Reduce, reuse and throw out

I realize that moving into residence is a very exciting time. I can even understand that at some point new students may forget the simpler things in life we have all become accustom to over the past two decades.

No, I am not talking writing about failing to remember to use the designated washroom facilities. I am writing about the effortless task of recycling.

The crop of freshmen (who I am only assuming were born in the mid-to-late 80's) have never known a time without blue boxes, so why was dumpster after dumpster filled to the brim, and at times over flowing, with cardboard trucked away on a daily, if not hourly, basis?

The dumpsters were loaded with a combination of old, smelly couches, computer boxes and discarded bubble wrap (see above picture). Mini-vans, SUV's and over stuffed sedans would pull-up to the R and S residence buildings, unload their children, along with pounds of brand-new computers, stereo equipment, furniture, toaster ovens and clothes. After the tornado of unpacking was over, all that was left was a gigantic pile of “garbage,” which was conveniently discarded in the dumpsters outside both buildings.

There is no excuse for the overflow of recyclables. Each residence is well equipped with very accessible and garbage facilities on the ground floor, which cater to paper, plastic and glass recycling.

Although, maybe the new students aren't to blame- maybe it's Fanshawe's administration for willingly carting away the recyclables to the landfill (if that is where it went). The ‘we'll deal with it later when it is less hectic,' mentality, which we can all be guilty of, is only harming us in the long run.

Maybe we should be looking at the packaging of products. When you buy a new computer there is a variety of cardboard compartments, boxes and inserts to keep a fire going for hours. I understand the need to keep products safe from damage, but in our over sensitive society shouldn't we be more concerned with the longevity of our planet, rather than the fragility of an already extinct piece of electronics?

The blame can become endless. In the end we have to take it amongst ourselves to accept responsibility for our environment, which means recycling all the time and not just when it is convenient.

Just out of curiosity, where did all that cardboard end up anyway?

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.