Greek Life Sustainablity Team: GLIST

GLIST Maize Page

GLIST is a sustainability initiative which intends to implement a structure of sustainable leadership in each Greek house on campus, creating a social culture around sustainability within Greek houses.

This new organization has popped up on campus with goals to promote sustainability first in the smaller Greek community, so that it can be focused on and then spread throughout the entire campus.  Here at the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, we applaud this effort by the Greek community to initiate a program focused on sustainability and creating environmentally friendly initiatives.  

Follow their MaizePage site here: http://maizepages.umich.edu/organization/glist

Mbay!

Introducing Mbay (our very own ebay-like program here at Michigan!)

Do you have office supplies or other items that your office or department no longer needs, but could be of use to others on campus? Are you looking to purchase items for your office, but want to go green and chose reuse? The University of Michigan Health System has created MBay, an online trading system to facilitate the exchange of items, and it's now available to the entire U-M campus to use!

Mbay is an open forum to facilitate the exchange of items. This internal web site has been set up to coordinate hand-offs to other departments or units - these items are FREE.

Items listed on Mbay will be posted for a maximum of 2 weeks. To add items, remove an item, or view current listings, click on a button to the left.

For the sale of University property, contact Property Disposition for appropriate handling. 

Check out the website and make sure to take part in this great opportunity for reuse!


Please take note that in order for access to Mbay, you will need to be on a U-M computer for now.  Right now personal computers' IP address is being blocked from the site.
https://www31.med.umich.edu/hos/mbay/index.cfm

America Recycles Day Event at the Ross School of Business!

America Recycles Day at the University of Michigan!

     We're celebrating America Recycles Day this year and so can you!  Stop by the Ross School of Business Tappan St. side lobby from 10 am until 1 pm on November 16th to participate in a giveaway event hosted by the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office.

Bring a disposable coffee cup and receive a free Michigan Recycling steel travel mug AND a coupon for a $0.50 refill at Seigle Cafe (located in the same lobby) along with a big cookie with your purchase!  

    We have a limited number of both giveaways, so bring make sure to have your morning coffee early and bring over your disposable cup to us!  We want you to start good, sustainable practices this America Recycles Day, and divert any more potential waste from coffee cups by using your travel mug on a regular basis.  Go Blue, and Go Recycle!

A special thank you to the facilities management at the Ross School of Business and Seigle Cafe for all of their help in the planning of our America Recycles Day event!

University Club's Go Blue Box - Reusable Container Pilot

Go Blue Box!

        The University Club (U-Club), located on the first floor of the Michigan Union, is taking part in a reusable containers pilot to promote waste reduction and sustainability.  The program, called Go Blue Box, aims at reducing waste produced through disposable take out containers that we use every day when we purchase most prepared food.  The program is limited to food purchased at the U-Club, and cannot be used at other University dining establishments on campus because it is still in its pilot phase at the U-Club.  

What's this all about?  Why participate?

        Looking at the big picture, according to the EPA, 780,000 tons of plastic polystyrene cups and plates were discarded in 2008.  Styrofoam cups are completely non-biodegradable, deplete the Earth’s ozone layer, waste enormous amounts of landfill, and are deadly to marine life. Each year Americans produce enough cups to circle the earth 436 times.

        You can reduce the amount of waste you are responsible for!  Disposable takeout containers create 4-8 ozs of trash per use, meaning that each of us creates over 100 lbs of trash per per year.  This is a way to reduce waste at an individual level and reduce this number.

To check out more information and details about the Go Blue Box, please visit the University Unions page @ 
http://uunions.umich.edu/go-blue-box

Composting at UM and our Post-Consumer Compost Study

Food Waste Compost Program

Pre-Consumer Composting

What we collect and where

       The food waste that is collected as part of U of M's food waste compost program is "prep-waste". Prep-waste is vegetative, pre-consumer food waste generated during meal preparation. No plate waste is collected in the program because of the composting method used. Currently, 5 residence halls participate in the food waste program; Betsey Barbour, East Quadrangle, Markley Hall, South Quadrangle and West Quadrangle. The Hill Dining Center, Pierpont Commons cafeteria, the University Catering Services, located in Pierpont Commons, and Palmer Commons also participate.

