Rome’s recycling raises the bar

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Governmental regulations in Due Santi ensure that the University of Dallas’ Rome campus recycles effectively. But here at the Irving campus, recycling is almost non-existent. Even when it does exist, it is limited to certain materials, instructions are unclear and bins are scarce. 

Why is there such a large difference? Quite simply, these differences originate in the different governments of Marino and Irving.

At the Due Santi campus, the local government mandates that UD participate in recycling services so that there is less needless waste in landfills across Italy. Since the government suspends waste disposal services when the school recycles incorrectly, the Due Santi students, faculty and staff are incentivized to recycle properly. 

This process, which is required by governmental regulations, promotes recycling at Due Santi. Although it is challenging to educate a new set of students about proper recycling procedures each semester, Dr. Peter Hatlie, the dean of the Due Santi campus, continues to do so with energy and vigor with every incoming class.

Because of the government’s mandate to recycle, the Due Santi campus has more resources devoted to making sure recycling goes smoothly. Alternatively, UD’s Irving campus is not required to recycle, and therefore does not have any public recycling services due to issues with funding.

At the Irving campus, UD must pay a private company to provide recycling services, and this initial payment is usually accompanied by additional payments: fines. When recycling is done incorrectly, the school is fined, usually beyond the budget’s resources. In the past, these fines have caused recycling to be suspended rather than fixed.

While these fines have the ability to push people towards recycling correctly, they tend to decentivize recycling altogether. On March 16, UD signed a contract with Balcones recycling company to restore recycling services to our Irving campus. Once we are provided with these resources, let us utilize them correctly and follow appropriate guidelines. 

To match Due Santi’s breadth and depth of efforts in recycling more effectively, we in Irving must elect university and governmental officials who care more about environmental problems. We must let our administrators know that we want to see more resources devoted to recycling and other green initiatives so that recycling can be incentivized.

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