Kaitlin Parks
Lantern Staff
Butler Community College is one of the many colleges in the United States taking efforts to make recycling more of a priority.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over the past few decades, institutes have started to take action for the ever rising, controversial climate change issues. These efforts were initially made by the students at major schools and colleges including Kalamazoo College, Brown University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
“The actions we take now will determine whether or not we will preserve this planet for future generations,” said freshman Karson Youngers.
Currently, every building on the El Dorado campus has some type of recycling bin. This includes cardboard boxes, plastic bins and shelf bins with dividers. The most recycled item at Butler is paper because it has the highest demand throughout campus.
“On average, we go through about 20,000 sheets of paper per month” Manager of Secretarial Center Amy Kerschner said. “Busier months like August, we will use more, but months like December, we will use less paper.”
There are four large recycling bins on the El Dorado campus that are divided up by paper, plastic and aluminum cans. The divided recycling bins are placed in the 1500 building, 6000 building, 1300 building and the 2000 building.
“Each separated bin is located in these buildings because they are the largest buildings on campus and they have the most student traffic flow,” Assistant Director of Facilities Manager Ireland Turner. “We don’t have a set date yet, but the Student Union will be receiving a large divided recycling bin in the near future.”
There are also four recycling dumpsters on campus that are taken to the El Dorado City Recycling Center located at 222 E Locust Ave. The dumpsters are taken there once a week where the recyclables are sorted, compressed and then shipped out to be made into new products.
Many people have yet to make the switch to recycling because they are not aware of the benefits it can cause.
“A few benefits of recycling include conserving natural resources, preventing pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change,” stated by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The U.S. EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. One of the best ways to do this is to take initiative to reduce, reuse and recycle.
In early September, a complaint was made about a recycling bin’s location in the 100 Building. The complaint stated that it didn’t look very presentable in the location that it was placed in.
“Following the complaint, the bin has gone missing, and we have not yet been able to retrieve it but are looking further into the situation,” Turner said.
Butler will continue to make recycling a priority to further the efforts of keeping Butler a green campus, according to Turner.
