Author: Alan Turnquist

Reposted from Tech Today

Typically reserved for campus rivalries and fantasy sports, some friendly “trash talk” can be a motivator that provides your team with that competitive advantage. In this case, we’re going to discuss actual garbage — the cardboard, candy wrappers, takeout containers, and everything else you might drop in a trash or recycling receptacle on campus.

Bad puns aside, consider the following when managing the waste you generate on campus.

Sort things out — When disposing of items on campus, you can choose to recycle. The University offers single-stream recycling for most consumer paper, plastic, and metal products. These items can be placed in the same container, or commingled, for collection and processing. Signage on or near waste receptacles on campus describe many of the materials that can be recycled, as well as items that cannot be recycled on campus, like styrofoam and plastic grocery bags.

Handle with care — Staff and vendors handle the waste that’s generated on campus every day. We all must take personal responsibility in ensuring that the waste we place in collection containers is safe for people to handle. Do not place sharp objects such as broken glass, blades, or needles in trash receptacles. In addition, liquids, chemicals, and hazardous wastes should never be placed in solid waste collection bins. These items can not only injure campus waste handlers and sorting facility personnel, but if left undetected in the waste stream they can also have long-term negative environmental impacts.

Get out of your comfort zone — Consider changing your habits. Think about your daily routine and the small changes that you can make that may save water, conserve energy, or reduce wastes. Consider a reusable water bottle or food container the next time you’re packing your lunch. Before leaving the office, remember to close that window and turn off the lights. Changes like these not only reduce daily waste, but will also have a positive measurable impact on the University’s overall environmental footprint and operational costs.

Taking a minute each day to consider your impact will help you be part of the University’s winning team when it comes to responsibly managing solid waste on campus. In the words of one of history’s most legendary trash-talkers, Muhammad Ali, “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

Reposted from September 28 Tech Today

Green Campus Enterprise, Consumer Product Manufacturing (CPM) Enterprise and Dining Services are partnering to bring Sussex IM’s Mr. Lid products to North Coast Grill and Deli.

How the program works:

1. Pay the one-time $5 program fee (and get a 10% discount on purchases!).
2. Receive a key chain. 
3. When you purchase food, request your food in a Mr. Lid and exchange the key chain.
4. Once finished with your food, return your Mr. Lid to the cash register to get your key chain back.
5. Repeat steps three and four, and enjoy!

The purposes of the Mr. Lid program are: environmental impact (sustainability), economization and turning passion into action.

October is Campus Sustainability Month! The goal of Campus Sustainability Month is to raise awareness of campus sustainability efforts and champion sustainability leadership on campus.   There is a lot going on in October here at Michigan Tech.  Here are some ways to get involved! 

• Participate in Project Green Challenge as an individual or in your courses or student organizations! 

• Keep focused on minimizing waste and recycling when possible.  As an institution, we are committed to tracking and reducing our waste production, and increasing the amount of waste that we divert into recycling, composting, and other efforts. Currently, the University has a solid waste diversion rate goal of 18%, with a diversion rate for August of 15.45%.  Your thoughtful participation helps us reduce costs, assists in developing our current recycling programs, and aligns Michigan Tech with EGLE’s goals of achieving a statewide recycling rate of 45%.

• Come to the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Social Network and Research Collaborative (SRC-Squared) event on October 4th to hear from Michigan Tech’s Director of Sustainability and Resilience, Alan Turnquist

• Sign up for a 30 minute 1:1 meeting with Michigan Tech’s Director of Sustainability and Resilience, Alan Turnquist during the weeks of October 4 or October 25.

• Participate in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education, October 12-14.  Sponsorships are available for MTU students, faculty, and staff (due October 1).

• Learn more about the systems that support campus life and how to use them in more sustainable ways by watching the videos available on the campus sustainability website 

• Get engaged with the student organizations on campus that focus on sustainability, like Students for Sustainability, Climate Reality Campus Corps, and Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action  

• Learn more about the leadership and activities at the Sustainability Demonstration House, where MTU students lead by examples in more sustainable living.  Open House is on October 2 from 3-6 p.m.

• Tell us more about why campus sustainability matters to you and what you’d like to see prioritized in Michigan Tech’s upcoming sustainability action plan here! 

• Send your questions or comments to sustainability@mtu.edu

Reposted from Tech Today

When Michigan Tech was first established, the surrounding wilderness was rapidly changing into an industrial center. Copper mining and the timber industry were providing natural resources for use across the nation. Just as this legacy of industrial growth and its structures tie us to our past, the trees on our campus connect our University to the outlying landscape and the wilderness from which it grew.

The trees on our campus provide a sense of place, natural history, and are a reminder of our relationship with the land.  Over the past several years the Department of Facilities Management has been working with a Campus Tree Advisory Committee to advance tree-related activities on campus. The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is comprised of faculty, staff, students and community members with an interest in sustainable planning, development, and education pertaining to tree care and the campus landscape. 

For the second consecutive year, Michigan Tech was recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus Higher Education honoree. “The Tree Campus Higher Education program helps colleges and universities establish and sustain healthy community forests.” You can learn more about the Tree Campus Higher Education program here. Michigan Tech is one of four public universities in Michigan to be recognized for our efforts related to “promoting healthy trees and student involvement.”

The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is currently planning for another year of activities on campus and in our surrounding communities. Student involvement will also be a priority this year with a goal of developing a larger group of interested and active volunteers. Annual events include an Arbor Day observance as well as service-learning projects that require inspired and motivated student volunteers. If you have an interest in becoming a part of the University’s Tree Campus organization please send an email to treecampus-l@mtu.edu and we’ll include you in future correspondence.