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Green Team President Gregory Edwards gave a presentation on single-stream recycling to the General Student Senate on Tuesday, which was met with skepticism from some senators and a student who may because enemployed if the new system is instituted.
Edwards said switching to single-stream — which would allow all waste to be placed in single containers, compacted on campus and then shipped to Massachusetts to be sorted and recycled — would save the university money in labor costs by outsourcing the labor-intensive sorting process currently in place at University of Maine’s Recycling Depot. According to Casella Waste Management, which would handle the recyclable waste, the university would pay $85 per ton if it switched to a single-stream system. The university currently pays $187 per ton.
The recycling system is currently being tested by Properties Management in the buildings around Hilltop quad..
“I ask that student senate pass a resolution saying single-stream is a good fiscal decision and positive move for sustainability,” Edwards said.
Facilities Management and Properties Management run the current recycling system. Edwards said materials are sorted twice on campus right now: once by students placing them in the appropriate bins, and again at the depot when trash is removed and material sorted again. The material ends up in a warehouse, where it is stored and eventually sold.
The senate questioned Edwards about the impact the new system could have on jobs. Sen. Benjamin Goodman asked Edwards whether he would be comfortable eliminating student jobs through the switch to single-stream recycling.
“Jobs are important,” Edwards said. “But the bottom line for a better product is the solution.”
Edwards emphasized that single-stream would not only save the university money, but would allow for the recycling of more materials than is currently possible through the depot.
Dane Bolding, a student employee at the depot, spoke to the senate during General Good and Welfare segment of the meeting, when students are allowed to address the senate
“This proposition is going to send most of our money out of state. They’re basically taking [the recycling] from here and shipping it to Massachusetts instead of Millinocket,” Bolding said, referring to the current practice of shipping paper waste north to the mill town. “It’s called ‘Green Campus Initiative,’ but think of the gas to ship tons and tons of waste.”
Bolding also told the senate that while the university may save money in cost per ton, it would lose the tax dollars generated by keeping the recycling business in Maine.
Student Government President Brian Harris said he met with Dennis Grant of Facilities Management, who said FM is not necessarily against the plan and are not saying it would definitely result in job loss, but they want more research done.
In other GSS business…
• Repeating a controversial decision made last year, the Executive Budgetary Committee denied a $1,000 request to Maine Masque for its annual trip to New York City. Vice President for Financial Affairs Justin Labonte said some members of the committee felt it was wrong to fund activities where the group would not participate, comparing the idea to sending Club Football to see an NFL game. Sen. Derek Jones will introduce a main motion in senate next week to allocate the money.
• The senate allocated $1,200 to UMaine Cheerleading; $3,500 to Student Heritage Alliance Council and $1,900 to Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.
• Senate passed a resolution to move the General Good and Welfare segment to earlier in the agenda to increase student participation in GSS. During General Good and Welfare, any student may address senate for up to five minutes. Sen. Ryan Gavin voiced support for the resolution, saying, “This body should hear from its constituents before we approve anything.”
• Senate passed a resolution to increase the salary of the Director of External Affairs by roughly $600, starting next academic year. It also passed a resolution to combine the Residents on Campus position of national communications coordinator and secretary into one position: communications liaison.
• Hip Hop Club and Native People Alliance were granted preliminary recognition by Student Government.
• John Pelletier was appointed to the Fair Elections and Practices Commission. Ross Wolland was appointed to the chair of the ad hoc committee to review FEPC guidelines. Sen. Hannah Hudson was elected to the Executive Budgetary Committee.
• A main motion put forward by Gavin to allow the Office of Student Records to alert Student Government if any senator, executive or employee does not meet the GPA requirements for office was passed.
Bangor Daily News