As a senior at the University of Wisconsin, I have learned to appreciate the beauty and cleanliness of the state of Wisconsin. I hope that after I graduate, Madison will be able to remain clean and healthy.

I am writing to inform you of a concern I have for the environment in Madison. I am living in a building on West Gilman Street owned by the very successful entrepreneur, Steve Brown. Steve Brown Real estate is an extremely popular and lucrative business on campus, which continues to invest more and more money into building new apartments, such as the brand new Lucky building, which will be finished by fall of next year.

While Steve Brown is extremely efficient in creating new places to live on campus, the company is not so efficient in keeping the environment safe.

There are no recycling bins here at our building, and so we are forced to throw everything, including bottles, plastics and papers into the same bin. There is absolutely no effort made to recycle any of the waste. Due to the large number of students living in Steve Brown apartments, it is important for them to offer recycling bins in all of their apartment buildings.

Recycling is an essential part of keeping our environment clean. It keeps waste out of landfills, and it reduces the needs for raw material, therefore using less energy. Steve Brown needs to spend less investment in the construction of new buildings, and become more invested in the environment.

—Becky Goldenthal UW-Madison senior