A Zero Waste Plan has been drafted for the Urbana-Champaign campus at the Univeristy of Illinois.  The plan is currently being reviewed by the Purchasing and Waste SWATeam.  Once agreement is reached, the document will be forwarded to the Sustainability Working Group for consideration of implementation.

The University is participating in its first Game Day Recycling Challenge at the October 25th homecoming game against the University of Minnesota.  For the event the usual landfill bins will be replaced with 3-bin stations to separate landfill, recycling, and compost.  The materials collected will be weighed, the diversion rate calculated, and then entered into a friendly national competition.  To volunteer for this event, please email Bart Bartels at bbartel@illinois.edu.  

Here are the Zero Waste Event links from Ohio State University.  They seem to be setting the standard for such events, especially when it comes to sporting events.  The first link is for events in general.  Anyone organizing a campus event can request assistance to achieve zero-waste.  Some locations require additional fees but many do not.  They rely heavily on the organizers to push the educational aspects. Facilities just supplies the bins and takes care of the logistics.

http://footprint.osu.edu/zero-waste-event-service/

This second link focuses on the athletic events at OSU.  They have managed to reach a waste diversion rate over 90%.  We could do this as well.  Reduction in landfill costs help fund the program.  They sure make it look easy.

http://footprint.osu.edu/zero-waste-at-ohio-stadium-faq.html

Hi Madhu,

Thanks for being willing to guide the discussion about a regional collaboration for sustainability efforts.  I had a chance to talk with Al Stratman about this, and he agrees that it is appropriate for iSEE to lead this discussion on behalf of the university.  Al asked that I remain on the team as his representative, so please continue to include me in the meetings.

I’ve attached the (unedited) notes I took during our meeting at the end of May.  Also, Stephanie and I will investigate the impacts of expanding the iCAP Portal to include community/county sustainability efforts.  Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Thank you,

Morgan

============================

Ms. Morgan B. Johnston

Associate Director of Sustainability, F&S

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Facilities & Services, 141 PPSB, MC-800

1501 S. Oak, Champaign, IL 61820

217-333-2668

http://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Khanna, Madhu
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2014 12:34 PM
To: Tess, Scott; Johnston, Morgan B; Andrew Levy; Jane Sullivan
Cc: Evan DeLucia
Subject: RE: MCAP meeting

Dear All

It was great meeting you yesterday and learning about the sustainability efforts and challenges for the cities. Thanks to Morgan for arranging it.   iSEE stands ready to facilitate and coordinate these efforts as we move forward. I look forward to continuing the conversation.

Best wishes

Madhu

Madhu Khanna, Professor

Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics/Energy Biosciences Institute Editor, American Journal of Agricultural Economics Associate Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 1301, W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801

http://ace.illinois.edu/directory/madhu-khanna

phone: 217-333-5176; fax: 217-333-5538

All,

I stumbled onto the University of Oregon’s Zero Waste Toolkit (see below).  I think it aligns closely with what we are trying to put together.  It has templates for a pledge, ZW policy, and strategies for a plan.  Check it out.  Please share your thoughts. 

http://zerowaste.uoregon.edu/PDFdocuments/ZeroWasteToolkit.pdf

Bart

SSC approved the scope and schedule change for the Campus Bike Center.

Daivd Guth has requested SSC approval for a project with the Kitchen Exhaust Hoods at the Union.  Morgan Johnston and Karl Helmink called Marques Burris to discuss the next steps for getting David the funds.  Marques planned to contact SSC chair, Amy Liu, and then reach out to David Guth.

Under the leadership of Professor Evan DeLucia, the Center for a Sustainable Environment is transitioning to the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE).  The News-Gazette wrote a great article covering the transition and the goals of the new organization (see file).

We are pleased to inform you that Prof. Evan DeLucia will become the first director of the Center for a Sustainable Environment, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

Prof. DeLucia brings a record of exceptional scholarship and a wealth of administrative experience to the new center. The G. William Arends Professor of Biology and the director of the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Prof. DeLucia joined the faculty at Illinois in 1986. He was the founding director of the program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and has served as the head of the department of Plant Biology.

Illinois is uniquely poised to address the issue of environmental sustainability - and the Center for a Sustainable Environment will enhance our institutional capacity to do so. Prof. DeLucia will work with the many individuals, teams, and campus organizations involved in sustainability work on our campus to create the institutional structure to increase our impact and raise our profile as a leader in this area. These efforts will build on the campus strengths in sustainability, energy, and the environment that were so clearly identified in the Visioning Future Excellence process.

Prof. DeLucia's research interests strongly align with the vision for the Center. He studies the responses of forest and agro-ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide and other elements of global change. He uses ecological, physiological and genomic approaches to understand how global change affects the carbon cycle and the trophic dynamics between plants and insects. His work has been well-funded by both government and industry.

Prof. DeLucia is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a member of multiple other professional societies. He received a B.A. from Bennington College, an M.F.S. in forest ecology from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in plant ecology and physiology from Duke University.

Please join us in welcoming Prof. Delucia to this new role.

EATING LOCAL MEANS CHOOSING FOODS THAT ARE GROWN WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS OF
WHERE YOU CONSUME IT.

IT’S JUST BETTER!
Looks, Tastes, and Nutritionally better because it is in season always and picked at ripeness. It even has a longer shelf life.

