When you are done reading the newspaper you now have in front of you, what will become of it? What are the chances you’ll walk to one of the newspaper recycling bins located next to Scroll newsstands around campus? Probably slim.

With the few recycling programs available in Rexburg and on campus, even the well intended are unable to do their part for the environment.

Currently, there is no city-sponsored recycling program in Rexburg. John Millar, public works director for the city of Rexburg, said the city has discussed the idea before but cannot economically facilitate an independent recycling program.

While some private businesses have come to Rexburg to recycle products such as metals and limited amounts of paper products, it wasn’t economical because the recycling facilities are so far away. In addition, Millar said there haven’t really been any requests from residents for a recycling program.

A lack of requests doesn’t necessarily mean that if such a program was initiated no one would recycle. In fact, about seven years ago the city proposed a program, which would cost residents $1 per month for curbside pick up of recyclables, said Dawn Anderson, a BYU-Idaho English professor and Rexburg resident. The only publicity it got was a proposal in the paper and only about 65 people responded — 45 of whom were against the idea, and the proposal was dropped.

“Many people I spoke to had no idea that [a recycling program] was an option, and they would have supported one had they known,” Anderson said.

Going the extra mile where recycling is concerned does make a difference. In 2004, Californians recycled 12 billion bottles and cans and saved the equivalent of enough energy to power up to 522 thousand homes, according to the California Department of Conservation.

In plainer terms for the TV addict, recycling a single aluminum can save enough energy to run a television for three hours. That’s three episodes of Lost.

While students may not have much to say as to what is done at a city level, there can certainly be improvements on campus. Currently recycling options available to students are very limited, as is communication regarding these options. Every office on campus has a recycling bin, which is emptied every day by janitorial workers, but this may not be enough.

BYU-I is also involved in recycling items such as oil, coordinated by the automotive shop, and cardboard, collected by the grounds crew, apart from the standard paper, but these do not directly involve the efforts of most students.

Darin Lee, BYU-I’s director of purchasing and travel and co-chairman of the recycling committee, said increasing recycling options on campus would take commitment from a group of students with a desire and a plan to make it happen. In the mean time, he suggests using the bins placed in key locations on campus until more can be established.

Ideally, students should have direct access to a recycling bin in every classroom, and glass bottle and can drop-offs should be placed in key locations such as cafeterias and next to vending machines.

This won’t happen until students with concerns vocalize them. And until this happens, students need to utilize what they have. So do your part and correctly dispose of this newspaper. After you’ve finished it, of course.