What a waste! (MOTTAINAI!)
Let's try a little harder to cut back on campus waste!

Many lost articles are kept in the Student Affairs Section. Those in the picture are just a part of them. What a waste!

Don't let “valuables” become “trash”

Look at the picture. These are some of the lost articles that are handed in to the university day after day. Notebooks, files, textbooks, dictionaries, scarves, jackets, electronic dictionaries, mobiles, i-Pods, etc... There's no end to them. Sometimes brand-name goods such as Bulgari watches or Louis Vuitton wallets are handed in. Unbelievable? No, it's a fact. Of course, many students come looking for lost articles. If the owners of lost articles can be identified, the administration offices of each school or the Student Affairs Section will inform the owners through the Waseda-net portal or by phone. However, many lost articles remain unclaimed. What a waste!

Many students were impressed by the speech of Dr. Wangari Maathai, who received an honorary doctorate from Waseda in February this year (See the URL below). Learn about how lost articles are dealt with and try to look for your “valuables” before they become “trash”.

Dr. Wangari Maathai's Speech
[URL] http://www.waseda.jp/jp/about/maathai/index.html (Japanese)

About 55 million yen for waste disposal!

More than 10 million yen for the disposal of plastic lunch boxes!

Countless bicycles are abandoned on each campus. On the West Waseda campus alone, several truckloads of bicycles are thrown away every year. Most of them are in good working order. They could easily be given to friends, or donated to recycle shops. Many students seem to think that university campuses and public spaces are places for dumping scrap metal. It's really sad.

Last year, Waseda University had to dispose of about 2,300 tons of waste. It cost 55 million yen to cart away this rubbish! Of the 864 tons of general waste, more than half consisted of plastic lunch boxes. It cost well over 10 million yen to dispose of them.

Takeout lunches are a boon during short lunchtime breaks. With the help of the Co-op, shops and students, Waseda has introduced the “Hokkaru” lunch box recycling system and is looking into the possibility of reusable lunch boxes. You, too, can help with this recycling program.

Environmental issues are global problems but, at the same time, problems that can be solved by individual acts. It's time to reflect on our daily lives and learn to “Think globally, act locally.”

How lost articles are dealt with

Lost articles are dealt with in accordance with public law. All articles except valuables are kept for 6 months and 14 days. After that period, lost articles are thrown away. If you pick up a lost article, please bring it to the administration office or Student Affairs Section.

When the owner can be identified:

The lost article is sent to the school or graduate school that the owner belongs to, and a notice is put on the notice board or sent to the owner. For lost articles brought to the Students Affairs Section, he or she will be informed through the Waseda-net portal. For valuable articles, because of the urgency of the situation, we will call the number (phone or mobile) that is registered with the university. Even if the owner can be identified, we may not be able to call him or her if we don't have a current phone number. So, please notify your school or graduate school of any changes in your number.

When the owner can't be identified:

Valuables
Lost valuables are sent to Student Affairs Section as soon as possible from the office where they are handed in. One week after being handed in, the lost valuables are handed over to the local police station.

Others
For about one week, lost articles are kept in a storeroom of the institution or building in which they're found. Please ask the office of your school or graduate school about the location of these storerooms.
Lost articles are eventually sent to Student Affairs Section. Before you come to Student Affairs Section, please check with the storeroom of the relevant institution or building.

More information about lost articles.
[URL] http://www.waseda.jp/student/gakusei/ishitsubutsu.html (Japanese)