SUPPORTS LOCAL FARMERS & ECONOMY!
$$$ goes through fewer hands and tends to get to the people who grew it. At times by as much as 90% if purchased directly from local farmers.

HELPS SAVE THE PLANET!
Reduces the carbon footprint of our foods by using:
-LESS gas for transportation
-LESS electricity for refrigeration
-NO waste from packaging
The average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator.

(source: https://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/whybuylocal/) 

Housing & Dining

The Dining Services Division of University Housing has made great strides in sustainable practices.  They purchase local foods, have implemented trayless dining, and donate 100% of its waste vegetable oil to the biodiesel project. In addition, they have recently been recognized for sustainable cleaning practices. Their newest facility, the Student Dining and Residential Programs building, is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification.

Energy Conservation

In June 2008, our Chancellor directed a 10% cut in per square foot energy use (download as pdf) to be achieved over the next three years using fiscal year 2007 as the base year. The campus far exceeded this goal with a 17% reduction in three years! Further, the iCAP commits our campus to a 40% energy reduction by 2025. 

There are many efforts underway on the Urbana-Champaign campus to reduce our energy consumption.  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has repaired, replaced, or upgraded utility meters in approximately 85 campus buildings through a series of projects.  As a result, dependable utility metering exists in campus buildings comprising 90% of the annual energy consumption. In addition, Facilities & Services employs a retrocommissioning team that has completed over 4 million square feet of space, resulting in an average of 26% energy reduction per building.  Also, there is a major lighting retrofit project underway that has updated over 85,000 light fixtures, with a goal of replacing all fixtures by May 2012. 

Real and lasting change will come as a result of personal responsibility.  Please check out the following links to see how you can help.

Illini Energy Dashboard

Energy Use Policy (pdf)

Energy Services

Retrocommissioning

Administrative Information Technology Services (AITS)

Recycling

The Waste Transfer Station recycles or diverts from land fill nearly 50% of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign waste.  In fiscal year 2009, the Waste Transfer Station recycled 1852 tons of paper and cardboard, 38 tons of aluminum cans, 899 tons of scrap metal, 38 tons of plastic, 1300 tons of landscape waste and 325 tons of pallets.  In addition to the Waste Transfer Station's efforts, the Campus Garage and Carpool recapped 25 tires rather than replacing them. Over the years, the University has recycled approximately 2,500 semi loads of materials.  This effort kept 53,000 tons out of the landfill and generated 3.5 million in cash.  The University also recycles equipment, both electronic and non-electronic.  In fiscal year 2009, we recycled over 118 tons of electronic equipment and nearly 300 tons of non-electronic equipment. 

University Construction Services demolished a Dining Facility and captured 77% of the material for recycling.  Material included copper, aluminum, glass, baling material and structural steel.  This project was completed on time and well within budget.  By utilizing recycling of this demolition, the University kept more than 3 million pounds of material out of the landfill.  This is the model for future demolition projects.

Facilities and Services initiated the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation program in October 2005.  This is a free cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling program that is easy to use and environmentally friendly.  RBRC supplies the collection boxes and shipping labels.  If rechargeable batteries are not recycled on campus, they are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of according to EPA regulations.  To date, the University has recycled 49 boxes resulting in a saving of over $3,000.

The Labor Electrician's shop has operated a fluorescent bulb recycling program since 2000.  They properly recycle 99.9% of all University light bulbs.  The Maintenance Electrical Repair shop has also been successful at recycling ballasts and removing copper wiring.

Recycling

• University of Illinois Waste Transfer Station

• Champaign Recycling

• Urbana Recycling

• Habitat For Humanity ReStore

• PACA Architectural Salvage Warehouse

• University YMCA Dump and Run

• Wheels for Wishes

• Household Hazardous Waste  (HHW) Disposal Options in East Central Illinois  

• Champaign County Reduce Reuse Recycle

Transportation

Illinois offers a variety of sustainable ways to navigate campus.  A combination of student fees and University funding allows all students and permanent employees free access to the Champaign-Urbana MTD buses. In 2009, the University also contracted with Zipcar to provide fuel-efficient vehicles for short trips in and around campus. To date, there are over 500 members signed up and currently using the Zipcar alternative. In addition, street traffic has been re-routed and bike lanes are being re-designed and added to help create a safer and more attractive environment for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Please visit the Transportation Demand Management website for more information.

Here are some ways to get around the campus and local communities.

• Bike Project Co-op

• Champaign County Bikes

Landscapes

THE ILLINOIS PATH:
A natural landscape promoting sustainable connections across campus communities (PDF)

Citing campus sustainability and enhancement, Illinois Chancellor asked a graduate class to provide a strategic assessment and implementation plan for a managed natural landscape on the Military Axis, a site located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in a manner consistent with the University's mission and Master Plan.

To view the comments on The Illinois Path report, click here.

There are many ways to make our landscapes more sustainable. Using native plants is one way. Reducing the amounts of fertilizers and pesticides used on plantings, and mowing less often are others. You can see these sustainable methods in practice on campus—the No-Mow Zones are one example. And there are several places around campus that you can visit to enjoy the beauty of native plantings, such as the Pollinatarium, the prairie plantings at the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, the Red Oak Rain Garden, and the plantings at BIF. And don't forget to check out Allerton Park.