Stadium Recycling!

Waste Management Services recycles cardboard and other recyclables collected from vendors at the Stadium during games. You'll be surprised what happens when Wolverines Recycle!

Pop and water bottles are also collected at the Stadium each game. Most people don't realize that when they recycle beverage containers that energy and water is saved by not using raw materials or energy to produce new products. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour...don't be one of them!

Game Day Recycling Play-by-Play

On September 15th, the University of Michigan played UMass. It was the second home game of the year with 110,708 fans in attendance. At the game, with the help of Michigan fans and vendors, we recycled 26 percent of the waste from the game and kept this material from going to the landfill. We handled 5.33 tons of recyclables!

.....We even got a quick snap of Denard Robinson heading towards the blue Recycling bins!

For more information about Recycling at the Big House, please visit:
http://www.recycle.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/stadium_recycling.php

Recycling at the Big House!

Go Blue and Recycle at the Big House!

      With the first home game of the season vs. Air Force tomorrow at 3:30 PM, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office is gearing up for Recycling at the Big House.  The task is not an easy one, especially considering that hundreds of thousands of people will be coming through the gates, and unavoidably creating some sort of waste.  Thus, it is our job to divert as much waste from these 100,000+ fans from going to the landfill, and making sure that most, if not all, recyclable items make their way to the designated bins.  If you plan on attending the game, try your best to help our recycling team out, and do your part to Recycle at the Big House tomorrow!

Green of the Week: 7th Edition

                           

           The U-M Recycling "Green of the Week" is back again for the 7th edition of our weekly blog segment!  If this is your first time on our blog, be sure to take a look at some of our previous posts, and as always let us know what you think on Facebook, Twitter, or via email at recycle@umich.edu.  

           This week's "green" news is related to a previous post (http://mrecycle.blogspot.com/2012/07/green-of-week-4th-edition.html), which followed an international NGO, Caritas Switzerland, and its business in the conversion of mass amounts of cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.  This week's focus is very similar, but domestically located on the East coast, in NJ.  The company, Grease Lightning, based in Newark, NJ, buys used cooking oil at as much as 50 cents per gallon, and takes in about 7 million gallons per year.  The benefits?  Biodiesel has its use in automobiles and Greg Reinert, a spokesman for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, says that biodiesel may be part of the state's Energy Master Plan in the future.  While the previous article, in its international perspective, focused on the issues with dumping used cooking oil, including potential health and environmental risks, the focus on the NJ company seems to be more garnered toward the potential energy benefits and the future conjunction between eateries and fuel companies.  The article jokingly added that, "as long as there’s a mass appetite for doughnuts and fries, grease is a renewable energy source that’s in constant supply".

                                 

                                     ^The grease in its untreated state and then filtered fuel state

           With fossil fuels being a constant hot topic in the environmental world, it is refreshing to see the research and execution of alternative fuel methods that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  Recycling also means reducing and reusing, so this company is definitely worthy of a Green of the Week spotlight in our book.  

To read the article and interview in its full detail, please follow the link below:

http://www.nj.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2012/08/company_helps_restaurants_recy.html

Also, check out our annual e-newsletter, Recycling Matters, which came out last week!

http://www.recycle.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/recycling_matters_newsletter/2012_summer.pdf

Remember to follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling!

