Coke Recycle: a new flavour

Coca Cola came to central campus Monday, 13 October, to launch their new recycling scheme.

Warwick is the first university to team up with Coca-Cola Enterprises and the ‘Waste and Resources Action Programme’, to join the ‘Recycle Now’ project.

Bins for cans, bottles and other recyclable waste have been installed around campus. Now students will be able to recycle while not at home.

The Environment Manager of the University, Nick Hillard, said Warwick was “very proud” to be chosen as the first university site for the recycle zones. He went on to highlight the environmental programmes already in place at Warwick, one of the most extensive lists in the country.

However, many students seem to be completely unaware of the launch and have not noticed the new recycling bins. Already a few days after the first bin was installed, they are being filled with non-recyclable waste.

This is most probably because many have not noticed the new bins are designated for certain materials. The signs on some are easily to miss, complained one student.

Some feel this reflects general student apathy and lack of involvement in their university. Others disagree, sighting the countless societies, charities and activities run by students.

Students’ Union President, Stuart Thomson, remains positive and says that it may take a couple of weeks before students take note of and start using the bins.

All those asked agree that this is a positive step and many said they do recycle at home. However, some of those polled expressed distrust or dislike for Coca Cola Enterprises. Though none said their opinion of Coca Cola would affect them making use of the recycling bins.

In the past there has been much opposition on campus to Coca Cola’s practices. People & Planet President Hannah Smith explains the mixed feeling some students might be having.

In supporting Coca Cola in this “we would be going against a great deal of opposition that has been advocated in the past and endorsing a company whose business practices are far from satisfactory.

“On the other hand, People & Planet have been campaigning towards recycling on campus for many years now and Recycle Zone is providing a much-needed system of recycling.”

Smith says she hopes the bins will be used effectively by students and conclude that to condemn such a positive move just because Coca Cola is involved would be “foolish.”

People & Planet is the largest campaigning society on campus and run a number of campaigns from anti-arms trade to the well-known Go Green Week.

The scheme addresses the lack of recycling facilities when people are away from their home. Often those who take care to recycle at home are unable to while on the go.

Coca Cola Enterprises and WRAP plan to have 80 Recycling Zones installed around the country by 2011.

WRAP is a governmental non-profit organisation which works with the business sector to encourage recycling, waste management and projects like this one.

The Government aims to increase the national rate of recycling by 40 percent by 2010.

Warwick’s goal to become a greener university, part of its ‘Vision 2015’, is one is the University’s defining aspects.