Any UChicago student has certainly seen, and probably used, one of the many recycling bins on campus. As any Maclab tutor could tell you, the Maclab recycling bins are emptied into the same container with all the other trash. Just from that observation, I think it would be fair to assume that the rest of the Reg’s recycling containers are treated the same way, but surely other buildings recycle, right? Apparently not so… Apparently the bins in the Reynolds Club are treated the same way. We only have paper bins (ignore the sticker that says aluminum cans only), but the Reynolds Club has full on different bins for different types of recyclables. I think it is safe to assume that the same is true for the rest of campus. I realize that recycling in Chicago sucks, but surely the university could find some way of recycling. I think this whole mess is really offensive on so many different levels, besides the fact UChicago is not recycling. Is this thing some sort of ruse on someone’s part so that students and staff can feel better about the university and feel good for thinking we are recycling. I go out of my way to recycle when I can, dammit. The university could at least show the same respect for its community.

Update: Apparently, trash is sorted after the fact, so it doesn’t really matter, but it is still less than forthright to put up recycling bins if they are just combined anyway.