MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: DR.

DIANA NATALICIO JAMAL ASAD, JOSE PEREZ, NOE VILLA, JOSE CORTEZ UTEP RECYCLING PROPOSITION OCTOBER 22, 2013

The UTEP Centennial year is fast approaching and it is a complete excitement for all the students attending or associated with the university. Changes are taking place as we speak and the University of Texas at El Paso is only getting bigger and better. A University with the credentials of having 100 years under its belt is no accident. The reason for having such longevity is the positive image, great learning environment, great teachers, staff, and contributions of fellow students. The student committee at UTEP would love to be part of the centennial year that is fast approaching. We feel that improving the recycling program will continue the trend of having a positive and great clean university. Having a green university is not just for a positive image; it plays a major factor in the environment, the students economic standpoint, and energy efficiency. An organized green program would create jobs exclusively for students who are in need and would help the overall cost in the university while making the environment a better and cleaner place. Importance: In the past 10 years, recycling has been integrated as a part of life here in the United States. It is the responsibility of everyone to recycle and help facilitate for a better environment in our community. The idea of adapting a recycling program can have major effects on a very simple plan. One might have doubts and questions whether or not recycling is important. Why should we recycle? There are a lot of benefits to recycling; the MIT Department of Facilities has researched the following facts that are critical and important for change:

The average American throws away 3.5 pounds of trash per day. The average American uses 650 lbs. of paper per year. One ton of paper from recycled pulp saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 7000 gallons of water, 4200 kWh (enough to heat a home for half a year), 390 gallons of oil, and prevents 60 pounds of air pollutants. Producing recycled white paper creates 74 percent less air pollution, 35 percent less water pollution, and 75 percent less processed energy than producing paper from virgin fibers.

Recycling one ton of cardboard saves over nine cubic yards of landfill space. Number of landfills in operation in 1978: 14,000; in 1988: 7,924; in 2001: 1,858; in 2006: 1,754. Recycling one ton of newspaper saves 15 trees. Every ton of newspaper recycled saves 4100 kWh or enough energy to power a TV for 31 hours. Recycling a soda can saves 96 percent of the energy used to make a can from ore and produces 95 percent less air pollution and 97 percent less water pollution. One gallon of oil, when reprocessed, can generate enough energy to meet the electricity needs of a home for half a day The plastic used in one toner cartridge contains about a half quart of oil.

The ECO CYCLE program conducted research on health problems, energy conservation, and financial issues. Recycling can benefit these three fields.

Recycling Prevents pollution. When recycling material is used in place of virgin material, we avoid the environmental damage caused by mining, for metals, cutting trees, and drilling for petroleum. Recycled white paper creates 74% less air pollution than producing virgin paper. Recycling cans instead of extracting ore to make aluminum cans produce 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution. Every year Americans generate 23 million tons of solid waste , by recycling 30 percent of our waste every year Landfills and incinerators are major sources of pollution and fills are the largest source of human-caused methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

Implementing the program Green Texas can help with many problems that our environment encounters. Students, parents, teachers, and staff members do not have to go on long drives to recycle because Green Texas implemented in UTEP can be used by anyone and everyone. Everyone can just drive to the containers and recycle since it is open to the public. Also Green Texas can influence the universitys image; a good image of the university can go a long way into making a student feel that they are indeed a difference when it comes to recycling. People learn best by example. If a recycling program was not available, people may not think its important and wont worry about the environment. Green Texas will not just help a school, but can help its community. Current Community and University Recycling: The UTEP recycling program began in 1998 focusing on recycling paper. They have grown to include the recycling of various paper products, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and even printing cartridges. UTEP is on the verge on becoming Green School but other universities are already of us. Our New Mexico State University rivals also have implemented a recycling program that originates in 1994. Their program allows

