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Moving Toward Zero Waste: Recycling as a Gateway to Sustainable Behaviors

Moving Toward Zero Waste: Recycling as a Gateway to Sustainable Behaviors . CURC Webinar September 2, 2010 Laurie Cousart, Director for Sustainability, Business Services Division . Penn has invested in a sustainable University City: Diverse Dense Walkable Transit-oriented

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Moving Toward Zero Waste: Recycling as a Gateway to Sustainable Behaviors

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  1. Moving Toward Zero Waste: Recycling as a Gateway to Sustainable Behaviors CURC Webinar September 2, 2010 Laurie Cousart, Director for Sustainability, Business Services Division

  2. Penn has invested in a sustainable University City: • Diverse • Dense • Walkable • Transit-oriented • Close to jobs, retail, entertainment • First-class school system

  3. Penn’s Campus Today • 290 acres • 14 million sf in 180 buildings • 20,000 students • 20,000 faculty and staff • 12 schools • 1 campus

  4. What is the Penn Green Campus Partnership? • Umbrella organization formed in 2007 to address sustainability planning and policy development at Penn • Includes all student, faculty, and staff groups and initiatives related to environmental sustainability

  5. The Climate Action Plan: • Integrates sustainability into all areas of academics • Encourages students and staff to serve as environmental stewards of their College Houses and office spaces • Connects students to senior administrators through sustainability projects

  6. Presidents’ Climate Commitment • Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee • Climate Action Plan • LEED Certified Buildings • Sustainability Coordinators in Schools & Centers • Penn Green Pre-Orientation Program • Student Eco Reps • Staff Eco Reps

  7. Eco-Reps – peer-to-peer environmental leadership program in College Houses and Greek Chapters • Penn Environmental Group – undergraduate leadership • FarmEcology – raises awareness and educates Penn's campus about the benefits of local foods • Penn Engineers Without Borders – annual Water Purification Projects in Honduras and Cameroon • Undergraduate Assembly – created a new position for a Director for Housing, Sustainability, and Facilities • SAS/Wharton Student Sustainability Advisory Boards – provides students with a forum to give feedback and implement ideas pertaining to sustainability

  8. Music Building LEED Silver LEED Silver Minimum Standard From this… …to this – Penn Park Horticultural Center, Morris Arboretum, targeting LEED Platinum

  9. The Green Fund is a competitively awarded grant that financesinnovative ideas by students, faculty, and staff to help Penn meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan. Projects selected in 2010: • Annenberg Public Policy Center Worm Composting • Addams Hall Retrofit • College House Energy Conservation Competition • Sigma Chi Fraternity Window Restoration • Energy Efficiency Plan for University City District • School of Medicine Lighting Analysis and Implementation • Quad Heating/Cooling Occupancy Sensors • PEG Green Acorn Certification Program • Penn Garden

  10. The Climate Action Plan: • Establishes a comprehensive campus-wide policy for waste reduction and recycling • Enables proper practices through communication, events, and improved transparency of the collection system • Champions green purchasing practices, composting efforts, local food investments, and source reduction initiatives

  11. In 2008 – • Disjointed recycling program • Little understanding of zero waste ideas • Distrust of process • Today – • Broad recycling initiatives • Participation by schools and centers • Student initiatives

  12. Environment matters • City of Philadelphia emphasis on recycling • Recycle Bank • Blue Mountain Recycling now accepts 1-7 plastics • Bon Appetit, dining partner, corporate sustainability mission • Wilmington Organics Recycling Center opened

  13. Current waste reduction and recycling initiatives • Batteries • Toner cartridges • Pens • CFL Collection • Multiple locations- offices, stores, residences

  14. Current waste reduction and recycling initiatives at Penn: • BigBelly Solar Compactors • Outdoor Bin Consolidation • Trayless Dining • Reusable bags and mugs discounts • Leaf Composting • PennMOVES

  15. New approaches • Green IT – • over 122,000 lbs of old electronics last year • Food Waste • over 4 tons per week • Green Event Guides • Drawn up by events planners • Desk side recycling • Central trash disposal

  16. New approaches • Vermicomposting- • composting with worms • Annenberg Public Policy Center • Office floor kitchens • Education, understanding

  17. Penn Moves • over 85,000 pounds of donated goods • Sale to local community • $$$ donated to United Way

  18. Challenges • Bottled Water • Retail locations • Post Consumer products • Student residence recycling • Making it automatic • Making it standard

  19. No longer relying on the kindness of strangers Attacking supply chain- contract language • Requiring café operators to follow recycling and composting requirements • Requiring use of only compostable or recyclable to go containers • Requiring green cleaning supplies • Including LEED Building & Operations Standards • NEXT: Purchasing standards

  20. “This is a defining issue of the 21st century, and I am proud to promote higher education as a leader in addressing global climate change through research, education, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” Amy Gutmann Penn President

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