Though recycling for on-campus residents is as simple as walking to the nearest receptacle, students living in off-campus Westwood apartments have fewer convenient options for getting rid of their recyclable waste efficiently, according to student environmental groups.
One new option for apartment residents is a pilot program being offered by the City of Los Angeles, where students can sign up to receive free recycling pickups from a bin on a designated day, said Dorothy Le, the alumni advisor for Ecology, Economy, Equity.
“It doesn’t ask students to travel to recycle so it’s more convenient, but it’s a problem because it’s not mandated or well-publicized, so only enthusiastic volunteers have gone through the effort of signing up,” she said. Le added that apartment managers needed to approve the placement of the bins.
But students living on campus can walk to several conveniently placed recycling containers located at each residential facility, said Rob Kadota, an assistant director of the Office of Residential Life.
“The recycling containers, which fill up to 50 gallons, are conveniently located next to the trash bins … and are comingled so cans, bottles and papers can be combined in one bin,” Kadota said.
When students on the Hill do not recycle their trash, housekeepers are asked to move recyclable items to the proper receptacles, Kadota said.
“Students could certainly be doing more, especially at the end of the year when they move out. This year we enticed Goodwill to partner with us, and they were pleased to receive thousands of pounds of usable clothes and appliances,” he said.
Le said recycling programs are difficult to implement in the Westwood apartments.
“Even if they try, most people don’t have an easy option to recycle, as very few apartment managers have any sort of recycling program, mainly because it costs extra money,” Le said.
This is in contrast to neighboring cities such as Santa Monica, which has several facilities where residents can drop off their recyclable materials.
“The City of Santa Monica pays people to drop off their recycling, but it’s a real hassle for students to gather their items and drive over there,” Le said.
Irit Krygier, a resident of the North Village who said she has lived there for over 30 years, said she has never found an easy way to recycle.
“The only place I know walking distance where you can drop off bottles, glass and plastic is at Whole Foods,” Krygier said.
Le said besides the pilot program there are several options that take some effort and mobility for students who want to recycle.
“The (University Cooperative Housing Association) near campus pays for recycling and students can take their trash to some facilities on campus, but all of this takes picking it up and walking a distance,” she said.
Alisa Ahmadian, a third-year political science and English student and the current chair of E3, said she was aware of the pilot program that picks up bins but was concerned that some apartment managers wouldn’t allow it.
“They think it’s a burden to have more bins outside taking up space,” Ahmadian said. She said she was concerned that most students in the apartments don’t recycle and “just throw (trash) away,” and said E3 is committed to encouraging recycling on a greater scale next year.
“We’re going to try to start a recycling program for fraternities because they house a large number of students and produce trash from parties,” Ahmadian said.
For the situation in the apartments to change, Ahmadian said students need to pressure their apartment managers to encourage recycling.
“Students can take charge and prove to the managers that recycling isn’t a burden,” she said.