Library Gazette

Ever wonder what happens to the papers we place in the Cintas Security containers conveniently located on levels 2 (behind Circulation), 4 (in the Reference workroom), and 8 (in room 802)? Well today while walking in to the Library I happened to see the Cintas truck getting ready to load and shred the contents of our bins! I pulled out my trusty cell phone and took a picture.

As you can see from the photo, the Cintas Security containers are emptied into a large rolling bin that attaches to the side of the truck and is lifted up and dumped into the truck. The screen by the operator allows people to see the contents of the bins being shredded as they enter!

You may have noticed that ZSR has stepped up its recycling efforts this semester. We’re keeping pace with the rest of the university as Jim Alty, the new Assistant VP of Facilities Management, drives Wake Forest toward a more sustainable posture.

Throughout the library, one can find receptacles for recycling glass, metal, paper and plastic. In ITC, one can deposit spent batteries for recycling and outside the mail room, one can leave cardboard for recycling. Glass, metal and plastic can be recycled in the same container but paper must be recycled by itself.

If you look, you’ll find recycling bins throughout the building to make it easier for patrons and staff to recycle rather than throw away recyclable material. We’re using a variety of bin styles based on availability and the size of the bin and its location. In the 24-hour study rooms, you might see the big black bins or the square metal containers; in the stacks and stairwells you’ll see the black bins and the low blue bins while in government documents, Mary Lib has supplied her own tiny green recycle bins to fit in a small space!

We’ve had two recent additions to our collection of recycling containers. In the atrium you’ll find two multi-material recycling stations. These four-slot stations allow patrons to throw away trash, paper or glass/metal/plastic in a single container. You may have seen this same style of recycling station in Benson Center. Secondly, we’ve recently received personal recycling containers from the facilities department. Each office and public work area now has its own blue recycling container. Please note that our housekeeping staff will NOT empty these; each person must sort and empty her materials into the appropriate larger bins in your area. Housekeeping empties the larger recycling containers twice a week.

Did you notice that recycling bins are usually clustered with a trash can? That was done by design; making a trash can available near the recycling bins decreases the degree of contamination in the recycling bins. When a trash can isn’t readily available, patrons often deposit trash in a recycling bin, making its entire contents unfit to be recycled. By placing trash receptacles with the recycling containers for paper and glass/metal/plastic we’ve tried to maximize the amount of material we recycle. If you have a question about whether a container is intended for trash or recycling, here’s the indicator: trash cans are lined with black plastic trash bags but recycling containers are lined with clear bags.

Please, do your part to minimize the volume of trash ZSR sends to the landfill by recycling all the materials you possibly can.