Too many people and places ignore recycling efforts

I'm not what one would call an "ideal recycler." There are times when I have been diligent in separating the bottles from the cans and the white paper from the glossy paper. There are other times, of which I am less proud, when I have been lazy and simply dumped my trash indiscriminately into the closest garbage can.

A reputable institution of higher learning and, consequently, forward thinking, such as Duke should be at the forefront of setting an example in social and environmental consciousness. That is why I was surprised and somewhat appalled when I finished my meal at the Armadillo Grill a few weeks ago. Having failed in locating a recycling receptacle, I asked an employee what I should do with my used soda bottle, only to have it taken from my hand and chucked into the garbage: "Nobody recycles here, man," quipped the smiling employee.

I've asked around a bit, and I've found that some departments and portions of the Duke community actively support recycling by making it easy for students, employees and faculty to do their small part for the environment, while others have quite a long way to go. The University should make a concerted effort to increase recycling campus-wide. Duke needs to set a good example, especially for not-so-ideal recyclers such as myself, so that eventually it will become second nature for all of us to recycle fastidiously. Let's start by putting some recycling bins in the Armadillo Grill.

Chetan Rao,

Law '01