YUSU warns equipment shortages could lead campus recycling system to ‘collapse’
Shortages of vital equipment could lead the University of York’s recycling system to “collapse at any minute”, according to YUSU and JCRCs.
The Student Union and college committees claim the lack of equipment for dealing with the “serious health hazards” associated with the recycling of broken glass and other dangerous materials could force an end to recycling practices as they currently stand.
Alcuin Chair Louis Wihl said that “The University is overly reliant on students [for recycling] and there is a major health risk involved.” He described the hazards associated with recycling in Alcuin, saying “the bins are waist high and they are often full of glass, which they expect students to carry.” Wihl said that if a student volunteer was to be injured due to lack of equipment then the JCRC would have to halt its recycling operations. “If someone did get hurt, recycling could stop completely. There have been a couple of little injuries already and if someone were to get seriously hurt there is no way that we could carry on responsibly,” he said.
YUSU Environment and Ethics Officer, Tom Williams, described the current system as “very fragile”. He added that if JCRCs stopped their recycling operations due to injuries it could bring the entire University’s recycling system to a halt, saying “the University has no back up plan. If the JCRCs stopped recycling then recycling on campus wouldn’t happen anymore.”
In response to the concerns raised, Jill Thackrah, Assistant Campus Services Manager, said: “Campus Services are working closely with the Eco-reps to ensure the better management of waste. We are currently looking at new pieces of equipment and different types of bins to ease and support the good work the reps are doing.” Thackrah refused to comment on claims that students were at risk due to lack of equipment or that the University “has no back up plan”.
The University of York’s record on recycling is an impressive one, recycling around 38% of all waste, significantly higher than many other universities. Wihl said “The University of York gets a lot of kudos for recycling but the University needs to take action in order to take the weight off of the JCRCs.”
The University is currently a beneficiary of a recycling incentive program in partnership with York City Council, receiving £5 for every tonne of waste recycled. Last year it received £1145 from the Council, and Williams estimates that this year it will be closer to £1800.
Concerns were raised last term by former Environment and Ethics Officer Charlotte Bonner, who said that the University had kept the £1145 received from the Council while student volunteers were being “starved of resources”. Williams said the behaviour of Commercial Services was “money grabbing”.
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