Waste Reduction and Recycling

Working Group Minutes

Meeting Minutes
February 24, 2006

Attendees: Mike Buckley, Gary Laverdiere, Dale Hennessey, John Fortini, Sue Cote, Mark Bielas, Rene Davis, Louise Labrie,  Mary Fanelli, Roger Guzowski, Tracy Zhu, Nancy Apple

I. EAC Report

‘Trash on the Lawn” day was February 14, 2006.  Trash from the Rockies was sorted the night before. 172 lbs of trash was sorted, 32% of which could have been recycled, and 20% of which was food waste. Details are on the EAC web site (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/org/ccc/website/pictures_garbageday2006.html).

In the trash there were significant numbers of coffee cups and ‘to go’ containers.  We need to think about strategies for limiting use of ‘to go’ containers.  Dale reported there were no ‘to go’ containers during J-Term and they had a five fold increase in the loss of china and numerous complaints.  Tracy does not support the elimination of the ‘to go’ option as it is important to students. We need to educate students on the purpose of ‘to go’ which is to take food if your schedule does not allow you to stay and eat, not to eat in the dining room and then take additional food for later.  We also need to encourage students to use their reusable mugs, supplied to each student by Dining Services.  Tracy mentioned that at Harvard there is a tray for drink bottles in the dining halls that students can keep their bottle in and it then goes through the dishwasher daily.

EAC will be visiting administrative and academic offices within the next month to do office environmental audits focusing on energy use and waste reduction/recycling.  There is a meeting later today with the ECO-Reps, Todd Holland, and Roger to discuss the information to be collected and distributed.  Nancy will email academic and administrative assistants to let them know about the visits.

Getting the information out to faculty was discussed and it was suggested that EAC members may be able to get on department meeting agendas later this semester.

EAC is also exploring the feasibility of using bulk detergent in the residence halls. They and Smith students have been talking with a representative of Whole Foods who will be supplying product samples.

Bulk purchase would eliminate the multiple plastic detergent bottles that end up for recycling, and could result in use of more environmentally friendly product.  Tracy will contact Doug Vanderpoel for information on washer use on campus. 

II. RecycleMania

RecycleMania runs January 29th through April 18th.  Results are posted weekly at http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/go/recyclemania.  ECO-Reps are focusing on student education, EAC will be addressing office recycling in their office audits initiative.

III. Phone Books and Catalogs

Gary suggested we look at phone book and catalog distribution practices.  Currently multiple copies of Verizon phone books are delivered to each office. (We believe it is one per phone.)  Verizon has the directory on-line and several WG members said that is what they use.  Dale will talk with the telephone office about the potential for eliminating or greatly reducing distribution.

It was mentioned that there were plans to put the College directory on-line as well.  Louise agreed to look into the status of that project.

Gary reported that he gets 12 – 14 pallets of course catalogs and ends up recycling 4-6 pallets at the end of the year. The catalog is given to every student. The students present reported that students use the on-line catalog and felt one catalog per residence hall would be sufficient.   Nancy will follow-up with Communications.

IV. Campus Meetings with Roger

Roger and Nancy met with the housekeepers to discuss recycling and waste handling in the residence halls.  Mary agreed to try to get Roger on the agenda for the academic assistants meeting. Roger will be scheduling meetings with custodians.  Tracy will get back to Nancy  and Roger with a good time for Roger to meet with EAC.

V. End of Year Recycling

Instructions for end of year recycling, distributed by Residential Life, will tell students to bring the following items to the trunk rooms: clothing, books, electronics, wood and cinder blocks. Detergent can be left in the laundry rooms for use by summer programs.  Gary is setting up a book recycling program with IRN and will ask for information on the destination of the books collected.

VI. Refrigerators

Students leaving refrigerators at the end of the year is problematic as many are still useable and end up recycled and the refrigerant has to be removed before recycling.  The bookstore used to rent refrigerators and we need to find out why they stopped and if they would consider renting.  Nancy will follow-up with the bookstore.