ULV can’t even pick up after itself

editorial cartoon by Christian A. Lopez
editorial cartoon by Christian A. Lopez

“The University champions a philosophy of life that actively supports the health of the planet and its people,” proudly proclaims the University of La Verne Mission Statement.

Yet, the University shamefully does nothing in the name of cutting down on waste by providing a recycling program for its students and employees.

ULV’s inaction is in stark contrast to the actions taken in other cities and schools in the state of California where rigorous recycling efforts began decades ago.

These efforts explain why 70 percent of California households have access to curbside recycling and why the state of California is disposing 10 million less tons of waste than a decade ago. At colleges all over the state recycling is visible all over campus. At the University of California, Los Angeles bins for color and office paper are located just about everywhere.

While the University of La Verne recycles some paper and cardboard, bins are not readily available or noticeable. The University is not alone however. It actually emulates the City of La Verne in irresponsibility. Plain and simple, the City of La Verne does not provide curbside recycling for its apartment residents. Even though La Verne apartment residents should rightfully have the same privileges and accommodations as La Verne residents who live in houses.

Nor does the city mandate or even encourage its apartment complex owners to provide recycling for their residents. The city assumes that people who live in apartments simply do not care about recycling.

The benefits of recycling are clear and have been for years. Recycling contributes in several ways to the health of the planet. By conserving resources, reducing the air and water pollution associated with landfills, reducing the energy required for natural resource extraction and reducing pollutants emitted during manufacturing.

Recycling saves energy throughout the production cycle, which thus reduces global warming. By reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the largest component of greenhouse gas emissions, the Greenhouse Effect is minimized.

Rather than ignorantly feed into the frenzy of waste mismanagement, the University should take steps in establishing a recycling program on campus and in the residence halls.

An institution as large as this one creates a lot of waste that is ending up in California landfills. The solution is as easy as calling Waste Management Inc. who will take care of picking up the waste. The University simply has to dispose of it in the right places.

Aside from this being the right, noble and smart thing to do, students at ULV want a recycling program. It was only last year that a University of La Verne student took on the burden herself of trying to create, organize and implement a recycling program for the entire institution. While her efforts are commendable, this was simply not her job.

As an institution and a business, the University needs to own up, hurry up and take professional responsibility for its own mess. So much paper waste is generated at this institution.

Every ton of recycled office paper saves 17 trees and reduces water usage by 7,000 gallons. Additionally, the recycling business itself has created thousands of California jobs. Many businesses also find that recycling is cost-effective.

Come fall, tuition rates are scheduled to increase, again. Some of this tuition revenue should be made available for a recycling program if for no other reason than that it would give students a definite and visible answer to where their money is going.

While we catch up on our reading for CORE 340, The Sustainable Planet, a mandatory class, which emphasizes environmentalism, the institution’s leaders should put their own words into action and begin the planning process. It’s about time. And it’ll be just in time.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Christian A. Lopez, Staff Writer
Christian A. Lopez

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