Concrete, Wednesday, November 25, 1992
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The first green University? Matt Broersma investigates the reasons for the lack of recycling facilities at UEA and what is being done to rectify th~s problem Everwondered why the university's only recycling collection site lies somewhere out in the uncharted regions behind the Sports Centre? Or why there's only one recycling depot serving the plain anyway? Evernoticed t he masses of newspr int, leaflets and flyers that make their way into the rubbish along with all the recyclable bottles and cansevery week? Or eaten out of a Breakers polystyrene burger container? These are just a few examples of what many consider the university' s environmental carelessness. As the two year anniversary of the first serious Union environmental impact report approaches, UEA is coming under new scrutiny by its students and by the Union, and many feel it's time for new action.
"UEA isn't the first green university," says . Union International Liasons Officer JacquiMackay bluntly The report, optimistically entitled "UEA: The First Green University?" and distributed
to the University Council, among other administrative bodies, in January of 1990, included point-by-point recommendations on how the University could improve its performance in recycling, energy conservation. environmentally responsible cleaning practices, and other areas. In the two years since, what, if anything, has changed?
Only hard work, cunning, and probably a fair amount of luck will bring about any results at all To begin with, there should be no illusions about a golden success. "UEA isn't the first green university," says Union International Liaisons Offi~r Jacqui Mackay bluntly. While a few improvements have been made overall, such as the switch to recycled paper for all Union publicity, and the heat~fficiepcy measures incorporated into the new residences, it may not be a surprise to learn that most of the report' s recommendations have been ignored or put off indefinitely. For example, a suggestion reads, "This would mean... that the Coffee Bar ceased to
PHOTO: Caroline Kiepels use plastic cups for drinks... Against such opposition that 'Breakers' replaced its from the university, motions polystyrene burger containers passed in the Union, like the with cardboard ones." three the Environmental AcAnyone who has eaten at tion Group introduced at last Breakers lately can tell you week's UGM, canbe expected exactly what percentage of 路to have limited effect without cardboard goes into their some other form of support, and the organization of this burger boxes. support will likely fall to the Coinc~~-en~~lly, . ~Aq. Formed ~ the R.a!.~-
"none at all" also represents the numbet of can-recycling bins in the University square and the residences Coincidentally, "noneatalr' also represents the number of can-recycling bins in the university square and the residences. Last year, several such bins were located around the square, but during the summer term problems arose. 'They were really overflowing, and they were full of rotten beer," said Jason Irons, Communications Officer last year. Deciding that such a description should only apply to hung-over students, the Grounds department carted them off, according to the Superintendent of Grounds. 11tisyeareffortstoreplace the bins have met with resistance; a news release, dated November 5th, from Chief Engineer and Buildings Officer Brian Mitchell, states that such measures are now against "the university' s policy".
forestActionGrouplastyear, and rechristened last month, thP- group plan to stage a series of awareness campaigns targeted at recycling, rainforests conservation, Third World debt relief, fair trading and other issues, according to secretary Mark Gordon. But all concerned are aware of the potential for substm:-
tial failure: look at the outcome of the 1990 report. Only harcJ work, cunning, and probably a fair amount of luck will bring about any resuits at all. To hear Mark Gordon talk, the members ofEAG, at least, are ready. "It's really a matter ofpersistence... I think it's certainlyworthaseconde:o."
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