By CASEY LABRACK and ANDRAS GAL
Observer Staff
Feb. 6, 2008

Students and faculty returning to American University in the fall can expect more opportunities to recycle, as well as more responsibility for it.

After the university’s recycling contract runs out in June, the campus will return to a system of self-sorting recycling, a plan expected to save the university money.

Because the recyclable sorting is currently done by a Maryland waste contractor, students are largely unaware and unaccountable for their waste, said Mark Feist, assistant director of facilities management at American University.

Observer photo by CAINE O’REAR
Recyclables and trash go to facilities management before being moved off site.

“Because a contractor does that sorting for us, there’s a disconnect with the AU community and what we’re doing,” said Feist. “Because if you ask most students on campus if AU recycles, they would probably say, ‘No, we don’t recycle.’”

American University switched from self-sorting to its current contractor, Consolidated Waste Industries, in 1998, when the recycling rate was 14 percent of all waste. With the contractor that rate increased to 43 percent, but Feist is optimistic that the campus community can achieve high numbers on its own.

“We think the attitude has changed enough, and recycling has gotten to the forefront where it’s on everybody’s mind,” said Feist.

Other recent initiatives include the on-campus collection of batteries, cell phones, and ink cartridges for recycling, which began three weeks ago in the dormitories, commons, and other public spaces.