Students Present Seminar on University Recycling

Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Susan Pruitt

Environmental Management - (pictured from left) Andrew Raddle, Hunter Williamson, Donna Allison and Steve Walmsley presented a recycling seminar on how effective the University of Arkansas at Monticello recycles. The seminar took place Dec. 1 in the Agriculture Building Auditorium.

   The Economics of Environmental Management class, taught by C. Robert Stark Jr., professor of Agricultural Economics, presented a seminar on recycling Dec. 1 in the Agriculture Building Auditorium.

   Four students, Andrew Raddle, Hunter Williamson, Donna Allison and Steve Walmsley, conducted a survey and gathered information to see how effective the University of Arkansas at Monticello recycles.

   Donna Allison talked about advantages and disadvantages of recycling. She said advantages include: to decrease air pollution, to have a clear campus and to create new jobs. Disadvantages include: little profit, time-consumption and the high cost of recycling.

   “The University’s effort of recycling in 2008 was to recycle cardboard, shredded paper, plastic bags and fluorescent lights,” Allison said.

   Allison said the University recycles about 24,000 pounds of cardboard and 13,000 pounds of paper per year. She said the campus recycled 3,972 fluorescent light bulbs last year because they contained mercury and 40 pounds of batteries.

   “They can take your rechargeable batteries. You just go to the Physical Plant and they will take them, so you don’t have to throw them in the trash,” Allison said.

   Allison said the University recycles 2,000 pounds of yard compost and 1,000 pounds of scrap metal each year. She said the leaves and limbs of yard compost are shredded and put in flower beds and around trees.

   Allison said most of the campus’ recycling bins are located at the Gibson Center, Royer Hall and Weevil Pond.

   Andrew Raddle said the Drew County Sanitation Department picks up curbside recyclables every Wednesday. Recyclables include: shredded paper, cardboard, newspapers, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, tires and electronics.

   “The Drew County Recycling Center has collected 142 tons of waste in 2008 and collect 146 cubic yards of waste per year,” Raddle said.

   Raddle said the total cost saved by recycling equals around $4,860 and the total revenue comes to $11,666. He said the most valuable recyclables include shredded paper, cardboard and newspapers.

   Hunter Williamson said he visited the Monticello Recycling Center where it takes one whole day to press the cardboard into a bale.

   “On average, the aluminum cans sell from 25 to 30 cents per pound. With a bale, they take that to Lake Village where they get a large profit,” Williamson said.

   Williamson said the MRC takes tires to Pine Bluff for shredding. Pine Bluff has the only tire shredder in Southeast Arkansas. He said cities use the shredded tires for playgrounds, flowerbeds and landscaping. He also said the recycling center takes electronic appliances to a prison system in Texarkana where they take out the precious metals.

   Steve Walmsley said the group sent out a survey via e-mail to the Monticello, Crossett and McGehee campuses. Walmsley said 108 people sent the survey back.

    “Fifty-seven percent of participants said they would be totally willing to participate if there was a complete system set in place,” Walmsley said.

   For more information on recycling, please contact the Monticello Recycling Center at 367-4407.

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