February 22 Update: Chapter 1(Recycling)

Hey guys!

Over the last couple of weeks I have been extremely busy. Here are some things that I've done:

1. Recycling - I had a meeting with Will Mitchell, Sr. Manager of Custodial Services at Facilities Management, William Bailey, Assistant Manager of Facilities Management, and Harry Hilliard, Director of Recycling.
It was an extremely successful meeting in which we discussed campus recycling and environmental responsibility of the University of Pittsburgh.
They were extremely receptive to some of SGB's ideas. One of which we recently got accomplished. We negotiated a deal with Facilities Management to have special pickups of recyclables at the University Fraternities after they hold parties. This will be a great increase in the amount of aluminum and glass that the University is able to recycle.

I also found out that the company that Pitt sends its recyclables to, is extremely efficient and actually hand sorts the material. So if by accident, someone throws an apple core into a recycling container - everything will be sorted out and the recyclables will still be recycling. It will not contaminate the entire bin.

Pitt really does recycle! One of the things that we must combat is the idea that we don't recycle. Facilities Management really works hard to recycle here. From the 2006 to 2007 fiscal years, we have actually increased the amount of recycling on campus in most areas. We increased by 75 tons of paper, 190 tons of cardboard, and 1 more ton aluminum/plastic. So good job! This is about 30% of Facilities Management's waste stream. Hopefully the University of Pittsburgh continues to increase its recycling.