Here is the story. Recently, I saw that the recycling bins for bottles and cans in my dorm building were not contaminated at all. My dorm custodian then takes out the recycling bag and places it in the blue outdoor recycling bin. I then see a GARBAGE truck, yep a truck that reads “Lafayette College Municipal Waste” pick up not only trash, but also the contents of that blue outdoor recycling bin. I am concerned that all the recyclables on campus are actually ending up in the landfills.

I am fortunate to be part of the recycling research group in the EGRS 480 (Sustainable Solutions) course. I told Scarlett Jimenez ’15, the project manager of my group, exactly what I saw outside my dorm building.

I am personally collecting used aluminum cans. Although I am doing this for the fundraising I am doing for the overnight walk I will participate in June for suicide prevention in memory of the UPenn student I know who jumped off the parking garage (since I can get paid $0.45/pound when I take them to Easton Iron and Metal; all the proceeds I get will go towards that fundraiser), this also ensures that aluminum is being recycled.

In the meantime, if you have used aluminum cans, DON’T place them in the “recycle” bin. Give them to me instead.