling bags. “It doesn’t work because students put other trash in them and the dumpsters get contaminated.”

Shutt said she and her committee have brainstormed ideas all semester to encourage recycling.

“My friend has been working on a paper about recycling at TCU,” Shutt said. “Her interest and all the e-mails and feedback I have received from students helped me to realize that something needed to be done.”

Shutt said students need to contribute and help improve the amount of recycling that takes place at the university.

“Our mission is to be responsible leaders in a global community,” Shutt said. “We are helping the environment by recycling and all the residents could make such a big difference.”

Emily Turner