Fifty-cent levy increase improves UMREG

Morgan Modjeski, Staff

The University of Manitoba Recycling and Environmental Group (UMREG) was able to significantly increase the amount they recycled in 2007, thanks to a 50-cent increase to the student levy, which took effect last September.

“We recycled 10-20 per cent more than any previous year,” said Anders Annell, a representative of UMREG.

UMREG collected record amounts of recyclable materials in 2007 consisting of everything from milk cartons to Tim Hortons cups.

The total amount of recyclable material collected is not yet known but is estimated to be between 47.39 and 51.47 metric tonnes, according to Annell.

During last year’s UMSU elections, the only referendum to pass out of three on the ballot was UMREG’s.

The referendum called for an increase of 50 cents to the UMREG student levy, paid by students as part of their student fees at the beginning of the year.

The other two referendums on the ballot that did not pass were from icePIRG and Engineers Without Borders, who were both asking for student levies of $2.70.

The UMREG increase augmented the original student levy of $2, granted in 1999. The original levy of $2 “was just a round number to get us started,” said Annell.

“A big part of [the levy increase] was inflation. We last got our money in ’99, and since then there has been almost 50-cents worth of inflation,” said Annell.

UMREG has also been able to increase staff hours since the levy.

“Another big reason for the increase in the levy was so we can have more staff hours a week,” said Annell. “We increased our [total] staff hours during the regular session by 10 hours a week.”

Currently UMREG has 12 staff members who typically work 10 hours a week at just below $9 per hour.

Some of the revenue from the increased levy is also going towards marketing, according to Annell.

“We will be releasing a new public service announcement sometime in the next month or two,” he said. “Get people understanding that whatever they have, they can throw it in the blue bin and we will take care of it, sort it by hand and make sure the quality is good.”

Because of the increased levy, UMREG was also recently able to post for a supervisor position — a role that must be filled in order for the group to comply with the Health and Safety Act put in place by UMSU and the Manitoba Health and Safety office.

“We have seen the development of numerous health and safety initiatives to make the program a safer working environment for its staff members,” said Mike Einarson, UMSU vice- president (internal) and member of the environmental sustainability committee.

“As the number of buildings on campus grows, so does the recycling demand, so UMREG has also worked on expanding its coverage . . . to ensure recycling continues to run smoothly and effectively,” he added.

UMREG is a student organization that functions as a collective. It is dedicated to “reducing the environmental impact of the University [of Manitoba] through recycling, action and education,” according to its website.

There was no organized recycling on campus prior to the founding of UMREG in 1988, according to Annell.

UMREG is responsible for collecting and replacing the recycling bins that can be seen around campus, as well as for basic maintenance, such as cleaning.

Francine Carrier, an active member of UMREG, said that there is a three-page listing of bins that are collected on foot and sorted through by hand.

There are about 400 bins on campus, according to Annell.

“Without the extra 50 cents [UMREG] probably would not get as much done,” said Markian Mcoll, a University 1 student. “I think [their recycling program] is pretty good, and around most corners there is a recycling bin; but at the same time, there is still a lot of litter. If security sees you littering [on campus] they should fine you right on the spot.”