Katrina — Now we just need to get Trojans to actually use the bins :)

By the way, what did they say when you asked about water consumption rates?

Honestly, I really don’t think recycling’s a good measure of a school’s eco-ness. I’ve spoken to USC student groups a couple times, and each time I’ve tried to get the student groups to think beyond compostable utensils and recycling bins for dining halls — options that’re better than nothing, but represent a high added cost and little eco-benefit compared to a switch to reusables.

What I really found both amusing and disappointing about UCLA’s press release — and I say this while still being glad L.A. was at least able to represent — is that they seriously highlighted the 60% recycling rate as the top item. I have friends who are actually involved with serious eco-initiatives at UCLA, ranging from sustainable building to support for the subway to the sea.

The fact that UCLA chose to highlight the recycling rate — that’s lower than the city of L.A.’s — above other issues shows both how UCLA’s PR department’s still clueless about what eco-initiative actually make a significant difference — and similarly, how everyone else who might be reading press releases or at least paying some attention to eco-issues get impressed by big, over 60% numbers vs. less sexy, less quantifiable things like walkable neighborhoods, local business support, local food commitment, and many other green moves Bruins are pushing for beyond simply recycling Gatorade bottles.

If you asked me what I thought was the biggest issue L.A. colleges and universities should be dealing with now, I’d say it’s water stuff. Both UCLA and USC boast crazy, unnecessary, unused lawn space — and un-drought-tolerant flowers planted simply in time for parents’ weekend, graduation, and other public events with the full knowledge that the plants are for temporary show, doomed for sure death under the strong SoCal sun post event. I’d like numbers on how much these schools have actually reduced their water consumption since June, when new water rules and rates went into effect.

Now that would be a rivalry that could have some results.