After enjoying a delicious Thai tea from the Old Teahouse at the University Mall last Tuesday, it came to my attention that there were no recycling receptacles outside the mall in which I could throw my #5 plastic cup.

Walking over to Starbucks (also at the mall), I was sure I would find a place in which to responsibly dispose of my cup. When I didn’t, I went inside to inquire as to where I could recycle my cup and was told, “We don’t have a recycling here.”

So in a place as supposedly environmentally thoughtful and “progressive” as Davis, it boggled me as to why there were no recycling receptacles in front of a mall in which two stores sell most of their drinks in recyclable cups. Frustrated, I walked out of Starbucks and peeked into the trash. Sure enough, it was full of recyclable plastic cups.

As soon as I got home I called the city of Davis, and after being transferred from one person to the next, I was told that the reason there are no recycling receptacles at the University Mall is because there is no place to empty them when they are full. I was told to call the property managers who were in charge, and that the property managers were able to build a space for the recycling Dumpsters but simply didn’t want to.

I have not received a call back from them. In this day in age, it is vital that we recycle what we can, and I feel like not having a recycling receptacle at the University Mall is hugely irresponsible.

Please call or write to the city of Davis to pressure the property managers to build a space for a recycling receptacle, and if you want to call the property managers of the University Mall to talk to them, their number is (858) 202-1111. It’s time we step up to the plate and take responsibility for our actions.

And please, reduce, reuse and recycle!

Stephanie Thayer

Davis

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