And our Facebook page, click "Like" if you like us!: http://www.facebook.com/UMRecycling

Recycling Matters e-Newsletter

**If the text is too small for you to see on your browser through the blog post, please visit the following link to view and/or save as a PDF file: 

          http://www.recycle.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/recycling_matters_newsletter/2012_summer.pdf

Green of the Week: 6th Edition

         U-M Recycling's Green of the Week is here again!  Our news this week comes from The Washington Times "Communities" section, in an interview between Joseph Cotto and Dr. Patrick Moore, one of the original co-founders of the environmental activist organization, Greenpeace.  The article, while following the personal answers and opinions of Dr. Moore, is particularly enlightening on how environmental activism works in our contemporary world.  Many a time, we have skewed conceptions of the environmentalist movement - from both the pro- and con- side.  The interview serves to better inform not only about Greenpeace and its mission, but the extent to which being "green" is really beneficial to our world.

         Dr. Patrick Moore is a credible source to be talking about Greenpeace, with even more incredible academic credentials.  Along with being named President of the Greenpeace Foundation in 1977, Dr. Moore 's accolades include an "Honors BSc in biology and forest biology, a PhD in ecology during which [he] was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship, an honorary doctorate of science from North Carolina State, the Einstein Society's Award for Nuclear Science and History, along with over 40 years experience in all aspects of the environmental movement".  So, Moore is no stranger to the environmental movement both in academia and in its societal applications and organizations.  The article explores his leaving of Greenpeace after less than ten years as its head, and he explains the nuances of their goals as lacking real academic backing for the most part - something he could not stand by.  

         On a lighter note, Dr. Moore details his inspiration for involvement with environmental movements and his dedication to building sustainable environments.  If you want some insight on environmentalism from a successful and credible source, definitely check out Dr. Patrick Moore and this interview. 

To read the article and interview in its full detail, please follow the link below:
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2012/aug/10/patrick-moore-how-stop-worrying-and-love-mother-na/

Keep an eye out in the upcoming weeks for for our annual e-newsletter, Recycling Matters!

Remember to follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling!
And check out our Facebook page, click "Like" if you like us!: http://www.facebook.com/UMRecycling

Green of the Week: 5th Edition

            Just getting a bit off schedule (but earlier!), U-M Recycling's Green of the Week is reporting back on a Thursday this week.  With our focus last week specifically on recycling news from abroad, this edition of Green of the Week will take an international perspective on an important environmental concern that is sure to make an impact in our futures.
            Our focus comes from Yale's "Environment 360" news blog this week, with an article bringing to attention the consequences of an air-conditioned world.  With scorching summers as of recent, most Americans know just how comforting it is to flip a switch in their home or office to beat the heat and enjoy an artificial ice box.  In fact, Americans have partitioned more energy for air conditioning use than any other nation over time.  However, the article's author, Stan Cox, warns that this convenience is on the path to increased air conditioning use globally - posing a threat to not only the environment, but society and human interaction as well.
           Other nations are beginning to artificially cool their buildings more and more, and the U.S is definitely not a model of restraint.  Because in most countries air conditioners run on electricity generated from fossil fuels, this poses a threat to the environment with increased carbon emissions that will influence global climate change.  Likewise, the phenomenon of air conditioning is a social one that holds consequences in the ability to "live with" higher temperatures, the amount of time spent indoors, and the amount of time removed from the community as a whole because of proclivity for the cooler indoors.  Air conditioning, which once was a luxury and a haven from extremely hot temperatures, has transformed into something that Americans have come to take for granted; and the rest of the world might be on the same track.

To read the article in more detail, please follow this link:
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/cooling_a_warming_planet_a_global_air_conditioning_surge/2550/


Keep an eye out in the upcoming weeks for for our annual e-newsletter, Recycling Matters!

