College of Business Administration

Social and Ethical Issues in Business

SDSU Recycling Program

GROUP MEMBERS:

Eric Beener
Misa Nguyen
Geraldine Schultz
Thomas Trzos

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Management Team identified the need for at least twenty-five recycling containers on the SDSU campus. The group was also interested in a program that benefited children, so we sought a project that would provide multiple benefits. Corporate donations of $1,000 per container will provide:

*Containers at a cost of about $500 per container
*Urban Corps internships for pickup of recyclable containers
*Assistance to Hardy Elementary School in its recycling education and collection program through SDSU's outreach program

Recycling Project Coordinator

Throughout most of the project, the team has been working with Steve Lincoln, Recycling Coordinator, SDSU Business and Financial Affairs. He has been tremendously supportive and helpful, and he will administer the project when funds are received.

Progress to Date

This is a dynamic team that has worked very well together, meeting almost every week and staying in touch via e-mail and phone. Although all members were involved with each phase of the project, the major work was divided as follows:

*Coordination with Steve Lincoln: Tom Trzos and Misa Nguyen *Preparation of Marketing Materials: Tom Trzos
*Internet research: Eric Beener
*Graphics, typing, and printing of marketing materials: Misa Nguyen
*Donor solicitation: Gerri Schultz

Efforts were coordinated with Chris Audette and John Ciullo, SDSU Business Development Office, and they have been supportive and helpful in suggesting SDSU persons and companies to solicit.

Our target company from which to solicit funds was Coca Cola, since it has an exclusive beverage contract with SDSU. Also, since most of the recyclable containers originate from Coca Cola beverages, it seems natural that it would want to assist in recycling efforts. At the end of November, we were successful in contacting Coca Cola, and we are hopeful that we will receive a positive response.

In addition to Coca Cola, marketing packets were sent to the following companies: Acxiom DataQuick, Bank of America, Foodmaker, Marsh, John Burnham & Company, Mail Boxes Etc, Ocean Garden Products, Inc., Petco Animal Supplies, Recon, Scripps Bank, Union Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank. All companies were invited to attend our team presentation on December 7. We also requested a donation from the SDSU Business Development Office, but Dean Hergert declined our request.

Ethical Considerations

We believe this project contributes to the "good society," and we looked at each of the following ethical theories as we constructed the project:

*Utilitarianism. Recycling causes the greatest benefit for the greatest number.
*Deontology. It is wrong to waste resources and create land resource problems for future generations.
*Justice. Justice is not served if we create problems for the "least advantaged" - our unborn children and grandchildren who will be harmed by our decisions.
*Liberty. An educational program for Hardy Elementary School children will provide information to assist them in making free, informed choices about recycling.
*Ethic of Care. Recycling shows care for the environment and the welfare of those we care about.
*Virtue. Responsible recycling actions demonstrate at least these virtues: benevolence, compassion, conscientiousness, cooperativeness, courteousness, generosity, honesty, reasonableness, and thoughtfulness.
*Land Ethic. This program contributes to the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.

Project Outlook

This is a very exciting, viable project. It took a great deal of effort to put things in place, and we are very hopeful that corporations will be responsive. Because of time constraints we were unable to pursue many of the leads provided by Chris Audette, John Ciullo, and others. If for some reason adequate donations are not forthcoming from the companies that we have solicited, we believe it would be very easy for this project to be picked up by another team next semester.

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