The success of recycling at Penn State is up to the student body, leaders of the recycling program said.

Chuck Spencer, a member of Earth House, a special living option for students interested in the environment and agriculture, said recycling at the university is not up to par. He said those in authority should do more because once the bins are full, students often simply throw an item away instead of looking for a different recycling location.

"If it's up to the students, it doesn't get done," Spencer said.

Albert Matyasovsky, supervisor of central support services for the Office of Physical Plant, said if students are paying attention, they will notice the many recycling options on campus.

"There are ways out there; students just have to look for them," he said.

Matyasovsky is in charge of the dynamics behind the recycling program in effect at Penn State. He is responsible for the integrity of the program that began in 1990.

He said the actual emptying of the recycling bins is the responsibility of the janitorial and housing staff. This staff brings the recycled products to a loading dock, then the OPP waste management team takes the items away.

David Manos, housing manager for East, West and North halls, said housing takes care of the recycling of newspapers, cardboard and mixed office paper, but the rest is up to the students. If there is student initiative and interest, bins will be provided to recycle glass and plastic containers, he said.

"To be successful, students need to be involved in leadership roles," he said.

Housing does not recycle glass and plastic containers because of a lack of workers to implement the program, Manos said. When the workforce of the housing office was adapted to work seven days a week instead of five, the number of workers was not increased, he said. Therefore, the staff is not as available to aid in the recycling program.

Another issue about the program is that of co-mingling, which Manos described as different recyclable goods being placed into the same bins, such as a can being placed in a newspaper bin. When this happens, all materials must be discarded as trash due to time constraints.

Manos said that in Findlay Commons, some of the newspaper recycling containers have been removed because students are simply throwing trash into them.

Manos said the recycling program will be most effective if more students become involved and begin paying attention. He said students can take action to create a community interested in recycling.

"Student involvement will build awareness and create a sense of responsibility," Manos said.