News Reporter
Statistics show that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. Recycling is beneficial, but workers at Friendly Rod’s Recycling Company might stop work due to the misuse of many of the receptacles on campus.
Rod Johnson, owner of Friendly Rod’s Recycling Company, was disappointed to find out that two of his workers, Pat Calunga and Randy Harris may not continue to sort the recycling on campus due to some disgusting items they found in the recycling receptacles. Some of the items described by Johnson that were found in the receptacles were McDonald’s bags, full containers of pop, and chewing tobacco spit.
“Just try to keep it clean, you know, it really doesn’t take that much,” Johnson said. “If the lids are off, which is not a total requirement, but if they’re off then there are going to be empty for the most part. If they are all full of pop, what are we going to do with that stuff?”
All of the recycling that is collected by Rod’s Recycling is sorted by hand, which adds to the repulsion when dealing with such items. Johnson believes that there is a simple solution to resolve the majority of the problem.
“I don’t know what dorm it is but they cut holes big enough for the plastic and pop cans to go in there, and glass, and there’s a slot in there for paper.” Johnson said, “That’s the best way to resolve the problem because that way they can’t just open the lid and throw all their trash in there.”
Johnson does not believe he should quit working for CMU campus, however, if problems do persist he is not going to make his workers deal with sorting through students’ garbage.
“We’ll probably get some sort of stickers,” Johnson said. “I don’t know what else to do.”
The amount of money made for Friendly Rod’s Recycling is based on the amount of containers collected. However, Johnson does not see the worth in continuing to sort through some of the filth being put in the receptacle.
“It’s not a perfect business,” Johnson said. “You’re going to have to deal with a little bit of stuff, but not when it’s overwhelming.”
The problems that Johnson and his workers are facing are not uncommon however they are new to CMU campus.
“Since the semester started was when it started to get bad.” Johnson said.
Friendly Rod’s Recycling Company provides recycling services to a variety of businesses including The BLM, The Department of Energy, The School District Administration and a lot of others in the Grand Valley.
Despite the amount of business Johnson’s company supports, very few of the other businesses display the same problem that CMU is having. Although this problem is frustrating Johnson believes that a change can be made and that it is up to students and faculty to put in the effort required for the change.
armartinez2@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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