RECYCLING NEWS "Stickies" Gum Up the Works A recent news article in USA Today points out that one problematic culprit in many recycling mill's decline has been what are called "stickies" and the unexpected technical difficulties in removing self-sticking materials from office waste paper. Stickies are little items we all use like self adhesive postage stamps, labels, post-it notes and tape. When stickies are recycled along with office paper and junk mail, they gum up machines. And worse, stickies weaken the paper, causing tears in the giant manufactured rolls. Recycled paper has suffered a number of setbacks in the last few years including a number of mill closures that recently peaked with the closure of a state of the art recycling and deinking facility in Pennsylvania. Any steps that can be taken to help the recycling solution is something that consumers should take seriously. Water activated adhesives are not a serious problem, so we all should use stamps and envelopes you have to lick or moisten and use as few self-sticking labels and post-it notes as possible. At the other end, remove as many labels, tapes, post-its, etc., as possible from your recyclables.

	Colby Recycles!
Colby recycling was begun in 1989 by Jenny Alfond, Keith Stockford and Ken Gagnon. Soon recycling on campus became 'institutionalized' and became a paid position for students, which is its current status. Contact the Physical Plant if you're interested in the job. On a personal level, keep a box in your room for recyclable materials and dump it in your dorm floor's recycling bin when it's full. Each floor should have a paper and cans and bottles recycling bin; contact your HR if one is missing. Here is what Colby Recycles:
Paper Paper: All types of paper including computer paper, magazines, newspapers, books, scrap paper, paper bags, envelopes with plastic windows torn out, post-it notes, folders, etc. Cardboard Shipped packaging, food packaging (e.g. Pop-tart boxes, cereal boxes, pasta boxes, etc.), other packaging (e.g. tissue boxes, toothpaste boxes, feminine product boxes, etc.) FLATTEN DOWN ALL CARDBOARD AND STACK UP OR FIT INSIDE EACH OTHER and put beside the paper recycle bin Glass All colors of glass accepted. WASH OUT ALL FOOD JARS.All cans, glass, and plastics go in the 'bottles' recycling bin (with the three round holes). Plastics #1 and #2 (look on bottom of container) types of plastics are excepted (e.g. soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent containers, peanut butter jars, etc.) WASH OUT CONTAINERS. Aluminum Canned food cans, soda (and beer)cans, and rinsed tin foil. WASH OUT FOOD CANS.
We do not recycle ink cartridges, computers, batteries, motor oil, magazines, toner cartridges, printer ribbons, or plastic bags. Plastic bags can be taken to Shaws for recycling.

Eeeks, Disposables!!

Our culture seems inundated with a quick-fix, get-it-and-go, on the run pace that leads to using many disposable cups, plates, batteries, wrappers, etc. Solid waste on campus includes food, non-reusable cups, plates, other eating utensils, non-recyclable paper, throwaway convenience items, yard waste, and more.

Keep in mind, many of these things are composed of either paper or plastic. Paper is made from trees (though there are alternatives like hemp paper, lokta paper, recycled paper) and the process that most mills use pollutes the water as well. Plastic is made from oil, which is a non-renewable resource and often demands the exploitation of lands and peoples to extract. Both of these things also end up in the LANDFILL; landfills are filling up fast and the world does not have much room to make more. Paper does decompose fairly easily, but plastic does not.

Some items to think about:

Paper cups: the alternative is a reusable water bottle or a coffee mug. The average American student goes through an estimated 500 disposable cups every year. At the University of Vermont, students calculated that by eliminating polystyrene foam their food service could save $76,000 annually. Used over and over again, a reusable container saves space in the landfill and resources used to compose it and others to replace it.

doggy bags: very often styrofoam, which doesn't decompose for millenia.

product packaging: many products come with ridiculous amounts of packaging, much of which is non-recyclable. Things to think about: individually wrapped candies, tampons, juice boxes, fast food. Choose another brand that uses less! Write a letter to the company and let them know that as a consumer you will not purchase their product until they reduce the packaging. Buy things in bulk.

batteries: the energy required to create batteries is over 500 times that which it provides. Tons of toxic material are used to make batteries, and companies do not dispose of it properly (it often leaks into lakes, rivers, and groundwater). Batteries are also disposable and end up in the land fill.

paper napkins, paper towels,and tissues: You can use a hanky instead like good ol' Grams and Gramps and wash it when needed, and save trees here as well.

plastic bags: there are way too many plastic bags in the world! They are dispensed almost unconsciously and end up in trees in cities, in lakes, rivers, on the side of the road, and in landfills. They are made from oil. When purchasing an item, bring a backpack or reusable canvas bag of some sort.

tampons and sanitary pads: Tampons and pads are disposable! Applicators are disposable! And, you're basically paying a corporation for being a woman. Women bleed monthly and they take advantage of this and make money off of it. They don't care about women's bodies, they care about money. You can purchase reusable alternatives such as a sea sponge or 'glad rag' reusable pad. Women, be careful because playtex, tampax, and o.b. use dioxins and asbestos in their tampsons. For info on the issue: http://critpath.org/~tracy/spot.html, http://www.womenontheweb.co.uk/tampons.htm, http://www.jessworks.org/menstrual.html, http://www.eco-logique.com

plastic utensils and wooden chopsticks: plastic utensils: made of oil. wooden chopsticks: made of trees. If you end up using these, save them to use again next time. But preferably carry around your own reusable utensils.