ssues & ideas EDITOR RENEE SUTTON THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCT. 30, 2014 7 KERA SKOCYLAS photo Environmental student Adam Kelliher shows general arts student, Jaleesa Thomas, how to properly recycle a coffee cup on campus. Contamination on campus Recycling bins are often full of garbage from students in a hurry By KERA SKOCYLAS angara has a major problem with students cross-contaminating the recycling bins, according to cam- jpus faculty. Joyce Robson, Langara facilities ser- vices manager, said “the hard part is with the students.” Robson said it is a major issue when students throw garbage in with paper towels and don’t take the time to look. She said some students have the knowledge and time to do it correctly, but issues arise with those who don’t. Frank Williams, an instructor in the environmental studies program, said, “The biggest problem we have is peo- ple trying to do the right thing, but get- ting it wrong.” He said students are usually in a hurry but they should take the time to look at the signs on the recycling con- tainers to see what is acceptable. “Tf you’re not sure... put it in the gar- bage,” he said, “it’s better than contam- inating the recycle stream.” Langara environmental student Adam Kelliher said students need bet- ter education on how to properly use the recycling bins. “It seems like alge- bra to some people,” said Kelliher. He said students of all ages can’t seem to figure out the bins. As he was talking, Langara student Jaleesa Thomas walked by and put a coffee cup with a plastic lid into the wrong bin. “My parents never used to recycle,” said Thomas. She said she’ll put her garbage in any bin when rushed. “Drop it in, whatever works.” Williams said Langara’s recycling ef- forts fall “somewhere in the middle” when compared to other schools. He considered UBC the best, adding “they have a whole sustainability institute.” Doug Doyle, acting director, sustain- ability and engineering at UBC, said the university doesn’t have an exces- sive problem with people incorrectly recycling. “We have made it really sim- ple to separate,” Doyle said, adding the recycling stations are easy to use and are located in highly accessible areas. Robson said Chartwells, who man- age most of the food services at Langa- ra, “are doing a terrific job recycling mixed containers behind the scenes.” She said she’s grateful for students who are interested in the environment. “We make it better by getting more people involved.” 66 Biggest problem we have is people try- ing to do the right thing, but getting it wrong FRANK WILLIAMS INSTRUCTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Students contribute to Greenest City 2020 Langara environmental studies students are working with the city to design local urban solutions ANDREW EGAN Environmental studies instructor 66 Students can learn what’s be- ing done in the city By VIVIAN CHUI ing with Langara College students on Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan for the third year in a row. CityStudio is an innovation hub within city hall where university stu- dents, staff, and community members design and execute projects to solve city issues. CityStudio works with six educational institutions in the Lower Mainland through project-based cours- es, stated CityStudio on its website. Students in Langara’s environmen- tal problems and solutions course choose a project direction from the Ac- tion Plan’s focus areas. These areas in- Giernt Vancouver is collaborat- clude waste, carbon, and ecosystems, said Frank Williams, who has taught the course since 2012. Williams said students are put in contact with city staff specific to the project focus, and mentioned a group of students who are currently working with traffic planners on parking issues. “Whenever students can connect di- rectly with the actual decision makers, not only do they learn a lot more about the process, they also make some valu- able contacts,” said Williams. Environmental studies instructor Andrew Egan said the collaboration enables student engagement as well as the city’s engagement with the public. “Students can learn what’s being done in the city,” said Egan. He added that students’ work give the city “a bet- ter understanding of Vancouver youth culture.” Andrea Reimer, Vancouver city councillor and lead on the Action Plan, said the partnership “gives students a sense of agency” and gives faculty from different institutions a chance to col- laborate. “It’s exciting and inspiring,” said bi- ology student Sam Howse. “A lot of times people don’t do anything because they think there’s no impact. This gives you the tool to do something.” Langara students will present their projects against five other institutions at Vancouver City Hall on Nov. 28, 2014. Ready to ban food scraps Langara said it is well prepared for the compost and food scraps ban from landfills, starting in 2015 By ALICE D’EON ver will enact a bylaw banning all food scraps and compostable ma- terials from landfills, a goal Langara has been working on for over a year. The food scrap ban will require ma- jor changes in the way most commer- cial buildings manage their waste. For example, according to the Metro Van- couver website, grocery stores will have to de-package all individually wrapped unsold food before it can be removed to an appropriate outlet. Lan- gara, however, has had structures in place for effective composting since April 2013. “Chartwells, Starbucks, Quiznos and Tim Hortons are composting 100 per cent of their organic waste. They’re do- ing a terrific job,” said Joyce Robson, manager of facilities services at Langa- ra. “They’re very dedicated to making sure they don’t mix up things. They have many bins in the kitchen and they’re all properly labeled,” said Rob- son. Patrick Chauo, a project engineer for the waste management branch of Met- ro Vancouver, said “diverting food scraps away from the landfill will have tremendous impact on reducing pro- duction of greenhouse gases in the form of methane.” Like many Langara students, Ka- leigh Nestman said she had no clue about Langara’s composting program. “It’s good to hear that our school is so green, it makes me kind of proud to go here,” she said. Students can do their part to ensure Langara upholds its composting stan- dards by paying attention to what bin they are throwing their waste into. Robson said that every time compost is deemed contaminated with too much garbage, the entire load gets sent to the landfill. “If you can’t figure it out, don’t con- taminate the organics, or the paper towel. If you aren’t sure, throw it out,” said Robson. Bev in 2015, Metro Vancou- ALICE D'EON photo Joyce Robson, manager of facili- ties services at Langara, and the campus community garden located by the staff parking lot.