Arizona State U Expands Recycling Program
Arizona State University’s Waste Management has expanded its recycling program to help reach its goal of zero solid waste. The university is now equipped to handle pizza boxes, glass, soft plastic bags, liquid-free paper cups, vinyl banners, corrugated plastic signs, metal odds and ends and non aerosol cans. Waste Management is working to keep 90 percent of the items collected out of the landfill.
Stanford U Treats Wastewater With Rocket Science
Engineers at Stanford University (CA) have designed a self-powering wastewater treatment plant that uses rocket science to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. The university received a grant from the Woods Institute Environmental Venture Projects to research sewage treatment with the goal of making the process both energy-neutral and emissions-free. The sewage treatment process produces two greenhouse gases that power the treatment plant and a small rocket thruster. The new design has the potential to create wastewater management plants that are entirely self-sufficient.
U California San Diego Greens Print Operations
The University of California, San Diego has discontinued the use of non-recycled paper in centrally-operated, multifunctional campus copier machines as part of a larger effort to make the university’s print operations greener.
U Maryland Increases Recycling With 'Can the Can' Initiative
Within the debut month of its Can the Can program, the recycling rate at the University of Maryland's main administration building rose from 49 to 71 percent. The initiative, which began in June, encourages recycling by making it harder to throw things away. Facilities management replaced the garbage cans in every office with desktop bins the size of coffee cans with the words “This is all the garbage I make” printed on the side. The size of the trash cans make it inconvenient to throw out recyclable cans or bottles.
Middlebury College Uses Compost for Organic Maintenance
Middlebury College (VT) has started spreading compost on its natural-grass athletic fields to transition those grounds to organic maintenance practices. The college composts 10,000 pounds of food waste from its dining halls and residential houses annually, measuring to 1,500 cubic yards of compost.
Vanderbilt U Improves Student Move-In Day Recycling Efforts
As students return to Vanderbilt University (TN) in the fall, the university will offer plastic film recycling in addition to the cardboard and plastic foam recycling offered previously. Last year, two 26-foot trucks were filled with plastic foam and 7.5 tons of cardboard were recycled. To help divert water bottles from the landfills, the university will also provide 12 water cooler filling stations instead of handing out water bottles.
U Tennessee Starts Compost Initiative
The University of Tennessee has created a pilot composting program from on-campus, pre-consumer waste and leftovers from the campus cafeteria. Coffee is also collected from both campus locations of Starbucks. The university expects to compost all food items by the spring and currently sends it to a student-run organic farm. The university is looking to purchase a $230,000 wood grinder to assist in the expansion of the program.
Cal Poly Pomona Introduces Recycling Dream Machine to Campus
Cal Poly Pomona (CA) has installed three recycling Dream Machines on campus. The kiosks feature a wireless Internet connection that allows users to learn more about recycling, accumulate rewards points and keep track of their recycling activities. Starting in the fall, points can be redeemed for discounts around campus, or for entertainment, dining and travel coupons at Greenopolis.com. The university hopes to recycle 20,000 bottles and cans by December.
Emory U Diverts 68 Tons of Animal Bedding from Landfills
Emory University (GA) has announced the diversion of more than 68 tons of animal bedding from Georgia landfills since the start of its composting program in November 2009. The bedding, which consists of wood waste and is used primarily with campus lab rats and mice, used to be incinerated or buried in landfills. Now the university has partnered with Greenco Environmental, which handles the composting of non-infectious animal bedding materials and campus food waste. To date, 196 combined tons of animal bedding and food waste have been collected from the university and sent to Greenco. The campus plans to divert 95 percent of its bedding materials from landfills by 2015.
U Mississippi Uses Biodiesel for Lawnmowers
The University of Mississippi has started using 20 percent biodiesel fuel to operate all campus mowers. The biodiesel fuel is made by research technicians at the University of Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, who say that the new practice should cut campus lawnmower pollution by as much as 50 percent. Seven industrial lawnmowers use biodiesel and the landscaping crew is also experimenting with biodiesel in small engine machinery.
