Thursday, March 5, 2009
Twice every school year, KU students bring thousands of textbooks to the KU Bookstore or Jayhawk Bookstore hoping to sell them back for money. The students receive just a fraction of what they originally purchased the book for just four months ago, or they aren’t able to resell it at all. Left with a book they have no use for, more often than not they toss it in the nearest garbage can. Garbage can — not recycling bin. Yes, there are recycling bins present at both of the mentioned bookstores but most students either don’t see them or simply don’t care.
Students not only throw out these useless books but also hang onto ones that the bookstore offers to buy back at minuscule price, hoping to get a better offer elsewhere. But these books will also end up in a garbage can after the students realize they will be unable to sell them back anywhere.
This is an interesting practice for a University that stresses environmental-friendly actions and a country in which you can’t go a full day without hearing the phrase “going green.” Wouldn’t it be logical to offer a small amount for these out-of-date books to get them out of garbage cans and into recycling bins?
It’s frustrating to hear constant harping on the environment when small changes such as this cannot be made. The University needs to open its eyes and realize how many trees it could save by offering a few bucks for textbooks and recycling them. True, students should take the initiative and recycle themselves, but this isn’t realistic. College students are lazy. Why take a minute to recycle a textbook when you could chug a beer, watch more TV or add onto your nap? Yes, it’s a shame, but it’s the truth and this University along with others across the nation aren’t doing anything to change it.
— — Andrew Doughty is a sophomore from St. Paul, Minn.
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Comments
Letter: Let’s pay students to recycle textbooks
Agreed, my robotic friend.
Letter: Let’s pay students to recycle textbooks
Do your research dude. you forgot a bookstore, the university book shop at 23rd and naithsmith. they will buy for books and recycle paperbacks for 50 cents and hardbacks for a $1.
Letter: Let’s pay students to recycle textbooks
There are, in fact, over 1,800 colleges and universities around the country that run book drives through Better World Books to recycle textbooks. In the process, the students running the book drives earn cash for themselves or the student organizations they represent. You can learn about this at http://www.betterworldbooks.com/Info-Book-Drives-for-Better-Lives-m-2.aspx.
It is our experience that college students are highly motivated by this opportunity to help change the world and better our environment. Some are motivated by the cash, but many more are motivated by service and making a difference.
Letter: Let’s pay students to recycle textbooks
I sell mine at AbellaBooks.com
AbellaBooks.com
Abella Books, is among the nation’s oldest, and largest buyers and sellers of New, Used, reconditioned, pre-owned K-12 and college student textbooks. As a result, purchasing your pre-owned textbooks has never been easier. We have nearly doubled the size of our textbook inventory to provide you with unparalleled access to the highest quality pre-owned textbooks at cheap discount prices. http://www.abellabooks.com
Letter: Let’s pay students to recycle textbooks
I would suggest using GreenTextbooks.org Save Money, Save The Planet GreenTextbooks.org specializes in the recycling of textbooks, DVDs, CDs. Buying used textbooks not only saves you money, but cuts down on greenhouse gases caused by the manufacturing of new textbooks. With GreenTextbooks.org you're not only saving trees, you are saving some green. http://www.greentextbooks.org
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