Blue goes green
U of M to receive money for legitimate
By: Beth Spencer
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
The University will soon be more environmentally friendly, thanks to students raising money and concern about the school's inadequate recycling program.
In August, The University approved a $360,000 proposal from the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee. Of that, 220,000 will go to increasing recycling efforts on campus.
It calls for $100,000 to hire a new sustainability programs coordinator and a new employee to pick up recycling. $120,000 will purchase a new recycling vehicle, as well as additional recycling bins and other needed equipment.
Funding comes from the Green Fee, a $10 per semester fee voted for by students in the spring of 2007. The University expects the fee to bring in around $360,000 per year.
"You can certainly say enhancing recycling is the number one priority, as far as where the Green Fee funds go this year," said William Porter, chair of the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee, and Dean of Students.
The money has recently been allocated, and students and staff should expect to see more recycling bins added by next semester, according to David Zettergren, assistant vice president of finance.
Zettegren said the committee chose recycling improvements instead of a long-term project because the project will be visible and take effect sooner so students could see where their money is going.
Students of the Environmental Action Club brought awareness of the issue to the committee.
"The seemingly random-placed recycling bins around campus are not part of any established recycling system," said Benjamin Edwards, a junior biology major who is a member of the EAC. "To my knowledge, there was one person with Physical Plant who was picking up paper recycling around campus, but once again there is no existing recycling plan carried out by Physical Plant or Waste Management across campus."
Improving recycling on campus has been a concern for students for a while.
Erica Christensen, president of EAC, said the organization ran an effective campaign two years ago to implement the campus green fee. Half the fee would be spent on obtaining renewable energy, and the other half would be used for projects such as advancing our recycling program and sustainability developments. Students' voted to raise their tuition by $10 to execute the plan.
In August, The University approved a $360,000 proposal from the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee. Of that, 220,000 will go to increasing recycling efforts on campus.
It calls for $100,000 to hire a new sustainability programs coordinator and a new employee to pick up recycling. $120,000 will purchase a new recycling vehicle, as well as additional recycling bins and other needed equipment.
Funding comes from the Green Fee, a $10 per semester fee voted for by students in the spring of 2007. The University expects the fee to bring in around $360,000 per year.
"You can certainly say enhancing recycling is the number one priority, as far as where the Green Fee funds go this year," said William Porter, chair of the Sustainable Campus Fee Committee, and Dean of Students.
The money has recently been allocated, and students and staff should expect to see more recycling bins added by next semester, according to David Zettergren, assistant vice president of finance.
Zettegren said the committee chose recycling improvements instead of a long-term project because the project will be visible and take effect sooner so students could see where their money is going.
Students of the Environmental Action Club brought awareness of the issue to the committee.
"The seemingly random-placed recycling bins around campus are not part of any established recycling system," said Benjamin Edwards, a junior biology major who is a member of the EAC. "To my knowledge, there was one person with Physical Plant who was picking up paper recycling around campus, but once again there is no existing recycling plan carried out by Physical Plant or Waste Management across campus."
Improving recycling on campus has been a concern for students for a while.
Erica Christensen, president of EAC, said the organization ran an effective campaign two years ago to implement the campus green fee. Half the fee would be spent on obtaining renewable energy, and the other half would be used for projects such as advancing our recycling program and sustainability developments. Students' voted to raise their tuition by $10 to execute the plan.