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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  1. Redwood Materials: Jen, Daphne, and Amy meet with Sophie Boel

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    Attendance: Jen Fraterrigo, Sophie Boel, Daphne Hulse, Amy Fruehling

    Sophie Boel introduction: been with Redwood 2+ years, managing construction and engineering team, moved to external affairs (consumer recycling, outreach and education programs). Taking over the university partnerships piece from Seema. Two pieces to look at together:

    • Consumer education, branding materials, and how-to for safe collection and mailing.
    • Research - existing program to bolster with data, or bring about together.

    Recalling our first conversation with Redwood Materials:

    • What is redwood looking for?

    • How can the university offer collaborative experiences with Redwood? Research, battery collection drives.

      • Jen forwarded Sophie the documents she had provided Seema as far as research opportunities go.

    Redwood's experience with collection:

    • 40-50 Audi and Volkswagen dealerships have collection bins - regularly collected and shipped back to Redwood.
    • International Rotary Clubs host collection events throughout the country.

    Daphne's research on where batteries are sourced from and where they end up across campus. Daphne could only speak to batteries that are procured with university money. There is not a gauge on what the community does with batteries and what their needs are.

    • DRS collects Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NMH), Lithium (Li) Ion & Polymer (LiPo), and Silver Oxide (AgO) batteries for recycling. Daphne and Jen don't know the name of the recycling vendor, but they will find out. Sophie says there is a chance that the vendor already works with Redwood Materials, we just have to find out. Rechargeable batteries that are part of a device may get removed, and the device sent to someone like Redwood Materials to find recycling outlets for the device materials, too.

    What could Redwood provide support on if the university would undertake something with them?

    • Bring Seema back into the conversation side (she is involved with business development support).

    Has Redwood done many events with universities? No, they haven’t done many events with universities:

    • University Nevada - Reno, as this is located close to their HQ.

    • Have done events in collaboration with International Rotary Clubs:

      • Environmental & Sustainability Action Group (ES-RAG) - made collection events a part of their piece on sustainability

      • 50-100 collection events - active consumer engagement pieces

      • Earth Day events

    • For events, Redwood can send a Redwood employee - if there is a lot overlapping in terms of time of year (especially Earth Day or Month), some of the rotary district governors act on behalf of Redwood go to an event to staff and educate.

    • Reach out to Urbana and Champaign counterparts - they hold an annual event for Illinois residents for electronics recycling. Maybe there is a need for more than just once a year? And if they combine forces with the university and Redwood, we would have more resources and support to go around.

      • It will be good to hear what the cities think, as their population will likely be the main source for the waste. Students don't often have these kinds of devices and batteries laying around.

    • Any money that can be reinvested to the program? The university tries to find ways to reinvest when possible.

      • Sophie to talk to Seema about this

     

  2. Weekly Update: Students are back, Illini Frenzy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, The semester has officially started! People are knocking on the doors at all hours, we’re almost out of sale bikes, the 529 registrations are a near constant, and there’s a wait for stand time by 3p every day. Demand is never higher than this time of year.

    On Saturday, we had the Illini Frenzy, and our spin-a-prize bike wheel was a huge hit. Something Pavlovian about the act of spinning a wheel. Even when we were out of all our freebies, people spun it anyways, and a line formed almost immediately. I’ll need to work out a couple of things with it, but I think it’s a keeper for outreach events and the like.

    On Friday, Daniel and Rick—two experienced volunteers—came by to lend a hand—and boy did we need it! Many thanks to them. Also, thanks to Todd for grabbing scrap over the weekend.

    This week I’ll try to throw some bikes together during our off hours, send out some offer letters for new hires, and do some trainings for our new/returning staff.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 156
    Sales: $3,127.75
    Bikes (refurb): 13 for $1,840

    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 21 for $630
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $84

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  3. DRS tracks the batteries that they give to WTS, that they recycle, and that they trash

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    From: Lee, Morris <morrisl@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 11:00 AM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Hill, Landon E <landon@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    Good Morning Daphne,

     

    Attached is a report for the batteries handled by the DRS Waste Group.

