At Delaware, recycling is a concern shared by the entire University community, uniting students, faculty, staff and administrators. Last spring, a recycling program was initiated at the University, when a recycling subcommittee of the President's Environmental Concerns Committee was formed, and a pilot recycling project for paper was established at Hullihen, Graham and Newark halls. Students facilitated the pilot program, asking staff in the buildings to separate their trash, putting recyclable paper in a container in offices and other trash in different containers. The program has been successful, according to Tom Vacha, director of plant operations and chairperson of the recycling subcommittee, and the next step will be implementing paper recycling in all academic buildings. In addition, paper from the Computing Center on Wyoming Road, corrugated cardboard from Graham Hall and plastics and Styrofoam from dining facilities are being recycled.
Containers are in place for collecting aluminum cans and green and brown glass.
The program will be monitored to determine its effectiveness and if changes should be made, according to Paisley. Another ongoing recycling project on campus involves the Delaware Solid Waste Authority igloos for collecting glass, aluminum and paper. Groups such as fraternities and sororities collect aluminum cans on campus, Vacha said, sometimes funding their programs with the proceeds. These efforts are coordinated by the Office of Student Affairs, which must approve recycling projects. Some individual offices have begun recycling cans, glass, plastic and paper.