By Tara Conry

Over the past three weeks Dutch Treats has become the springboard for raising awareness about the University’s policy regarding recycling.

The controversy erupted when a collective group of students made attempts to deposit their empty soda cans, which had been purchased from Dutch Treats, for the purposes of recycling and reclaiming the five cents they were entitled to by New York State law.

Passed in the 1980s, the law states that any store which sells carbonated beverages for the purposes of consumption off the store premises is required to accept the empty cans, refund the purchaser the appropriate amount, and ensure the container be properly recycled.

“Since Dutch Treats is a supermarket they are legally required to take back and this was a blatant violation of the law,” said Peter Seltzer, a member of Students Against Injustice (SAI), who played a significant role in what he deems a “victory.”

Seltzer, in collaboration with other members of SAI responded to the incident at Dutch Treats by contacting a representative of the Department of Environment Protection, who addressed Lackmann Dining Services about the violation. As a result, Dutch Treats is currently reclaiming the cans to be recycled.

“This was not a monetary issue but an incentive to encourage students to recycle,” Seltzer said.

In addition, the incident has motivated SAI to evaluate recycling policies and practices throughout the campus and combat “student apathy” towards such issues. The group has met with President Stuart Rabinowitz to propose the installation of a Bottle Deposit Machine in Dutch Treats.

Presently, the Computer Labs use only 100 percent recycled paper, however, SAI would like to see the rest of the University to participate in this practice. Throughout classrooms and offices there are recycling receptacles, but SAI still feels that there is a lack of recycling on campus.

While the Student Center may not be inundated with recycling bins, Eisa Shukran, director of Dining Services assures students that “we do in fact recycle.” After failed attempts to place the responsibility on the diners to sort their trash into the proper receptacle, the process now occurs off campus at Jamaica Ash Plant. A representative at the Plant Department verified this statement.

Another grievance voiced by Seltzer and SAI is that “Lackmann is not enforcing the use of chinaware as an alternative to plastic plates.” Shukran has instructed all employees at the five service stations to ask every individual if they would prefer to dine in rather than opting for a plastic to-go container. Nevertheless, Shukran acknowledges that while he’d prefer to serve his food on chinaware, which improves both its taste and presentation, “you can’t change the mentality of 14,000 students over night.”