Remember to follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling!
And check out our Facebook page, click "Like" if you like us!: http://www.facebook.com/UMRecycling

Green of the Week: 4th Edition

           U-M Recycling is back this week, bringing to you the weekly installment of Green of the Week!  We hope that the news we have been spotlighting here is interesting and fun for our readers, and if you have any suggestions, definitely send us an email at recycle@umich.edu!
          Our news this week comes from overseas, in Bali.  A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Caritas Switzerland, is working with Bali hotels and restaurants on a project collecting cooking oil and converting it into biodiesel fuel.
          From a survey starting in 2010 initiated by the NGO, it was found that cooking oil was not being disposed of in a sustainable manner, posing health risks to humans consuming overused cooking oil and other environmental concerns when dumped in soil and water.  Cooking oils disposed in landfills increases greenhouse gas emissions because decomposition of it produces methane.  The project's goals will address these environmental and health concerns, and the benefits look to be multifaceted in creating jobs and training to underprivileged individuals in the area.
          The project has currently found success in reaching a collection of a minimum 1000 liter daily of cooking oil from participating businesses and looks to expand the amount of hotels and restaurants in the program.  With the biodiesel converter at a processing plant, it is expected that anywhere from 1000-1500 liters of biodiesel fuel will be made daily through collections of cooking oil.

To read the full article, follow this link: http://www.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2012-07-27/recycling-project-turns-used-cooking-oil-biodiesel.html

Keep an eye out in the upcoming weeks for for our annual e-newsletter, Recycling Matters!

Remember to follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling!
And check out our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UmichRecycling

Green of the Week: 3rd Edition

         We're back this week with our 3rd edition of U-M Recycling's Green of the Week blog installment to bring you interesting and innovative news from the recycling world.  Some very cool news caught our eye this week, about REUSE.
         Just outside of Portland Oregon, the Campbell family is renovating their home.  Their home has been around the world, and its retirement, the old Boeing 727 has become a residence.  Yes, that's correct, the Boeing 727 aircraft was flown for 32 years before its final landing in 1999, when Bruce Campbell bought it with the intention of remodeling it as a home.  

         The Campbells own about 10 acres of land, where their unique home has permanently landed - and Bruce says he paid about $100,000 for the retired craft (with an additional $12,500 moving fee from the airport to his acreage).  The remodeling options are not as limited as one would think - there's a working bathroom, a "modest" kitchen in the works, and decks with handrails on the wings.
         The Campbell family are not the only ones interested in turning old flying machines into homes, which is a refreshing thought considering the amount of materials used to make these aircraft.  Architect David Hertz, who was interested in finding old materials in building an airplane inspired home for a client, said "we began to realize that there are hundreds of airplanes that have been retired to sit in the deserts of California".  (Here's a link to what these "airplane graveyards" look like - http://www.greenwala.com/channels/green-business/blog/986-On-A-Wing-And-A-Prayer-Where-Airplanes-Go-When-They-Die)

           Thus, the reuse of airplanes, which may normally seem like a colossal task, is actually quite plausible, as seen with the Campbell family.  If you are like Bruce Campbell, and consider yourself "a nerd...who adores aeronautics and abhors the waste of scrapped planes, then maybe a recycled airplane home is in the future for you.  It's unconventional, and maybe even a bit quirky, but don't count out trying new things with reuse like the Campbell family.

You can read the entire article at MSNBC:
http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/16/12605486-lifelong-layover-old-jets-being-recycled-as-homes?lite

Remember to follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling!
And check out our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UmichRecycling

Green of the Week - Edition 2

           We're still getting into the swing of a weekly installment of our blog, "Green of the Week", but we soon enough, expect to see a new post every Friday to keep up to date with just a little bit of current recycling news!

       This week, we turn our attention to the East Coast, and to the Big Apple.  New York City is soon to be home to what online recycling news source, the Mother Nature Network, calls "the Rolls-Royce of recycling bins".  These pricey bins ($47,000 to be exact) feature both newspaper and bottle recycling, but their real identifiers are the LCD screens flashing local news, weather, advertisements, and more to passers-by.  You can check out more about the "Renew Recycle" bins here at: http://www.renewsolution.com/index.html.

