University-provided, opt-in system only utilized by 3 of 20 organizations
Greek Village, it turns out, isn’t so green.
Unlike at other residences around campus, the university doesn’t require a unified Greek Village recycling program, and only three of the 20 housed chapters in the village participate in USC’s opt-in system.
Kappa Delta, Delta Zeta and Chi Omega sororities are the only organizations in Greek Village that have used the program, which removes plastic and aluminum from the houses once a week, according to Katie Spell, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority life.
The program has only existed for the past three years, said Ryan Williams, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority life, and the level of participation has been consistent.
“We provide recycling as an option through the university to every organization and it’s up to them to opt into that, so some of them have chosen to do that and some of them have not,” Williams said.
Recycling coordinator Larry Cook attributed the low level of participation to miscommunication between the Facilities Department and Greek Village and to his recent hire.
“It might have been a little slower this year because I only started in April,” Cook said. “The information given to all of the house staff didn’t have my name or email, just a phone number.”
A lack of already existing recycling tools could also be an issue, Cook said.
“Each house is its own entity. With residence halls, it’s a little more uniform, every residence facility already has the infrastructure for recycling because they’ve taken that on as a priority, whereas in Greek Village it’s up to the individual houses,” Cook said. “If they don’t opt in, they don’t get the bins and other things.”
All residence halls have recycling programs. Sustainable Carolina also runs the EcoRep program, through which students promote living sustainably in residence halls, which includes recycling regularly
Williams said that Fraternity and Sorority Life is “trying to make recycling more accessible.”
“A house can opt in at any point during the year,” he said. “The information is given to every house staff member through the Office of Student Life.”
Houses that already recycle may be able to recycle paper if they keep it completely separate from other recyclables, Cook said.