This campus is dotted with green and blue recycling tubs. The green tubs are for bottles, the blue bins are for paper and the round ones are for cans. They are color coordinated. They’re clearly marked to identify what goes inside. Each one is strategically placed so people don’t have to exert themselves to utilize them. They are meant to be convenient because most people know few will go out of their way to actually make a difference.

Despite all this, I think some people walk this campus without knowing they even exist.

I spent a lot of time collecting the cans and bottles from these tubs for the recycling department. As I went from building to building collecting the recycling, and even today as I wander from class to class, I am constantly annoyed by what I see. I gaze in disbelief into the garbage cans of this campus. Everywhere I go I still see bottles and cans sitting among the leftovers, gum wrappers and litter in the garbage cans.

When I see these recyclables sitting in the garbage, I become a little irked. What’s worse, most of the time there is a recycling tub sitting right next to the garbage, and then I become infuriated.

I’m not sure why some of these recyclable end up in the garbage. I know it can’t be ignorance because each bin is marked so clearly, and you could teach a monkey how to use them. My only conclusion – people are apathetic or lazy. However, neither serve as good excuse and both can be corrected with minimal effort.

Recycling is such an easy way to make a difference and lend a hand in helping the environment. No one can deny the fact that garbage is taking over our neighborhoods and backyards as dumps fill up and people keep wasting more and more. Just because you recycle does not mean you a crazy tree-hugging hippy. If you inhabit the Earth, its your responsibly to recycle.

Americans are the most wasteful people, yet we have the most recycling resources at our finger tips. Do we feel no shame?

Throwing away your pop can once you’re finished is pure habit, and like any bad habit, it just takes a small effort to break it.

To be fair, and to guard myself against hypocrisy, it took me a good month to set up the recycling program in my house. I was lazy. However, it just took one little push to get it started. I had to pull out extra garbage bags and mark them aluminum, plastic and paper. It takes minimal effort.

Soon, placing the recyclables in their proper place became habit and my roommates and I did it without thinking. It no longer seemed like extra effort, and the pathetic display of laziness was no longer a factor.

Eastern has already won awards for its efforts to recycle. Other schools and businesses come to us just to see what our secret is and model themselves after our program. Many people put a huge effort into making sure Eastern’s program goes beyond the bare requirements, and it takes a great deal of time and dedication. I can guarantee it takes more effort than pulling out three extra garbage bags for your home or shifting three feet to the left to put you bottle in the correct bin.

If the polluting pop drinkers on campus could walk those couple of steps, or take time to break their bad habits, there is no telling what kind of difference we could make.