       The major American city is following in the footsteps of London, who has installed the same high-tech bins around their city as they prepare for an influx of tourism for the 2012 Summer Olympics.  New York's motivation, though?  To boost an only 15% recycling rate in one of the most populated and diverse cities in the world, with the goal of a doubling of rates by 2017, according to the newly appointed Ron Gonan.  His position, "Deputy Commissioner for Recycling and Sustainability", has been created recently by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in an effort to bolster more green practices in the city in light of the disappointing recycling rates of the past.


      The new bins, then, will hopefully attract attention to the effort both on the news, and for pedestrians in the street.  Some suggest otherwise, and feel that the potential of the high-tech bins and their screens will be lost amongst the already busy and flashy NYC streets.  Only the pilot-testing of the bins will tell.

The entire article on can be read here at MNN:
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/blogs/lower-manhattan-to-get-47k-recycling-bin

Also, see the entire story on the new NYC "recycling czar", Ron Gonan:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/a-recycling-czar-for-new-york-city/).  

Follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling
Check out our Facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/UmichRecycling     

Green of the Week!

           Considering this blog has been a bit neglected in the past few weeks, we thought the best way to give it a little kick-start would be to start weekly themed pieces.  So, every Friday, make sure to check out our U-M Recycling's "Green of the Week" piece, where we pick out what we thought to be the major recycling news of the week, interesting and new green product development, innovative recycling ideas, and much more!  We would love for suggestions, commentary, and criticisms on what we at the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office are doing, so please let us know!  If you have any ideas for weekly installments that YOU want us to feature, either send us a tweet @UmichRecycling or an email at recycle@umich.edu.

          This week's Green of the Week comes from Resource Recycling in their coverage of the potential legislation to improve how the EPA collects recycling information - more specifically, "the types of materials recovered, how they're recovered and what end use they are directed to".  While some in Congress see this legislation as something that stands to "accomplish very little", other legislators and companies are optimistic that this will help recover data to ultimately keep the industry competitive internationally by what Charles Johnson highlights as "contributing to private-sector green jobs, energy efficiency, and industry waste-reduction goals.  Currently, recycling rates need to be improved to take into account contaminants that divert some, otherwise recyclable, materials to landfill, as well as, quantifying the re-use of materials into the rates.  Overall, the legislation is being pushed in what Rep. Henry Waxman of California calls "the most anti-environment House of Representatives in the nation's history".  Despite the challenges within Congress, the push for legislation is necessary and backed by multiple facets of corporations within the recycling industry.

For the full article, you can follow the link below:
http://resource-recycling.com/node/2886

Green Fairs at Michigan

         Last Thursday, the Division of Student Affairs hosted an Interactive "Green" Fair at the Michigan Union Rogel Ballroom.  The event included activities such as crafting picture frames through reused materials and scraps, "tiny" talks that spanned for 30 minutes and ranged from topics covering green cleaning products to recycling on campus, as well as individual interactive tables and booths from different campus and off-campus organizations.   The link to the event promo can be found here: http://dsa.umich.edu/article/dsa-planet-blue-you-interactive-fair.

           With the turnout of both organizations and attendees, the fair looked to be a great success.  Locally grown and freshly made light refreshments attracted attention and were the perfect complement to the active nature of the event.  Booths such as the one above (our display representing the Recycling Program) were both informative and interactive, with many providing games for participants and on-lookers alike.  The short "tiny" talks, were a great way to engage an audience and provide new information without losing their attention - likewise, the range and diversity of topics definitely sparked a variety of interests.  

            "Green" fairs on campus are a great way to learn about innovative ways in which our campus is making efforts to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable.  Seeing the breadth of organizations affiliated with this effort makes it quite clear of the University's intentions to be eco-friendly and to improve each year.  Besides being fun and interactive, it is probably that you (quite literally) won't walk away empty handed either.  Many of the booths and tables have prizes at the end of their interactive game/quiz, as well as free pamphlets, magnets, and other fun tools to help remind you to go green.