U Chicago Recycling Event Collects 22,680 Pounds of E-Waste
The University of Chicago (IL) has announced that 22,680 pounds of recyclable materials were collected during the university's first electronic waste recycling event. Among the unwanted items dropped off by community members and university staff, faculty and students were TVs, radios, cell phones, DVD players, vacuum cleaners and almost 700 pounds of plastic foam. By properly recycling electronic waste, materials were diverted from the landfill and the contaminants often found in these products were prevented from leaching into the water supply.
U Notre Dame Purchases New Recycling Compactors
The University of Notre Dame has purchased new single-stream recycling compactors. Eighteen trash-to-recycling compactors have been distributed across campus, with more compactors scheduled for installation in heavily-used buildings. The single-stream compactors have been converted to handle the increasing volume of recyclable materials, making it easier for people on campus to recycle.
Smith College Pilots Reusable Pizza Box Program
Smith College (MA) has announced a pilot program to implement reusable, plastic pizza boxes on campus. In partnership with local restaurant Pizza Amore, the initiative will circulate three plastic carry-out containers. Each container is estimated to last for 500 uses and can be recycled at the end of their usability. The University hopes to employ reusable containers on campus for other types of food in the future.
U Central Florida Debuts Reusable To-Go Box Program
The University of Central Florida has launched the Green Thread Reusable To-Go Box Program. The initiative will provide students, faculty, and staff with reusable to-go containers with every fall meal plan purchased. The containers are made of polypropylene, a heat-resistant plastic that will be usable for up to two years before being recycled. The program will also include a reusable cup and bag.
U Notre Dame Partners with Office Depot for Box-Free Program
The University of Notre Dame (IN) has partnered with Office Depot to launch the Tote Program. Instead of using boxes, campus Office Depot deliveries will be shipped inside reusable green plastic bins called "totes." The program is expected to save 9.6 tons of cardboard and plastic annually. The totes will reduce campus-related carbon dioxide emissions by 53 metric tons annually.
Maharishi U Management Students Build Industrial Can Crusher
Students in Maharishi University of Management 's (IA) Sustainable Living Program have designed and built an industrial can crusher as part of the course, Materials and Methods for Sustainability. The University’s Department of Food Services was discarding one-gallon cans rather than recycling them. Instead of purchasing an electric machine to flatten the cans, students built a human-powered press using the basic principles of leverage. The mechanism applies over 1,000 pounds of pressure. After three weeks of operation, Food Services had already recycled nearly 1,000 pounds of steel.
Brigham Young U Hawaii Turns Biofuel Waste Into Soap
Brigham Young University, Hawaii students have begun taking waste from biodiesel fuel production and turning it into hand soap. For years the University has taken used cooking oil from restaurants and turned it into biodiesel. The soap is created from glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production. The University is expected to save $15,000.
Campuses Prevent Waste from Going to the Landfill
Campuses in the U.S. and Canada held end-of-the-year move-out collections to prevent items in good condition from going to the landfill. Items were collected and donated to charity, sold at campus yard sales, and saved for sales during move-in this fall.
U Connecticut Unveils Compost Facility
The University of Connecticut has unveiled a new compost facility. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources plans to start composting manure, animal bedding, and leaves. The facility is expected to compost more than 2,500 tons of agricultural waste a year. Composting will have several environmental benefits including reduction of nutrients in storm water and minimization of methane emissions.
U Mass Medical School Begins Online Supply Swap
The University of Massachusetts Medical School has launched "Surplus With A Purpose" (SWAP), a new internal website that allows departments to post surplus office supplies, furniture, or laboratory equipment so others on campus can put them to good use and keep them out of the landfill. Medical School employees can search for items by category, or add information about surplus materials to the listing.
