Recycle that
Colleges in Oxford, unrivalled at emptying bottles, are now being encouraged to reuse them.
Exeter and Jesus Colleges have set up bins for bottles as well as paper, tins, plastic and cans in partnership with Oxford City Council and the OUSU Environment Committee.
Previously, the Council had complained that not enough was being done by colleges to recycle waste. In February, the Chair of the City Council's Environment Scrutiny Committee told the OxStu: "I have been pressing for action for some time and recently we found that far too little had been done". Communications between colleges and the council appear to have improved and the scheme, launched this week, may extend to include other colleges if successful.
OUSU Environment Committee, however, believes the Council could do more. Chairman Albert Hyunbae Cho told the OxStu: "The City needs to bite the bullet and include the students who live in Oxford in their recycling program." He went on, "Colleges need to modernise and face up to their environmental responsibilities by making a financial and moral commitment to recycling". He fears that high costs may prevent the continuation of the scheme.
Meanwhile, students at Exeter and Jesus are being encouraged to get involved by an added element of competition between the old rivals. Exeter Home Bursar Susan Marshall stirred her students: "We aim to raise more recycling material than Jesus!".
24th Apr 2003