Spring Break
Drexel committee to enhance recycling program
Omkar Baxi
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: News
The Drexel Sustainability Committee met Aug. 26 to discuss Drexel's current recycling program and determine how to make the University more environmentally-friendly.
Spearheaded by Drexel's Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Carl Tobey Oxholm, the committee is composed of administrators and leaders from different departments of the University. While the committee's overall goal is to keep Drexel as sustainable as possible, the meeting focused on the recycling program with guest speaker Michael Smith, director of facilities management.
According to Smith, the recycling program at Drexel has steadily grown over the past decade from modest paper and plastic recycling to its current state of recycling almost 25 percent of the University's waste.
"We wanted to make Drexel one of the best recycling places not only in the city, but eventually, the country," Smith said. "The unique part of Drexel's recycling program is its grassroots effort - most colleges and businesses contract out but Drexel does most of its recycling by itself - which in the end, saves more money."
Under Smith's leadership, Drexel now recycles electronics, furniture and even oils, in addition to paper, plastic, and glass. According to Smith, Facilities also wants to look into recycling the construction waste from the expansion projects on campus.
"We are constantly looking at different ways to make the recycling program better," Smith said. "One of the goals is to use biodiesel for all University vehicles."
According to Smith, the recycling programs at Drexel are not only good for the environment, but also great for the University because they create great publicity. For example, Smith said the trash compactors installed throughout campus have drawn the attention of Philadelphia's waste management department, which is looking at ways to make the city more sustainable.
According to Karl Kephart, director of Quality Services, the University was recognized by the state as one of the best waste management colleges in the Recyclemania competition.
Drexel is also becoming more sustainable by reducing its waste completely. For example, the University is trying to go paperless in all aspects, from status reports given to Board members to online applications in Enrollment.
However, there are road blocks in Drexel's green efforts. For example, the medical school and center city campuses are not as efficient in their recycling efforts as the main University City campus. According to Oxholm, the dean of the College of Medicine has committed to making the college more environmentally friendly but is currently behind the University in its green practices.
"The biggest problem is improper recycling," Smith said. "We find a lot of trash and organic material in the recycling bins around campus. And that's really a disappointment, because then, whatever is in the bin cannot be recycled at all."
The Drexel community is welcomed to address any recycling and sustainability issues by emailing recycle@drexel.edu.
Spearheaded by Drexel's Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Carl Tobey Oxholm, the committee is composed of administrators and leaders from different departments of the University. While the committee's overall goal is to keep Drexel as sustainable as possible, the meeting focused on the recycling program with guest speaker Michael Smith, director of facilities management.
According to Smith, the recycling program at Drexel has steadily grown over the past decade from modest paper and plastic recycling to its current state of recycling almost 25 percent of the University's waste.
"We wanted to make Drexel one of the best recycling places not only in the city, but eventually, the country," Smith said. "The unique part of Drexel's recycling program is its grassroots effort - most colleges and businesses contract out but Drexel does most of its recycling by itself - which in the end, saves more money."
Under Smith's leadership, Drexel now recycles electronics, furniture and even oils, in addition to paper, plastic, and glass. According to Smith, Facilities also wants to look into recycling the construction waste from the expansion projects on campus.
"We are constantly looking at different ways to make the recycling program better," Smith said. "One of the goals is to use biodiesel for all University vehicles."
According to Smith, the recycling programs at Drexel are not only good for the environment, but also great for the University because they create great publicity. For example, Smith said the trash compactors installed throughout campus have drawn the attention of Philadelphia's waste management department, which is looking at ways to make the city more sustainable.
According to Karl Kephart, director of Quality Services, the University was recognized by the state as one of the best waste management colleges in the Recyclemania competition.
Drexel is also becoming more sustainable by reducing its waste completely. For example, the University is trying to go paperless in all aspects, from status reports given to Board members to online applications in Enrollment.
However, there are road blocks in Drexel's green efforts. For example, the medical school and center city campuses are not as efficient in their recycling efforts as the main University City campus. According to Oxholm, the dean of the College of Medicine has committed to making the college more environmentally friendly but is currently behind the University in its green practices.
"The biggest problem is improper recycling," Smith said. "We find a lot of trash and organic material in the recycling bins around campus. And that's really a disappointment, because then, whatever is in the bin cannot be recycled at all."
The Drexel community is welcomed to address any recycling and sustainability issues by emailing recycle@drexel.edu.
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