A Church-Wide, World-Wide, Campus-Wide Call to Recycle

Climate change. Sustainability. Going green. Recycling. These are just some of many
buzz phrases concerning the current state of and the future of our environment. These words,
however, are permeating more than caf conversations about styrofoam cups and classroom
discussions on what exactly climate change entails. Major world forces, from the Catholic
Church to the United Nations, are in the midst of tackling this topic.
And here at Spring Hill College, students and faculty are taking note and making
changes.
On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis issued his second encyclical and the first encyclical
centered on environmental issues: Laduto Si: On Care for Our Common Home. This encyclical
generated a great deal of attention from people both within and outside of the Catholic Church,
which is not a surprise as nearly every aspect of Francis papacy generates public interest.
In his historic congressional address on Sept. 24, Pope Francis referenced his latest
encyclical: In Laudato Si, I call for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps,
and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human
activity.
The world listened as the leader of the Catholic Church addressed the United States
Congress and called for environmental change.
According to un.org, the worlds greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to increase
and on the present path, global temperature rise will far exceed the goal to limit of two degrees
Celsius that countries have agreed upon to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.

Change is necessary; 2014 was the hottest year on record, and as greenhouses gases continue to
increase, temperatures will only continue to follow suit.
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, representatives from around the world will address this climate
change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. The goal of the
conference, according to un.org, is to create a universal climate agreement.
According to catholicnews.com, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the lead consultant on the papal
encyclical on the environment, expresses his desire for the U.N. representatives to utilize Pope
Francis environmental encyclical when making decisions: It is the hope and desire of the Holy
See that the guidance of 'Laudato Si will provide the moral fiber (for the conference). Further,
he states, I am hoping the world's leaders in Paris will come away with concrete gestures and
actions.
Dr. Stephen Wilson, professor of theology, explains how the encyclical addresses these
concrete gestures and actions: Toward the end of the encyclical he talks about how certain
small actions like reduction in consumption and recycling can serve as practices that help
cultivate virtues that help us view and use the rest of creation more broadly.
Recycling is one of these concrete steps towards combating climate change. At Spring
Hill, an ad hoc recycling committee made up of various faculty members and students is
currently in the process of working towards a permanent recycling infrastructure.
Dr. Bordas. assistant professor of chemistry and moderator of Green Keepers, created the
committee in an effort to improve on-campus recycling. She explains that that Spring Hill
College does, contrary to popular belief, recycle. However, the recycling process is currently in a
transitional state.

Currently, all recyclable materials collected since the beginning of this year have been
stockpiling, says Bordas. This stockpile is a heaping pile of plastic water bottles, glass beer
bottles and a slew of unidentifiable plastic containers located behind Plant Ops.
Green Keepers, according to Bordas, will separate the pile by material in order to
facilitate the recycling process. This, however, is just a temporary solution.
Bordas explains that the college will soon work in conjunction with Goodwill Easter
Seals recycling center located in West Mobile.
Sarah Boccardo, Director of Sustainability for Goodwill Easter Seals, shares that after
partnering with the University of South Alabama, she was interested in seeing she could help
Spring Hill in the same way.
Boccardo explains that in order for Goodwill Easter Seals to begin picking up recycling
on campus, Spring Hill must provide a waterproof, covered area for the cardboard palettes that
are necessary to place the large recycling containers on, so that the box trucks can easily pick up
the recycling. The road to this area, which will be located behind Plant Ops, must also be
properly paved.
Bordas explains that SHC is in the process of meeting both of those requirements.
Andrew Pettus, junior class senator, shares that Spring Hill hopes to have them in place by next
semester.
Pettus also explains that next semester, SGA will make minimal investments towards
disposable recyclable containers. This will serve as a trial period to determine what types of
containers will work best for this campus.

Another aspect of providing campus-wide recycling is acquiring funding. Bordas

explains that she, along with the recycling committee, is currently writing a grant and proposal to
take to Spring Hills senate. The proposal, she shares, includes a plan to offer an optional $5
green fee to all students and faculty.
Perhaps one day at Spring Hill we will have a budget in line for recycling. At that point,
we will always have recycling, says Bordas with a smile.
Bordas shares her belief that the issue of recycling on campus needs the support of
everyone on campus: Its your life, take control of it. If you want it, make it happen.
Here are several steps to make it happen on Spring Hills campus:
-Utilize the recycling receptacles around campus.
-Collect paper and bring it to the green dumpster located behind Plant Ops.
-Create recycling containers in your dorm or apartment.
-Try to reduce your own waste by reusing materials and avoiding disposable
goods, such as plastic and styrofoam.