Written by Samantha Holschbach
Harding continues to revamp its activities to favor the environment, building upon last year’s successful recycling program. The Environmental Stewardship Committee met Tuesday Sept. 22 to review last year’s eco-friendly activity and implement new efforts.
“This committee is more than just a figurehead committee,” Mike James, chairman of the committee, said, which is a group of Harding faculty members, students and associates endeavoring to make Harding “greener.” “This is something that’s going to change the landscape of the school. This will hopefully be the impetus for change everywhere we go.”
Harding’s recycling efforts commenced last year, in which about 154,000 pounds of paper, plastic bottles and metal cans were recycled. Startup costs in supplies, equipment and labor hovered around $48,000, but simultaneously Harding saved $40,000 in Waste Management costs because dumpsters were not filled with nearly as much recycled material.
“We had a tremendous year in our first year of existence,” said Greg Tatera, director of Aramark’s building services. “We are nonstop busy. It’s almost overwhelming.”
Since this fall semester’s start, Harding has diverted 64,000 pounds of material from landfills. That amount is equivalent to the weight of 10 Hummers. To date, 570 recycling containers are spread across campus, most recently in West Married apartments. Plans are in place to expand containers to classrooms.
“Human nature being the way it is, if we can bring recycling to the classroom, we’re going to have a lot of success,” Tatera said. “When that bell rings, [students are] not necessarily going to seek out the nearest bottle/paper recycling container that may be located somewhere else — they need to go to class. We need to get some containers at the door so they can get rid of them there.”
Harding also plans to establish donation bins in the Student Center for Styrofoam packaging peanuts. When students receive packages, they will be able to donate the peanuts, which will be sent to local shipping companies for reuse.
Glass recycling is occurring on a trial basis in four dorms. The glass will remain on campus. Physical Resources will incorporate the glass into concrete as a gravel replacement.
“The glass that students drink from may become part of a sidewalk they walk on,” James said.
Several Harding departments are increasing their recycled paper use. The College of Communication has committed to using only 100 percent recycled paper.
“If offices can get even 30 percent recycled paper, that’s good,” James said.
Tatera is trying to form an agreement with Staples in which all campus departments will be able to purchase recycled paper at a reduced price, as recycled paper is more expensive than non-recycled.
To encourage recycling, pro-recycling messages will be placed on soda machines throughout campus.
Additionally, eco-friendly changes have transpired in food services. Reusable take-out containers will gradually replace the current Styrofoam containers; 1,000 such containers are en route to Harding. Students will be able to use the containers and return them to the cafeteria to be washed. In the meantime, they would be able to use already-clean containers.
Removing the cafeteria trays resulted in a 20 percent reduction in food waste during the 2008-2009 school year. Moreover, all fryer oil produced in the cafeteria and Student Center is being reused as biofuels.
Coffee on campus has also gained a greener look. All coffee is 100 percent Fair Trade certified. If students bring their cup of choice to Java City, they will enjoy a ten percent price reduction.
“We’re not trying to force a cup on you [students],” Tatera said. “We’re going to let you use the cup that you like to use.”
Moreover, organic material is being distributed from Harding to Searcy residents desiring it for compost. The compost may soon benefit the community garden near West Married apartments. HUmanity catalyzed this garden that is poised to grow, according to senior Zach Seagle, who tends it.
“It’s a good way for students to get back to being connected to the earth,” Seagle said.
As green transportation via bicycle expands, the number of bike racks is set to increase too. Currently 60 bike racks are available.
“I’ve never seen so many bikes on campus,” Tatera said. “We did an inventory last Thursday in the rain, and I had one dorm that had room for 33 bikes, and there were 40. They were chained to every post that [their owners] could find.”
Internally, Harding is transforming its maintenance functions. Two pieces of cleaning equipment operate without chemicals or water. Five cleaning chemicals are now green.
Another part of the recycling equation — reuse — is being addressed through donation efforts. Extra furniture and other items are stored as needed in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center. A recent donation of seven chalkboards was sent to the Harding in Zambia program upon request, and 30 desks were sent to El Salvador. Beyond Harding, a podium and desk were transmitted to Liberty Christian School. To date, Harding has 83 surplus items warehoused.
“We have a great opportunity as a university to be a resource for the whole community,” Tatera said.
Finally, Harding’s recycling program and other eco-efforts can only be successful if students and faculty participate. To benefit participants, the committee suggested that a Web site be created that details Harding’s green transformation and advertises surplus items. In the future, dorms may compete against each other to be the most eco-friendly dorm, whether by turning off lights or reducing waste. Additionally, perhaps someday an environmental lecture series will occur on campus. Amid everything, what matters is that Harding continually strives to reduce its carbon footprint, for the environment’s sake and our own sake.
“The more we can reduce, the more we can keep trash out of the waste stream, and the more savings we can have,” Tatera said.
