Campus recycling in full swing

Plant Services has implemented a comprehensive, campuswide recycling program with the goal of initially recycling 33 percent of WPI's waste material. "The Department of Environmental Quality Engineering's Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations, which went into effect on Dec. 31, 1994, bans all grades of recyclable paper from landfills," says Paul Tarmasewicz, office manager.

The department has targeted specific materials for recycling, including mixed office paper, computer paper, white, colored and window envelopes, newspapers, magazines, telephone books, NCR paper, fax paper, manila envelops, office paper, wrappers, card stock, file folders, and junk mail. Each week, custodians empty the individual recycling containers that have been placed in staff areas into the large collection totes on each floor (arrangements should be made with custodians to pick up cardboard.) A recycling collection compactor for recyclable paper is located at the Fuller Labs loading dock; a second compactor, at the Gordon Library loading dock, is for cardboard. Nonrecyclable materials should be placed only in trash containers.

"One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4,102 kilowatt hours of electricity, 380 gallons of oil and 7,000 gallons of water," says Tarmasewicz. "Remember, this is a campuswide activity that will work to recycle a large part of our waste material. This program depends on a high level of participation from everyone on campus."



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