U Mass Medical School Feeds Food Scraps to Pigs
The University of Massachusetts Medical School has begun a composting program on campus. The institution now feeds 100 gallons of food scraps per week from the kitchens at its University Campus to a local farmer's pigs. The food waste involved is vegetable trimmings from the kitchen, leftovers from the salad bars, and unsold prepared foods, such as half-filled pans of entrees and pre-packaged items that remain unsold past their expiration date. The program does not include food left on people’s trays—that is still considered trash. The arrangement between the farmer and University Campus is strictly cooperative—there are no fees involved for either party.
Yale U Composts Food Waste
Yale University (CT) dining halls have begun composting. Instead of incinerating its food waste, the University sends 100 percent of all waste from 11 functional residential college dining halls and commons to a composting facility. The facility will use the compost to create nutrient-rich soil. Yale hopes to be able to use the soil additives on its own grounds.
U Alabama Huntsville Receives Recycling Bin Donation
University of Alabama, Huntsville has been selected by Alcoa as the recipient of 500 recycling containers. The recycling bins will be a vehicle for bringing residence halls into the campus recycling program. The cost of collection containers has previously prevented the University from expanding the recycling program. The donation will fully meet the University’s needs and will allow the program to grow.
Syracuse U Computer Becomes Greener
Syracuse University (NY) has opted to rebuild 30 6-year-old training PCs instead of purchasing new ones. Syracuse's Energy and Computing Management department chose this more sustainable computing option because it bypassed the need to purchase new desktop hardware, while also saving University resources and energy.
Central Michigan U Students Reduce Waste to Improve Soil
The Central Michigan University Student Environmental Alliance has begun collecting food scraps from student dining services in order to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. More than 1,000 pounds of waste have been collected for compost since the program began. The Student Environmental Alliance hopes to save money for the institution and create nutrient rich soil. Food produced in the gardens is donated to local food pantries and soup kitchens.
Cornell U Releases Video on Composting Efforts
Cornell University (NY) has released a two-minute video illustrating how the campus has enhanced its composting operation. The new system reduces the University's total waste stream by half.
USA Today Writes About Green Graduation Gowns
USA Today has published an article on the recent increase in the number of colleges and universities that have switched to graduation gowns that are either made from plastic bottles or made to be biodegradable, replacing petroleum-based polyester gowns used in the past. Institutions mentioned included University of New Hampshire, Colby College (ME), and University of Vermont. Other institutions wearing "green" gowns at graduation ceremonies this year include Southern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University (CT), and Wake Forest University (NC).
Wilmington U Starts Composting Program
Wilmington University (DE) has begun a new composting program in its Cafe. Containers for compostable waste will be provided in the kitchen and lobby. The waste collected will be taken to the Wilmington Organic Recycling Center for compost.
Associated Press Covers Green College Graduation Caps and Gowns
The Associated Press has published an article on the growing number of colleges and universities that are holding environmentally-friendly commencement ceremonies this year. The article mentions the recent introduction of eco-conscious graduation gown by academic apparel manufacturers. Caps and gowns can be made from recycled plastic bottles or be biodegradable. Higher education institutions noted in the article include the University of New Hampshire, Colby College (ME), and the University of Vermont.
Meredith College Opens Trade ReUse Store
Meredith College (NC) has opened Daisy Trade, a campus store that allows students to take and/or donate items such as clothing, books, shoes, and room accessories. The store is open primarily to students, but special events for faculty and staff will be scheduled throughout the year. Donation drives are also planned. The Daisy Trade is a project of Meredith’s Office of Residence Life, the Office of the Sustainability Coordinator, and the Interior Design Program.
Mountain State U Initiates Campus-Wide Recycling
Mountain State University (WV) has initiated a campus-wide recycling program. As part of the initiative, 210 recycling stations have been placed throughout campus, enabling MSU faculty, staff, students, and visitors an opportunity to place unwanted paper, plastic, and aluminum in a recycling bin rather than a trash can.
