by Mark Schaaf
Daily Lobo
Resource conservation manager Linda McCormick has spent more than two years trying to improve the recycling program at UNM.
When students move out of the residence halls in May, they may be able to see her work in action.
McCormick and her staff are trying to cut down on the amount of trash many students throw out when they move, and put it to better use.
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Under McCormick's proposal, discarded furniture would go to Goodwill. Unused food would be sent to local food pantries. Other materials that students would normally throw away would be recycled.
"When students move out of the dorms, they have an awful lot of material they don't want to take home with them," McCormick said. "What we want to do is start a dorm move-out program to capture all that stuff so it doesn't go into the trash and can be recycled for good use."
Large bins for recycling would be put near the residence halls and SRC during a two-week span during and after finals week. She wants to have a recycling truck near the SRC and the Redondo Village area beginning May 8.
But money for the operation is in question, she said.
McCormick made a presentation to the Residence Hall Association in the hopes of getting funding and is looking at other options as well.
"Money is always an issue," she said. "So I just keep talking to people."
Student Joey Dworak said he wonders how seriously students would take the project.
"It's a pretty good idea, but I don't know how receptive students will be to that," he said.
In addition to the move-out project, McCormick said her office has steadily improved recycling on campus for students. She said students have less access to bins than faculty and staff.
The University recycled 639 tons of material last year, McCormick said. Recycling coordinator Dean Jojola said he estimates the University picks up about three tons of recycling per day, with the most coming from the SUB and the bookstore.
McCormick said she has tried to put bins in convenient places for students, such as by the tennis courts near the SRC, which were put up with the help of the city. She is also working toward placing recycling bins near every trash can.
McCormick said some student groups, such as the College Greens, have helped improve recycling.
"They put their time and energy where their mouth is," McCormick said.
Student Will Byrne said he has seen improvements in the recycling program the last few years.
"It's much more convenient," he said. "It was pretty weak, but it seems they're getting better at it."
McCormick said she has tried to advertise and organize recycling on campus, but Dworak said little would affect the way some students recycle.
"Every time the school tries to do something, students don't take advantage," Dworak said. "Some really want it, but some just don't care."
