Spring Break
Trashed campus follows football games
OSU Campus Recycling and Facility Services have seen an increase in game day garbage strewn around campus
David Stanton
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
Take a walk through campus after a home football game, and mountains of garbage piled around dumpsters and entire parking lots strewn with trash are visible.
OSU generates around 20,000 pounds of solid waste per day. Despite the high numbers, more than 50 percent of that waste is eventually recycled. Though no hard data exists, community members claim the amount of garbage left behind is dramatically more during game days.
"It's somewhat of a problem," said Joe Majeski of OSU Facility Services. He has personally seen an increase in the amount of waste left after games during the past four years. He attributes it to the increase in ticket sales.
This recent rise in the OSU athletic program's popularity has lead to an increase in the number of attendees and tailgaters that flood the campus on game days.
With more people comes greater opportunity for littering.
"Most people are well-behaved," Majeski said. "It's unfortunate that there are a handful who cause the problem."
OSU Campus Recycling addresses this problem directly by putting out an extra 11 dumpsters and 186 roll-out "totes."
These 90-gallon drums can be seen all over the Reser Stadium parking lot on game day.
Campus Recycling also handles all of the waste generated in and around Reser Stadium. With help from the Philomath High School Athletics Department, Campus Recycling has processed up to 20 yards of garbage through the trash compacter per game.
Furthermore, eight yards of recyclable bottles and cans will be compacted as well.
Trash accumulation in OSU parking lots is handled by an outside company, Cornerstone Janitorial.
With every parking lot and business surrounding the campus filled to capacity with tailgaters, it's no wonder there is so much garbage.
"But that is no excuse for trashing our campus," said Mario Magana, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Magana has raised his own concerns over the trashing of campus in the past, including writing letters to various organizations which may be concerned.
"Whoever comes into campus should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the institution," Magana said.
Magana also said he has come to work the Monday after a football game to find his own parking spot filled with overflowing bags of trash.
"We are not maintaining our high standards as a research institute," Magana said.
Majeski finds it to be an issue of personal responsibility.
"If you see it, pick it up and help out."
David Stanton, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
OSU generates around 20,000 pounds of solid waste per day. Despite the high numbers, more than 50 percent of that waste is eventually recycled. Though no hard data exists, community members claim the amount of garbage left behind is dramatically more during game days.
"It's somewhat of a problem," said Joe Majeski of OSU Facility Services. He has personally seen an increase in the amount of waste left after games during the past four years. He attributes it to the increase in ticket sales.
This recent rise in the OSU athletic program's popularity has lead to an increase in the number of attendees and tailgaters that flood the campus on game days.
With more people comes greater opportunity for littering.
"Most people are well-behaved," Majeski said. "It's unfortunate that there are a handful who cause the problem."
OSU Campus Recycling addresses this problem directly by putting out an extra 11 dumpsters and 186 roll-out "totes."
These 90-gallon drums can be seen all over the Reser Stadium parking lot on game day.
Campus Recycling also handles all of the waste generated in and around Reser Stadium. With help from the Philomath High School Athletics Department, Campus Recycling has processed up to 20 yards of garbage through the trash compacter per game.
Furthermore, eight yards of recyclable bottles and cans will be compacted as well.
Trash accumulation in OSU parking lots is handled by an outside company, Cornerstone Janitorial.
With every parking lot and business surrounding the campus filled to capacity with tailgaters, it's no wonder there is so much garbage.
"But that is no excuse for trashing our campus," said Mario Magana, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Magana has raised his own concerns over the trashing of campus in the past, including writing letters to various organizations which may be concerned.
"Whoever comes into campus should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the institution," Magana said.
Magana also said he has come to work the Monday after a football game to find his own parking spot filled with overflowing bags of trash.
"We are not maintaining our high standards as a research institute," Magana said.
Majeski finds it to be an issue of personal responsibility.
"If you see it, pick it up and help out."
David Stanton, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
G'Mah
posted 11/18/08 @ 8:22 PM PST
Excellent example of the caliber of OSU students concerned for the environment and the beauty of our planet. And, the Daily Barometer has priorities in order with putting this on the front page above the fold!
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