Queen's U to Ban Sale of Bottled Water on Campus by 2015
Queen's University (ON) Principal Daniel Woolf has committed to reducing and eventually ending the sale of bottled water on the Queen’s campus. A plan will be established in early fall 2010 for limiting and eventually ending the sale of bottled water within five years, subject to contractual obligations with the University’s beverage providers. As the University’s contracts with concession holders, food service providers and soft drink companies come up for renewal over the next few years, re-negotiations will include removing bottled water as an option for sale. Enhancements to existing access to municipal drinking water on campus are being considered as part of the plan.
Texas State U Collects 20K Lbs During E-Waste Event
Texas State University, San Marcos has announced that a recent event helped to collect more than 20,000 pounds of electronic waste from the campus and the community. Approximately 170 participants brought in an average of 120 pounds of electronic waste each. Most of the collected items will be recycled at facilities located within the United States by reselling working items and “demanufacturing” the old, non-working equipment to component level, processing the components back into raw materials for use in new products. Additionally, about 30 computers needing rehab were donated to the Computers for Learning Program.
U California Los Angeles Launches Single-Stream Recycling
The University of Southern California, Los Angeles Campus Recycling Action Research Team has debuted single-stream recycling on the UCLA campus and has expanded the number of recycling bins on campus. All trash bins are now paired with recycling receptacles.
Christian Science Monitor Covers Green College Graduation Gowns
Christian Science Monitor has published an article on the growing number of colleges and universities that are switching to green graduation caps and gowns and are implementing green initiatives such as offering diplomas made from recycled paper and taking sustainability pledges as part of the ceremony. Most green gowns are made from recycled plastic bottles. The article mentions California Western School of Law, University of Texas at Austin, Harper College (IL), and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Michigan State U Unveils Recycling Initiative
Michigan State University has unveiled "Going Green," a campus-wide recycling initiative. As part of the initiative, 210 recycling stations will be placed throughout campus enabling MSU faculty, staff, students, and visitors an opportunity to place unwanted paper, plastic, and aluminum in a recycling bin rather than a trash can.
U Guelph Ridgetown Receives $2.3M for Anaerobic Digester
The University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus has received more than $2.3 million for the construction of an anaerobic digester and demonstration lab through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The digester, which will generate approximately 250 kilowatts, has been nicknamed the "legless cow" because it takes in organic matter and churns out heat, carbon dioxide, and methane, which is burned to produce power. The anaerobic digester will use manure from the livestock operations on campus as well as other material gathered from local farms and processors. The operation and management of the machine will become part of the curriculum.
U Massachusetts Medical School Reduces Printers on Campus
The University of Massachusetts Medical School has begun a pilot program to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the use of desktop printers. Launched in March, the program has already found a 1:1 ratio between employees and printers in at least two school departments. Since the industry standard calls for one printer for every 10 employees, these early results point to a significant opportunity for increasing efficiency and lowering energy costs across the school. The institution seeks to switch to offering multi-function devices positioned in common areas.
Unity College Switches to Online Course Evaluations
Unity College (ME) has announced plans to replace its paper course evaluations with an online version starting this spring. The College, which has around 540 students, expects to reduce annual paper use by 8,000 sheets through this measure. In addition to saving paper, online course evaluations are expected to be more comprehensive, more accurate, and more expedient. They’ll also be less time intensive for staff processing, and will take place out of the classroom, giving faculty more instructional time at the end of the semester.
Arizona State U to Expand Recycling Collection
Arizona State University has announced plans to place a recycling bin next to almost every trash bin on campus this semester in an effort to increase recycling rates by making receptacles more accessible. The University is pairing the initiative with an education campaign to help reduce bin contamination.
Lehigh U to Reduce Paper Use on Campus
Lehigh University (PA) has announced plans to reduce the number of pages students are allowed to print each semester. The institution also plans to remove printers from residence halls and greek houses. The money saved from the effort will be used to improve high-speed wireless capabilities.
