CAIRO: The American University in Cairo (AUC) has launched its first “end of semester” paper collection campaign to encourage students to recycle old lecture notes and other papers accumulated throughout the semester. The campaign aligns with the university's continual efforts to preserve the environment and to raise awareness to the importance of recycling. “We are currently collecting paper separately and selling it to NGOs such as Resala, which recycles it,” said Tina Jaskolski, research coordinator at the Desert Development Center (DDC). The paper is collected in a large bin stationed in front of the library. AUC produces two tons of trash per day, 80% of which are recycled by Zabaleen garbage recyclers in Moqattam. A comprehensive waste separation system at AUC started as a “paper” and “non-paper” sorting system inside AUC buildings and included “food” and “non-food” waste separation outdoors. The most recent new waste separation system at AUC encourages separation of “plastic, “cans” and “glass.” Non-paper waste is picked up by a garbage collector from Menshiyet Nasser. According to Jaskloski, items brought to Menshiyet Nasser are recycled or resold domestically, or to China. “For the waste separation and recycling efforts in Menshiyet Nasser, it is important that we keep the food and organic waste separate from the rest. Sorting of the materials is done by hand and if it is all mixed, this is a very difficult process,” she explained. “Also, some garbage, such as paper, cannot be recycled at all if it is contaminated with food waste.” In order to promote environmental sustainability on campus, the DDC founded the “AUC Sustainable Campus Committee” this semester. The committee organized the awareness raising event “Earth Week 2010″, in celebration of the international Earth Day in April. “As part of Earth Week, the committee produced a short educational film explaining the new sorting system. DDC students teams were sent into departments AUC-wide to show the film to 120 staff and to do a short presentation and also organized a campus planting event. “We are now planning to hold several educational sessions to train all cleaning staff and DDC staff in recycling practices and explain the recycling background to the AUC bin system,” added Jaskolski. The Desert Development Center (DDC) is a non-profit, applied research institution established by the American University in Cairo in 1979. Since its inception, the DDC has focused on the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of communities in Egypt's arid lands. Through agricultural and socioeconomic research, training programs, and community service, the DDC seeks to improve the overall well-being of Egyptians living in desert areas. BM
