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Helen Shen

A Guide to Proper Recycling and Composting Practices On Campus

Recycling and composting play crucial roles in minimizing waste and reducing environmental impact. Recycling allows us to reuse materials and reduce the need for new resources. Composting organic waste produces a new product (“compost”) as an alternative to chemical fertilizer. By recycling and composting properly, we manage waste in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

Here at Bentley, many locations support composting and recycling. For example, at the 921 dining hall, food waste is composted in the dish room after students drop off their dirty dishes.

However, at other locations on campus, we have to take the initiative to sort our waste into proper categories. La Cava has separate trash cans for recycling, compost, and regular trash. However, it is crucial to note that when throwing away compostables such as the pasta bowl, we don’t accidentally throw in plastic utensils. Plastic straws, although technically made from recyclable plastic, are actually not recyclable because of how light they are. When unsure, it is always better to toss everything into the regular trash.

The trash corrals are also divided into recycling and regular trash. Once again, when unsure whether something is recyclable, we should simply throw it into the regular section. One wrong item thrown into the recycling bin can contaminate the entire batch of recyclables.

One tip to know whether a plastic container is recyclable is to look for specific symbols. The universal recycling symbol, made of three arrows forming a triangle, will be the most common sign. Containers made from #1-7 plastic are all recyclable in Massachusetts, and some will even say words like “made from recyclable materials.”

In addition to that, we can also reduce waste through small actions in our daily lives. For example, I limit plastic straw usage when I order from LaCava or Currito. After all, drinking from a plastic straw instead of straight from the cup does not change the drink itself at all!

It takes minimal effort for each individual to follow these simple tips, but our actions as a community will significantly impact the environment as a whole.


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