Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, Reena Murphy, the City of Oxford’s sustainability coordinator, cites composting and recycling as two of ways people can help protect the environment.
Murphy graduated from Miami University with a master’s degree in environmental science. She then began her role as sustainability coordinator for the city in 2023.
“I love the environment, because I love people,” Murphy said. “I want people to have a clean place to live.”
Murphy said the City of Oxford is at the end of an engagement push to inform citizens about different avenues of sustainability. She said funding came from the “Recycle Ohio” grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The grant funded the ability to bring in a company to sort through waste from the Eclipse Festival last year, said Murphy. It sorted trash, recycling and composting.
Murphy said the City of Oxford also held waste stations at different community events to encourage zero waste. Funding also went toward the waste audit held earlier this year.
Dave Treleaven, an environmental specialist for the City of Oxford, said his role is mainly regulatory. He works to ensure Oxford is in compliance with the EPA.
Treleavan said littering is in part a result of the nature of the student population and student rentals.
“Renters don’t take care of the property,” Treleaven said. “If it’s yours, you pick up the trash and any litter that blows in. If it’s a rental, you’re less likely to do that.”
During waste collection, Treleavan said around 60% of yearly collections is yard waste, with around 40% accounting from leaf collections. Oxford recently started segregating leaves out to be composted, but Treleavan said collections, especially those in the Mile Square, have trash mixed in. He said the city needed a screen to sort the trash from the leaves.
“It’s time consuming,” Treleavan said.
If Oxford did not pull the trash out of the leaves, it would be considered “co-mingled,” and Treleavan said it would lead to noncompliance with EPA regulations, possibly leading to an actual violation.
Treleavan said Miami’s move-in and move-out weeks generate more waste. He said Oxford brings in extra staff to assist in waste management. However, he said people can donate items to ShareFest, as a way to avoid adding to the landfill.
Murphy said Oxford’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2045 and that systemic change is needed.
“The things that are going to make the biggest impact are systemic changes,” Murphy said. “Those take a long time.”
Murphy said those who do not have curbside recycling, can utilize drop off recycling and composting throughout Oxford. She said utilizing public transportation, walking or biking are other ways to help the environment.
Lauren Halperin, a senior sustainability and urban and regional planning double major, said recycling is an important aspect of her life.
“I want to make sure I’m playing a part in making the world a more sustainable place,” Halperin said.
Murphy said people should acknowledge that they cannot do everything but that little things help.
“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good,” Murphy said. “Do what you can.”