Single Stream Recycling @ Michigan: Pesky #3 Plastic

       I came across this article on eartheasy.com (http://eartheasy.com/blog/2012/05/plastics-by-the-numbers/) that details the different numbered plastics and basically explains what each one means.  I thought it would be helpful to outline how this article fits into recycling here at Michigan and clarify some frequently asked questions about single stream recycling.  On the Ann Arbor campus, single stream recycling means that there is no sorting and all recyclables can be placed in to the same bin - excluding #3 plastics, styrofoam, plastic bags, batteries, napkins, paper cups/plates, lightbulbs, ceramics, and tissue paper/products.  While some of these "unacceptables" are easier to identify then others, #3 PVCs (or Polyvinyl Chlorides) are not readily identifiable by many.  So here's the breakdown:

       PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride and probably better known to many as the soft plastic in clear plastic food wrap, children's and pet's toys, and blister packaging (as seen in the following photos).


        PVC is also used for plumbing, as in the common item of white PVC pipe that many know.  PVC is widely used in construction because it is durable, cheap, and easily worked. 
 

        The problem with this #3 plastic becomes clear in its nickname the "poison plastic", with numerous toxins contained within it.  The incineration of PVC can release carbon dioxide and cadmium into the environment, and yet products using PVC plastic are not recyclable.  In order to divert some PVC waste from the landfill, the reuse and repurposing of PVC is encouraged (though not for food or children's use).  

Recycling Made Easy

      For some, recycling can be confusing.  A common dilemma we face after finishing a meal outside of our homes is: Trash v. Recycling.  It may seem trivial, but I even find myself headed towards a trash/recycling station - out to eat at a seat-yourself type restaurant or in a coffee shop - thinking about where the scraps of my meal should go.  What is acceptable to recycle?  Will I do more harm by placing an item in the recycling that does not belong?  For this very reason, signage and proper dissemination of information about the type of recycling available in town, and on campus, is extremely important to the cause of recycling.  It may seem like a hassle to those that are confused, but believe it or not, it can be quite easy if you know what you are doing.

     The University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor is not exempt from the confusion that follows recycling.  Only less than two years ago, the University followed the town it resides in in implementing single stream recycling, (http://sustainability.umich.edu/news/single-stream-recycling-u-m-0).  This switch would make it much easier to recycle without hassle, because essentially, there would be no sorting within recyclables for the consumer.  The only speed bump in the switch to single stream would be proper circulation of information about the new recycling process on campus.  Ultimately, it takes both strategic placement of new, labeled bins, as well as flyering about single stream recycling to get active involvement from the University community.  Here's some photos of how the University of Michigan makes recycling easy:

Green Clean

Recycle Write!

We're committed to ALL kinds of recycling here at Michigan, including recycling old writing utensils and materials for a good cause.  RecycleWrite! is a unique program that offers $.02 for each recycled item as a donation to Mott Children's Hospital.  Do your part and set up a collection box at your home or office!

UM Green Clean

     UM Recycling was part of the Planet Blue event on Friday, May 18th at the Ross Business School "Open House" to promote green initiatives and education. Along with other tables set up to inform participants on energy use and sustainability on the Ann Arbor campus, UM recycling took a role in promoting Single Stream Recycling at the event. You can read the full description of the event here at:

http://www.bus.umich.edu/Conferences/Green-Clean-Day-2012/Sponsors.aspx

     Keep an eye out in future posts for some great photos taken at the event!

Spread the Word!

Recycling here at the University of Michigan is all about being visible and getting the word out. We strive to better our campus and our planet, and to do that, we have to be public and known. Our newest social media addition, feeding insights on recycling news as well as campus recycling events and cool news about how Ann Arbor is going green, is this blog! We'll keep you updated and interested with pictures, news, insights, and more. Let us know what we can do on the University of Michigan campus to make recycling more effective and to make it better known! Follow us on Twitter for more abbreviated versions of these posts at @UmichRecycling!