The Facts:Both the RBC Center and Reynolds Coliseum need an effective recycling program that will dispose of the potentially reusable materials generated by student fans.
Our Opinion:Waste Reduction and Recycling’s WE Recycle program has proven its effectiveness for Carter-Finley and should be expanded.
The WE Recycle program has been a big success during football games at Carter-Finley Stadium. The program, which is led by Waste Reduction and Recycling, has collected and recycled more than 200,000 pounds of recyclables since the program’s inception in 2003. The program needs to be expanded to the RBC Center and Reynolds Coliseum, but Waste Reduction and Recycling claims budget cuts prevent the expansion from happening. The Office of Sustainability, which is responsible for Waste Reduction and Recycling, operates on two separate budgets: an operations and a capital budget. The office’s inability to transfer funds from one budget to another is what limits some of the possible expansion programs like WE Recycle, despite their proven effectiveness.WE Recycle has been cost effective for the operating budget, but saved money cannot be carried over to the capital budget to create new programs, which would not only beautify our campus, but improve campus finances.The RBC Center has a recycling program, but it was only installed in 2007 and doesn’t address the trash brought about by tailgating. WE Recycle has been around longer and has proven to be an effective program. Its expansion to the RBC Center would be positive for all parties, including the Office of Sustainability, the RBC Center and Wolfpack fans. The strategies WE Recycle uses to promote recycling are part of what makes the program so successful and ripe for expansion. The main reason for success is that it makes recycling very accessible to students while tailgating. Having a truck coming by to collect your cans is much easier than disposing of them yourself. Also, employing student volunteers to collect cans and bottles is a great way for students to give back to the campus community. The Office of Sustainability’s funding structure prevents the WE Recycle program from expanding and needs addressing. It is time for our successful recycling program to expand, not only for students’ benefits, but for the environment’s as well.
