Lang 1

Conner Lang
ENGL 1010-19
Marley-Latham
12 September 2014
Lack of Green in Blue Country
Within these past couple months living in the town of Murfreesboro, I have compared it to my
own hometown (like we all naturally do) in Asheville, North Carolina, and I have found a great variety of
differences between the two places. The one that stands out the most to me is the lack of recycling
throughout the area, particularly the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. The amount of waste
that is produced throughout the campus could show a difference if there were a greater amount of
recycling bins that were more prominent (meaning stand-outish) in the area, and would cut down on the
amount that students throw away on a regular basis, therefore contributing to a greener campus. The
impact on more prominent recycling opportunities though would be questionable when the issue weighs
more on the individual students personal responsibility.
This little city of Murfreesboro, found only about forty minutes away from Nashville, Tennessee,
originally was recognized as the capitol of Tennessee, until the city of Nashville took it in the year of
1826 (Welcome). Murfreesboro was an agricultural community, focusing on crops such as corn,
cotton, and tobacco for economic income (Welcome). In the year of 1911, the campus of Middle
Tennessee State Normal School was founded, and therefore creating the foundation of our wonderful
University (Welcome).
I have walked out of the Student Union a couple times during the week, and trash cans can be a
pathetic site before the garbage has been collected. There is so much trash, it gets to the point where it is
crammed down into the waste bins found around campus, to the point where they overflow, creating a
mountain of used soda cups and wrappers that are just placed on top of the containers. Little piles have
formed next to the trash cans, and the problem experiences a transition to a more common sense issue.
There are some days where I will walk to my car, and I can spot out at least four or five bottles, crushed
and bent inwards by being constantly run over, that have been tossed out of cars and have not been
bothered to be cleaned out and recycled. Naturally, I pick them up and take them home, because my
neighborhood is fortunate to have recycling. Thankfully, I looked out of the window of the Library
moments ago, where a girl was driving a cart behind her bike that was purposely for recycled material
that was to be collected throughout campus.
I went to go talk to some of the MTOP staff members at the Rec Center and was fortunate enough
to interview Mike Bowen about what he does to help create a greener atmosphere during trips, and
everyday activities around campus. MTOP stands for Middle Tennessee Outdoor Pursuits; an outdoor

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group that is responsible for the organization of outdoor activities that include water sports, hiking, rock
climbing, and other adventures. He told me that he certifies MTOP trip leaders in LNT-Leave No Trace.
Bowen explains, It helps promote groups that we take on trips to pick up trash, to reduce the amount of
litter, along with teaching students to learn how to respect the environment, and to leave areas in good
condition for the future. Another MTOP staff member included that practicing LNT is also super
important when taking groups on backpacking trips, because there is no need for the wildlife to be
exposed to the waste that humans produce. At the Rec Center, staff members do recycle paper instead of
throwing it away. To also reduce the amount of waste personally, Bowen does not buy bottled water, to
help save plastic.
As an environmental activist, it disappoints me that people are not willing to find the time to at
least to as small part in keeping the city, let alone the campus, green. Striving to keep any area clean can
add up when looking at the big picture of how our world has been tarnished by trash, along with other
waste from polluting objects such as toxins and solid waste from sewage that is constantly being
produced. So, by just taking a water bottle and recycling the plastic by placing it in a recycling bin instead
of a trash can is much better than letting it sit in a landfill where the material of the product will not break
down for several generations. Therefore, Middle Tennessee State University campus should focus on
being true blue, but also being truly green.