Some students were concerned that Brandeis University Recycling Program (BURP-a chartered club) had disbanded and Brandeis' recycling program disappeared along with it. Although BURP now exists only under the auspices of Students for Environmental Action (SEA), Brandeis still continues to recycle. According to Andrei Khots '04, Union Treasurer and member of SEA, recycling has continued at Brandeis even though BURP plays a smaller role.

Khots said, "I wouldn't say BURP was extremely active-it was under SEA, (and) they weren't doing major actions because the University is committed to recycling."

Richard Garrison, manager at the university's recycling contractor Conigliaro Industries, said, "Brandeis is still a very good customer of ours." He said that his trucks still came by campus "many times a week" to collect mixed paper and commingled materials from their respective bins. "We hope that it continues," he added. "If you keep putting stuff in there, we'll keep picking it up."

Brandeis is on the "Tri-bin system," as it has been ever since a group of students initiated the Brandeis University Recycling Program four years ago. Besides the large black bins for regular trash, blue bins are intended for mixed paper and are placed in "strategic" locations throughout campus, such as in offices, dorms, or next to copying machines in the libraries. Green bins are for commingled materials (glass, metals, and plastics) and can also be found in the residence halls and in most other buildings. Smaller, basket-sized blue receptacles are also placed in every dorm room so that students can conveniently dispose of their mixed paper.

Rebeccah Horowitz '05, President of SEA, confirmed that Brandeis continues its commitment to recycling, noting that Facilities has been charged with the responsibilities since BURP combined with SEA. She added, however, that deficient recycling practices in the Shapiro Campus Center have raised some concern.

Shapiro Campus Center recycling "is a big problem," Horowitz said, "but blue bins are too expensive (and) we don't have any more of those. It's really ineffective what's going on in Shapiro."

SEA plans to meet with Facilities on the issue in about two weeks in order to discuss and deal with the problem, according to Horowitz.

Khots took notice of problems concerning recycling in Brandeis dormitories with students either unaware or unconcerned about the recycling by using the bins in the residence halls.

"We have a blue and a green bin .... In freshmen dorms I am not sure they all got their blue little baskets. Unfortunately, many students use them as garbage bins, so it kind of defeats the purpose," Khots said.

The University has dealt with similar problems in past years. According to Khots, janitors had failed to recycle in Shapiro Hall last year. Brandeis, however, remedied the problem after complaints were made to Administration.

Aramark says it is also doing its share to help protect the environment. Richard Rubini, Food Services Director for Usdan Dining Hall, said that because the recycling bins are placed in "very convenient" locations around Usdan, "there is no good excuse not to recycle."

Aramark is currently running several programs designed to promote environmental awareness and smarter consumption habits among students. This year, students can purchase a reusable cup for $3.99 and will receive a tall-sized drink refill for the price of a small. They say it is intended to reduce paper cup wastage. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will also remember last year's discount card. "Each time you (choose) reusables instead of plastics and paper," the card reads, "we will stamp your card." After 20 stamps, students can earn a free slice of pizza and medium fountain beverage.

Rubini also said "Aramark employees are trained to ask first if the food is 'for here.'" In addition, they are also instructed to save any large boxes at the end of every semester, because students can always use them for packing.

Some other minor setbacks, nevertheless, have been observed. The "Recycling Hotline" appears to be non-functional, despite several references to it on the Brandeis University Recycling Web site. A representative of Facilities Services ascertained that George Bogosian is in charge of managing the recycling program. Neither Bogosian nor a representative from Student Government could be reached before deadline; however, Garrison ascertained that "(Brandeis) Facilities Services are our official contact."

Although Facilities Services has the predominant role in recycling at Brandeis, SEA members said that the relevance of the club, along with BURP, has not diminished in terms of fostering a strong program of recycling on the campus. Among other initiatives, SEA has recently surveyed the campus in order to designate which areas need bins.

Horowitz said, "A lot of people were interested in BURP and recycling issues, so we are going to have a whole lot of stuff relating to recycling this semester. There are just so many things we work on."

- Dawn Miller '06 contributed to this article.