Draft:LSU Recycling

Why Recycle?
A large part of minimizing our environmental footprints is reducing our waste and treating it responsibly, especially in Louisiana and on campus. If waste is not disposed of properly or recycled, it can become litter. Whether this be from dumping trash on the side of the road or accidentally allowing your waste to escape from trashcans outside, this litter negatively impacts our environment. Litter can clog drainage systems, potentially resulting in flooding which creates an increase of bugs and vermin that spread disease. Litter can also break down and release chemicals and microparticles that contaminate water, which are especially dangerous in the case of microplastics. Because plastic can take up to 1,000 years to break down, they have a lasting effect of leaching chemicals into ecosystems. The toxicity of microplastics is amplified by their ability to absorb heavy metals and synthetic organic molecules. Plastic waste is also incredibly harmful to animals as they can mistake it for prey and try to ingest it, leading to health effects such as intestinal blockage and internal bleeding. Citizens of Louisiana have the responsibility to protect wildlife around us, especially because of the costal ecosystems we have, unique to the rest of the United States. Lots of waste that ends up in drainpipes finds its way to the Gulf of Mexico, which is a highly productive ecosystem, home to diverse marine life.

People in Louisiana convicted of litter violations can face fines between $175-$1,000. Simple littering can cost up to $175 in fines and court costs, intentional littering is a $250 fine, and gross littering (depositing waste into a ditch or illegal dumpsite) is a $500-$1000 fine. According to the Louisiana Recycling Report of 2018, Louisiana’s recycling rate was 12.87 percent. LSU’s campus is full of litter after games and events, so it is important for students and faculty to act against littering and properly dispose of trash and recycling.

Campus Recycling
On campus, plastic bottles or containers, cardboard, paper, aluminum, or steel, (and glass- depending on recycling location) can be recycled in blue bins or green dumpsters. Be sure to read any recycling guidelines on or near recycling bins to ensure glass can be recycled. LSU participates in the GameDay Recycling Challenge where a cleanup group helps collect trash the morning after a home game. The school submits their recycling, compost, and attendance for at least one game to participate. Any organization with 10 members willing to participate can sign up to help.

All recyclable items at LSU (2023) :

-commingled recycling

-batteries

-toner and ink cartridges

-vegetative debris

-scrap metal

-concrete

-electronic waste

-fluorescent bulbs

-motor oil