University architecture students met Monday night to discuss the future of recycling in Lane County and how they could incorporate sustainable living into their future designs.
Marsha Garcia, coordinator for the Ecological Design Center, a student-led group through the Allied Arts and Architecture, said the School of Architecture at the University is known for encouraging “green building principles” and attracting students nationwide. The group meets on the last Monday of every month to discuss aspects of sustainable living, including building with recycled materials and alternative building options.
Guest speakers addressed the group of students about recycling efforts in Lane County and Eugene.
BRING Recycling Director Julie Daniel said the future of recycling is in design. She said the processes used to create products rob the planet of essential nutrients that can never be recovered.
“We need to be able to capture these nutrients and use them over and over again,” Daniel said.
She added that people have to
create a society that is centered
on conservation.
“We aren’t a culture that likes
to do without things,” Daniel
said. “We have to show them the alternative is desirable and reaps long-term benefits.”
Alex Cuyler, the recycling and solid waste analyst for the City of Eugene, said there are communities nationally that are taking steps to financially reward companies that create ecologically friendly materials. He said California is a leader, increasing fees for those who use fewer recycled materials, causing many manufacturers to reconsider how they design their products.
“Finances are a powerful motivator for change,” Cuyler said.
In Lane County, BRING Recycling works with construction and demolition crews to salvage pieces of houses and buildings that are awaiting demolition and then resells the salvaged materials to builders or remodelers. Daniel said it takes more time and costs upfront, but there are tax advantages that make up for the cost differences. . Materials that cannot be reused are recycled at a much lower cost through EcoSort, a program that recycles wood, roofing materials and metals that are prevalent in building demolition and take the most space in a landfill.
Garcia said she applauds Lane County’s efforts but knows it will take further work by legislators and citizens to enact lasting change.
“Our focus is to try to encourage not just students within the Allied Arts and Architecture Department, but the community as a whole, to build more sustainable communities,” Garcia said. She said the architecture department is working toward sustainability certification for architects, adding that only two to three architecture schools nationally have this certification.
Garcia said legislatures across the nation are beginning to require sustainable building practices, which will give architects immersed in this type of design an advantage.
“Older architects didn’t have that kind of education,” she said.
Garcia is also encouraged by the efforts of elementary, middle and high schools to teach children
about recycling. She said the next generation of architects and
product designers have an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in
sustainable living.
The EDC will host the 11th annual Holistic Options in Planet Earth Sustainability conference April 8-10. It is dedicated to educating students and the public about ways to be environmentally friendly. This year’s program is “Re: vision, Re: design and Re: solution.”

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