Editor,
I write in hopes of alerting people to the current state of recycling on campus. Traveling from class to class, it's hard not to notice how few options there are on what to do with garbage.
Although our campus is in most places fairly clean, there's a constant problem of litter around bus stations and newspaper kiosks. And even in those places where litter is much less visible, the only place to put your trash is usually in ordinary garbage cans, assuring that we have no choice but to contribute to the despoiling of our magnificent New Mexico landscape.
In fairness, the situation has been steadily improving over past years thanks to the work of many dedicated individuals. An increasing number of materials on campus can be recycled. This list includes such specialized items as floppy disks, batteries, scrap metals and used motor oils or antifreeze. Also, large-scale recycling containers are soon to be put in place.
But while this may sound impressive, the matter of convenience still trumps all others. The recycling capacities may exist, but they remain exclusively centralized and so are difficult for students juggling many other concerns to use to the full.
It's clear enough that a majority of students support expanded recycling access. Last year, hundreds signed a petition to just that effect, and a week-and-a-half-long trial of small, localized recycling bins in the dorms was a big success. But as a practical matter, when environmental responsibility becomes too burdensome, people will typically draw the line. It's wishful thinking, for example, to expect most students to take time out of their busy lives to carefully save and sort every piece of garbage they produce, so they can then haul it halfway across campus to empty at some central site.
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What is needed is foresight, a little idealism, and most of all, action. With a small investment, it should be possible to offer small recycling bins at strategic points around campus and especially in the dorms. The UNM College Greens are promoting just such a proposal before the student Senate, a proposal which also advocates more use of recycled paper or paper from tree-free pulp. With substantial support and awareness of students, there's a good chance it will succeed.
UNM should present itself as a model and leader for the entire city and even the state. Recycling availability in Albuquerque and New Mexico is not what we could wish it to be, but if the University's leaders show the initiative and further their steps toward making recycling universally and easily available, there's a stronger chance we can bring those wishes toward reality. And that's an encouraging idea.
Olivier Simon
UNM student