U Michigan Sponsors Area E-Waste Recycling
The University of Michigan's Office of Sustainability recently partnered with the Ann Arbor Public Schools to sponsor a free e-waste recycling event to help residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations get rid of electronics in a more environmentally-friendly way. Accepted items included computer systems and accessories, audio/video equipment, hand-held devises such as cell phones and pagers, and other office equipment such as fax machines, printers, typewriters, scanners, and telephones.
Champlain College Aims to Reduce E-Waste
Champlain College's (VT) Information Services and Sustain Champlain, a group of faculty, staff and students dedicated to monitoring and reducing the college's environmental impact, have launched the "E-waste not for Landfills" campaign. As part of the initiative, there are now five blue cylinder bins located around campus to provide a way for people to properly dispose of their smaller electronics. Physical Plant workers will collect the recycled items until a local-based company picks them up. Acceptable materials for the recycling program include: CDs, DVDs, diskettes, printer cartridges, any handheld electronic device (cell phones, pagers, PDAs, iPods), batteries, chargers, and related cords and cables. In related news, Champlain will also host an electronic swap in which students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to swap or donate unwanted usable or unusable electronics.
Pomona College Installs Compost Bins
Pomona College (CA) has installed compost bins across campus to supplement ongoing efforts at the campus organic farm. The initiative was launched with funds from the President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS). Items that can be composted include produce, vegan food scraps, biodegradable paper, and thin paper products, such as tissues. If students begin to use the bins regularly, the committee plans to purchase four more. PACS has already purchased 20 smaller compost buckets that students can keep in their rooms or halls. The compost collected in the bins will ultimately be taken to the campus organic farm.
Humboldt State U Holds Clothing Swap
Humboldt State University (CA) recently held a Campus Recycling Program Clothing Swap. During the event, students were invited to bring clean and gently used clothing to a designated room on campus where they could swap items with others. Students were not required to bring pieces of their own wardrobe to be able to take home clothes.
Lehigh U, Lafayette College Offer Eco-Friendly Graduation Gowns
Lehigh University (PA) and Lafayette College (PA) have announced plans to offer environmentally friendly graduation gowns this year. Lehigh University has opted to offer graduation gowns that will be used in the future. After the ceremony, gowns will be cleaned with earth-safe products. Lafayette College's gowns will be made to be worn once and to quickly biodegrade. The gowns are made from acetate fibers made of wood from managed forests and decompose completely within a year of being buried in soil.
Pennsylvania State U Installs Pilot Water Refilling Stations
Pennsylvania State University has installed four water refilling stations for students and employees in order to research the stations' practicality and whether they reduce the use of bottled water. The stations were donated by three difference companies.
UMass Medical School Donates Office Furniture
The University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Office of Community Affairs, has donated surplus office furniture and equipment to five local nonprofit organizations. The school’s warehouse contains work stations, desks, chairs, file cabinets, book cases, and many other office items that are all in reasonably good shape, but no longer used by the department that first bought them. Rather than ship the material to a landfill, the school’s Facilities Department collaborated with Resource Max, a program started last year to work with school departments to optimize operations, to develop a program to make it easier for other UMMS departments to locate and retrieve items in the warehouse that could be of use rather than buying new. If no other department claims an item, it is then made available to community groups.
U Richmond Starts Student Run Compost Project
At the University of Richmond (VA) students and Backyard Farmer, a local business, recently constructed 10 composting units and one compost ingredient holding unit. The units will be operated by students and assisted by Backyard Farmer during the next year. The goal is to produce rich soil for the on-campus community garden. The initiative, URot, is part of a larger university project, GreenUR. The installation of the composting bins is the culmination of months of collaboration between GreenUR, Backyard Farmer, the Earth Lodge program and University Facilities, which cleared the land needed for the composting units. The composting project is the first student-run composting initiative at the University.
U Wisconsin Green Bay Changes Font to Use Less Ink
The University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Department of Computing and Informational Technology has announced plans to use Century Gothic instead of Arial as the default e-mail typeface. The former uses 30 percent less ink when printed to paper. The University expects to conserve ink and save money as a result of the change.
