Though El Camino has begun the process of being a more eco-aware campus with the insertion of new recycling bins, they have a long way to go before their work is complete.

With recycling and generally preserving our planet’s ecosystems a topic often discussed in recent years, EC has taken an important first step by installing new recycling bins, but there are not many bins, and those bins that have been added are cardboard, so there is much more to do before EC could be considered an eco-friendly school.

The bins installed have begun an important first step for the college, especially given the general lack of recycling bins on campus. Adding new recycling bins to the campus has given students the ability to avoid throwing their bottles and cans into the trash.

Though adding new bins has made recycling easier on campus, the bins are only in a few select locations, making this step forward only apply to students near these bins, students away from these bins have to either throw their recyclable items into the trash, or carry the items with them until they get to a recycling bin.

The new bins are also made of cardboard which, while cheaper to install, suggest that this is a temporary fix for the college. Without more permanent bins installed it seems doubtful that EC has fully committed to recycling on campus.

According to the EC annual factbook for 2017, $2,107,064 of the $125,366,979 did not go to expenses for the college, a small portion of that could go towards recycling bins across campus.

A single 28-gallon recycling container from recycle away costs $178 per unit, the unused funds from the school could afford 11,837 units. Far fewer would be needed to provide recycling services to the school.

In 2014, the Associated Students Organization (ASO) began a petition to create a committee focused on recycling and sustainability on campus which would extend past the committee the ASO already has, though according to the El Camino College website, no such committee exists.

While preserving the environment extends far past EC, the campus can still do its part to preserve our planet. The installation of more recycling bins that are more permanent fixtures throughout campus is a start to keeping the planet preserved for future generations.

Another possible solution for EC would be to utilize biodegradable utensils in campus restaurants, which could cut down on the amount of trash that is created by the campus in total.

These solutions are only beginning steps in making EC a conservation minded campus, but with these suggestions and other changes over time, EC becoming a truly green campus could be within reach soon.

Editorials are unsigned and are written and voted upon by the editorial board.