The trash and recycling barrels kept in dorm hallways around campus were removed in May and since then have been mostly replaced with dumpsters. Why were they taken away?
The Guilford College Student Handbook states, “It is the responsibility of each resident to keep his/her living area clean, safe, and sanitary …Trash should be removed from rooms, suites, houses and apartments and placed in an approved trash container. Failure to place trash in appropriate areas may result in a fine.”
Brian Campbell, a senior majoring in Sports Studies, thought the trashcan in English Hall’s bathroom was an “approved trash container” when on a rainy night he ripped his empty pizza box into pieces and threw it out.
“It’s a trashcan, I figured that was where trash could go. I would have gotten soaked if I went outside and none of us have recycling bins in our rooms so I couldn’t recycle it.”
A week later Campbell received an e-mail from Jodi Gill, Associate Dean for Campus Life, which said, “Trash has been located in your residence area. You have 24 hours to correct the situation.
“You will be charged $50 for this violation of policy and a note will be added to your judicial account.”
Campus Life then posted this message on the Guilford Buzz: “All trash is to be placed in the appropriate dumpsters located near each residential hall. DO NOT put trash in the hallways, stairwells or in locations previously used for trash …
“Campus Life is committed to the creation of a healthier living environment for all residents, and each student must do their part by removing their trash. Students in violation of the regulations regarding trash will face a $50 fine and a disciplinary reprimand for 1st offense.”
Reasons for the original removal of trashcans were not directly addressed.
Floyd McKissick, President of Community Senate, spoke to Anne Lundquist and Joe Vereen in Campus Life and found out why the trashcans had been removed.
In enclosed dorms such as Binford and Milner the trashcans were a health and safety hazard.
“Trash piles up in these halls and on the weekends it’s worse because housekeeping doesn’t work. In Milner there are people who live in rooms right next to where the trash was piling up and it wasn’t fair to them to smell the trash and live beside the insects,” said McKissick.
In Bryan the trashcans were a fire hazard, blocking the path of exits.
Campbell contested this health and safety violation, saying the pizza box had been left in a trashcan, and his sentence was lowered to ten hours of community service with Monty Walker. He still feels this is steep.
“How could a pizza box be worth $50?” he asked. “They never even gave me a warning.”
“I would work for house keeping if I got $50 for every piece of trash I removed from a hallway, but somehow I don’t think they’re getting that money,” said senior Peter Tripp.
McKissick supports the decision to keep Guilford’s campus safe and healthy, and feels students can easily be responsible for their own waste.
“The housekeeping staff…shouldn’t have to pick up trash off the floor for us. We can take responsibility for our own trash,” said McKissick.
Other students aren’t happy. One large complaint is the lack of recycling facilities.
“Where are all the green recycling cans that used to be around campus? It’s like we’re not allowed to recycle anymore,” said senior Daniel Worrall.
Milner, the most populated dorm on campus, doesn’t have a recycling dumpster in its dumpster area.
Most students don’t mind living without trashcans, but feel the school should have been more forthcoming about the change in policy.
“Now that I know why the trash and recycling bins disappeared it’s not so bad,” said Worrall. “I just wish the school had told us.