We, the undersigned students, faculty, staff, and alumni, call on the Regis College community, led by the President, Administrative Council, and Board of Trustees, to fund and implement a campus-wide structured and accessible waste recycling system.

Meaningful recycling programs are industry standard for colleges and universities across the United States and fostered by organizations such as the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), which provides both general plans for programs, as well as grants to strengthen institutions’ efforts at implementing recycling plans.[1] Moreover, as an institution of higher education guided by the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, we must meet our moral and legal obligations.

• Massachusetts Waste Disposal Bans prohibit the disposal of aluminum, metal, and glass containers, single polymer plastics, and recyclable paper with ordinary trash.[2]

• The Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston's charter clearly articulates a commitment to environmental sustainability and a passion for active stewardship of our natural resources.

Included in this Petition is a draft Plan for a Campus-Wide Recycling Program developed by students in ID 214 Environmental Studies and members of the Student Government Association. The plan calls for formal education, awareness, and training, and for new recycling stations to be stationed across campus with clearly labeled containers, allowing for hassle-free recycling. By funding and implementing the plan and increasing the number of accessible recycling stations, Regis College will be participating in the national movement to increase the recovery rate of the waste generated annually in the United States. Increasing the magnitude of recycling on campus will significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, as well as conserve our resources, both of which will help sustain the environment for future generations.

For the good of our students and the rest of the Regis College community, and to help protect and preserve the environment in which we live, we call upon you to join a growing movement to strengthen the recycling program at Regis College. By doing this, we are collectively taking action to promote environmental sustainability for the benefit of current and future generations.