The students of Oneida and Onondaga halls have become accustom to a new sight roaming the halls. The mobile recycling cart is the new phenomenon that has captured their interest as well as their recyclables. "The best part about the mobile cart is that I don't have to walk down the stairs" says freshman Oneida resident Kristen Daubenbis "because when the cart comes to my room, I actually try"

As part of a program put into effect this past fall, both Oneida and Onondaga have increased recycling significantly. "It doesn't involve them leaving their room so it's more comforting for them"; explains Angel Rosa, the Assistant hall director of Oneida hall. "We have made it a lot easier for the students. I think the recycling cart will probably be the best idea we've come up with"

Marie Schuman, Associate Director of Residence Life and Housing said that the cart was created in order to promote recycling within the residence halls. "I definitely would see it continuing in those two buildings" Shuman explains "Other buildings have thought it was a nice idea, but whether they will adopt it... I don't know." The recycling mobile cart runs for one hour during all regular recycling hours in both buildings. "A recycling tech will go around the building with a cart, knock on doors and ask people if they have recyclables that night, so we bring it to them and that's kind of cool" says Shuman.

According to Rosa and Shuman students have reacted positively to the mobile cart. It has also financially helped both buildings. Before the mobile recycling cart was in effect Oneida hall made 161 dollars for the entire 2006-2007 school year through recycling. This past semester alone Oneida has made 375 dollars due to the increase in recyclables. According to Taylre Conway the Assistant Hall Director of Onondaga, the pattern seems to be the same. Last spring semester Onondaga made $289.15 without the mobile cart. This fall semester the mobile cart has helped raised $399.20.

This new program has helped raise money and awareness among students. Freshman Oneida resident Joseph Disarno says that "everyone that answers the door has something to put into it, whether it is just one thing or a whole can... it is getting massive results"

Both Shuman and Rosa feel that it is necessary for students to pay attention to their recycling habits. Now that this issue is becoming more important among our society other programs are being considered. An idea that has been proposed to Rosa and Shuman is Recyclemania.  Recyclemania is a competition that was designed to help colleges and universities promote recycling and waste minimization.

According to http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/ , there are currently a total of 400 campuses competing. Each college or university has a designated competition, ranging from the largest amount of recyclables per capita to the least amount of trash collected. Recylemania would not only help promote S.U.N.Y Oswego, but also allow recognition. Shuman and Rosa both felt that the competition would be a positive contribution as well as creating excitement on our campus.

Becoming a greener campus is an important issue to many students, although how to do this has not been made clear until now. Shuman and Rosa said that Recyclemania may be something to get students more involved. "I will definitely bring it up at our next meeting" says Rosa. Small steps are being made to help improve a big problem on campus. Shuman explains that it is not only the responsibility of the staff but important for students to take an initiative as well. "I don't know that every student would know that they could make a suggestion... might be something we could do differently, get the word out with recycling and other things, so if you have an idea let us know."

Nora Rudewicz-Class '08