Amidst the multitude of trash cans that cover Iowa State’s campus, students may soon have alternatives to throwing their cans away.

Coinciding with two recycling bills that were recently proposed to the Government of the Student Body, Iowa Recycling Week was held throughout the state this week to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Rick Meyers, president of the Student Environmental Counsel and a senior in animal ecology and environmental studies, said although he feels the opportunities for recycling at ISU have improved since he arrived on campus, “not nearly enough has been done.”

Meyers is also chairman of SEC’s recycling committee and a member of ISU’s recycling committee.

Meyers said he does feel ISU has taken steps to increase the amount of recycling on campus, but the “steps are being taken really slowly.”

“Compared to what other campuses have shown what they can do, there has been precedent set to do a lot more,” Meyers said.

The two bills that have been proposed in GSB are “good things for the university,” Meyers said. The first bill, which was passed during Wednesday night’s meeting, focused on funding for aluminum can recycling bins that would be placed in prominent areas on campus.

The money collected from the cans would be used to start recycling programs for products that would not pay for themselves, Meyers said.

The second bill, which will be voted on by GSB next Wednesday night, is being partially sponsored by SEC.

SEC is asking for $450 from GSB to fund a four-chambered recycling bin, which will carry plastics, glass, metals and newspaper. The bin would be placed in Hawthorne Court, the graduate-student housing, where a large-scale recycling program is not available.

Meyers is confident this bill, like its predecessor, will pass.

“The bills are very similar,” Meyers said. “I don’t see how they can pass one and not pass the other.”

Meyers said those who think the costs of implementing environmentally conscious programs are too high should consider the long-term costs to the environment.

To increase the level of environmental consciousness, Meyers said ISU needs to do a better job of making recycling more convenient for students.

“There should be more recycling bins around campus instead of garbage cans everywhere,” Meyers said.

Meyers said the dorm floor recycling program, in which Fresh Air picks up the floor’s recyclable products, has been successful.

“I think it’s working very well,” Meyers said.

“The biggest problem is some of the floors are making it tough for Fresh Air [to pick up the recycling material]. Some of the students are leaving the bins a mess, and that’s the kind of thing students should be more aware of,” he said.

Meyers said in order for floors to increase the amount of recycling, they should have an enthusiastic environmental chair, not some person “who just got stuck with the job.”

Naura Heiman, resident assistant for Devitt House in Linden Hall and junior in architecture, said increasing the amount of recycling on her floor is one of her personal goals.

“I think recycling is important for everyone to do because if one person recycles, that’s wonderful, but if an entire house can get together to recycle, you are saving so much more, and you are opening so many more minds,” Heiman said.

Heiman said the amount of recycling and the level of environmental awareness on her floor is improving.

“Some people still don’t understand exactly what can be recycled. It’s getting better, and I hope there will be more recycling as the year goes on,” she said.

“I guess if you don’t think one person can make a difference, I think it’s just like voting,” Heiman said.

“If you don’t vote, your vote won’t count, and if you don’t recycle, you are not going to make a difference … one person does make a difference,” she said.