their collegiate community to recycle many items while having at least 4 collection stations per campus building. Aggie Recycling is able to recycle a variety of materials to include plastic #1 (PET,PETE), aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, steel, tires, asphalt, concrete, and yard waste. (Regents of NSMU, 2005). During a recent trip to NMSU campus, weve seen recycle bins placed right beside garbage bins in areas where they have high volumes of pedestrian traffic. Other UT schools also have more developed systems and are able to handle higher quantities and more diverse recyclable materials. Here in the City of El Paso, the curbside recycling program has been very successful. This project was originally released late 2005 to 2006 and it led to massive participation from local citizens. The pilot saw a 50 percent participation rate from citizens and realized a 15 percent diversion rate. (Fenstermacher, 2008). Citizens are able to recycle by using a blue 96 gallon container that is collected once a week along with their garbage. The program current collects many paper products, plastics, and metals. Resources that come from raw materials are much more expensive that recyclable resources. There isnt a necessity to continue to mine raw materials if there is already a plentiful amount that can be recyclable. But not just raw materials can be preserved, energy is as well. Each year, steel recycling saves the equivalent to electrically power about one-fifth of U.S. households for one year. (City of El Paso, 2013). It is indeed a tremendous cost for everyone in our society if no action is taken. UTEP and the City of El Paso have already begun implanting their recycling programs. The city of El Paso is able to reach great success in their program El Paso has been ranked No.19 by Recycling Today magazine for having the largest curbside recycling program in the nation. (Cant, 2013). UTEPs recycling program has achieved quite the success and is considered by some to be lagging behind compared to its UT counterparts. our recycling program is manned by one full-time person and four students. (Nuez, 2013). There have been plans to have students run the recycling operations plant at UTEP as they do in other universities. UTEP needs to improve its recycling program so that students are able understand and act on the current and future environmental challenges while at the same time helping them learn how to reduce cost. When that it completed the image of UTEPs recycling program will be held in high regards and possibly form a future partnership with the City of El Paso to continue implementing more programs and projects that lead everyone to a healthier community. Rebates & Tax Benefits: Implementing a recycling program can lead to tax advantages and benefits. Incentives can come from state and federal agencies, such as the Department of Commerce and the Internal Revenue Service, in such forms as rebates and tax credits. Materials needed to start the program are subject to rebates from the state of Texas. For years now, Texas has had a rebate program where any business or institution that uses recycling equipment or purchases equipment for recycling purposes is eligible to recoup up to 50% of the cost. The IRS allows a depreciation allowance for qualified reuse and

recycling equipment. In order to qualify, institutions must own machinery or equipment that is used exclusively to recycle, collect, or distribute recycled materials. The IRS also includes rebates for software used to help in the recycling process. Such equipment must have a life span of at least five years, and must have been purchased after August 31, 2008 (Marlowe, 2013). Added Revenue: Every year it seems that budgets are getting smaller, and UTEP is forced to make tough decisions. The added revenue from recyclables can help supplement a dwindling budget. We were able to contact various recycling organizations for information on what type of services they offer. They are willing to pick up the recyclables once a week, at which time they weigh the materials, at no cost to the university. Every month, the university will get: Plastics- $0.20/lb. Paper & Cardboard- $0.03/lb. Aluminum- $0.55/lb.

Barbara Wilson, account specialist for Twin Cities Recyclers Inc. stated, It can be greatly beneficial to the university to take part in a recycling program, both for environmental and economic reasons. Conclusion: In the end, recycling can not only improve our environment, but it can improve the quality of our lives: for our health, financially, etc. Using reusable resources is more efficient and cheaper that mining for raw resources. We believe that if the recycling program was improved, we would continue striving to become a green university and catch up with our fellow UT schools. The general public would recycle if it was made easy for them; something so simple such as placing a recycling bin next to a trash bin. The government also provides tax for those organizations who do participate in recycling. We would finally love to thank you for taking the time in considering our green program idea. It is an important historic year and implementing a positive green program would only follow the tradition of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Works Cited BioCycle. 2006. The State of Garbage. City of El Paso. 2013. El Paso Curbside Recycling. October 20, 2013 < http://www.recycleelpaso.org/index.php> City of Fort Collins, 2006. Why Recycling Matters. October 20, 2013 <http://fcgov.com/recycling/why_recycle.php> Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment. Lowry Landfill. Deneen, S. 2006. Recycling Has Come a Long Way. EPA. 2005. Energy Impacts of Waste Management. Fenstermacher, Kurt. 2008. 2007 Municipal Recycling Supplement-Into the Blue Recycling Today. GIE Media Inc. October 20, 2013 < http://www.recyclingtoday.com/Article.aspx?article_id=20925> Marlowe, Jennifer. 2013. Tax Benefits for Businesses that Recycle Paper Demand Media Inc. October 21, 2013 < http://www.ehow.com/list_6916205_tax-benefits-businesses-recyclepaper.html> New Mexico State University. 2008. Aggie Recycling. NMSU Board of Regents. October 20, 2013 <http://www.nmsu.edu/aggierecycling/index.html> Nunez, Sabrina. 2013. UTEP Lags Behind with Recylcing in UT System The Propspector. October 20, 2013

< http://www.utepprospector.com/news/utep-lags-behind-with-recycling-in-utsystem-1.2985455#.UmWuctKsiSq> Wilson, Barbara. Recyclables Rates October 21, 2013.