PULLMAN –
In response to university budget cuts, WSU custodial services have been reduced for Pullman campus offices. Effective July 28, custodians will no longer empty trash cans in individual offices. They will, however, still sweep, mop or vacuum offices every two weeks. All other cleaning will be up to office occupants.
Employees received this news via little white slips of paper left by their computers earlier this week. Custodial services director, Tom Parrish, said he knows this will be inconvenient for people, but says the department “didn’t know how else to absorb that kind of budget reduction.”
“Custodial lost 15 employees plus the money for two other positions,” said Parrish. “We started with 134 FTE – and are now down to 118.”
“We hope there can be a positive side to these changes,” he said. “A vast majority of the material (being thrown away in trash cans) was paper – recyclable. So, we are hoping people will recycle more of that now – to make it easier to carry from their offices.”
Central co-mingled recycling and waste disposal bins have been placed in each building. Liners for trash cans are available from Central Stores – item # 1611.
“It costs the university money for every (garbage) truck that goes to the landfill,” said Parrish. “If we can divert some of that waste stream into recycling, not only will it be better for the environment and save money – but we may also be able to sell things like white paper and bring money back to the university. We encourage people to recycle as much as possible,” he said.
Custodial service will remain the same for all other campus areas – such as halls, restrooms and classrooms.
Co-mingled recycling
Rick Finch, manager of Facilities Operations waste management, said there is still some confusion about which items are permitted in co-mingled receptacles. Most mixed paper, plastics and metals are acceptable, but not glass.
“Glass can’t go in due to the process,” said Finch. “When the waste is baled, the glass can break and often ends up going to the landfill anyway. Also, we’ve found that very little glass gets recycled on campus.”