     

    If you have any data related questions, please let me know (I will be on vacation next week). Landon would be able to answer the operational questions.

     

    Thanks, Morris

     

     

    MORRIS LEE
    RESEARCH SAFETY PROFESSIONAL
     
    Division of Research Safety
    Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    102 Environmental Health and Safety Building
    101 S. Gregory St. | M/C 225
    Urbana, Illinois 61801
    217.300.4563 | morrisl@illinois.edu
    www.drs.illinois.edu
     
    P698ojxP4tc7j8gMqgPv+E4KQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

    Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure. 

    Attached Files: 

  4. WTS hosts collection site for lead acid battery recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    Neither the Waste Transfer Station nor Interstate Batteries (vendor) tracks or weighs the lead acid batteries that are picked up from the cage at the Waste Transfer Station. Rather, the battery unit sold is. The new battery is sold without a core charge, and then the old battery is picked up at a later time. The number of battery units sold is tracked (from 1501 S Oak Street), so this is our best metric for tracking lead acid battery recycling.

    Attachment only covers 2022-2023 sales, a request has been sent for historical data.

    FYI - lead acid batteries (often used in the automobile context) are some of the most easily recycled and rechargeable batteries out there!

    Attached Files: 

  5. ISSS newsletter- new academic year! 8/25/23

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles
    Bicycle Registration

    Sarthak sent announcements (to Caitlin Kaparaz) to be added to the ISSS newsletter (publishing on August 25):

    1. Reclaim Your Abandoned Bike
      Every summer, F&S tags and removes all abandoned bikes. If you left your bike and want to reclaim it, email bike@illinois.edu and include where it was located, the make/model, color, and serial number, if possible. Bike registration information or other documentation will be needed to prove ownership (e.g., pictures). Deadline to reclaim your bicycle: Friday, September 22. All unclaimed bicycles will be donated after that date.
    2. Light the Night – Free Bike Light Giveaway
      The 16th annual Light the Night is Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Alma Mater Plaza, Hallene Gateway, and Ikenberry Commons Quad. You MUST bring your bike to get a light set. Approximately 1,000 bike light sets will be available this year. Remember, bike lights are required by Illinois law when riding at night. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please sign up here.
    3. Celebrate Bike to Work Day on September 14 and Receive a Free T-Shirt
      Ride your bike to campus on Thursday, Sept. 14, and get a free t-shirt! Welcome stations will be set up across the area from 7 – 10 a.m., including eight U of I locations. Celebrate Champaign County Bike to Work Day with others by stopping in for refreshments and snacks. You must bring your bicycle and pre-register at https://go.fs.illinois.edu/BiketoWorkDay to get the shirt!

    Optional announcement

    • Register your bicycle
      Bicycle registration is mandatory for all bicycles parked or operated on campus and owned by students, staff, faculty, University departments, and community members. There is a one-time $10 registration fee per bicycle. All bicycle registrants will enter a raffle for a chance to win a U-lock or a Helmet. Learn more about the bicycle registration raffle. Contact bike@illinois.edu if you have questions regarding bicycle registration.

  6. Digital signage added

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Registration
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    Two new digital signs were added to campus buildings

    1. Bike Registration: from 8/21/2023 until 11/20/2023 (https://bike.illinois.edu/register-your-bike/)
    2. Abandoned bicycles retrieval: from 8/21/2023 to 9/22/2023 (https://bike.illinois.edu/resources/bicycle-roundup/
    Attached Files: 

  7. Sustainability LLC iCAP presentation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Living Learning Community (SLLC)

    On 08/16/2023, Morgan, Daphne, Sarthak, Quinn and Hrushikesh attended/ hosted Sustainability LLC iCAP presentation for the upcoming and aspiring undergraduate students to provide them information about all the aspects of iCAP and other entities. Additionally it was also a great mode of communication to connect with the young minds and get to know their vision regards the same cause.

  8. 2023 Freezer Challenge RESULTS!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge

    Dear Paul, 

      

    We here at My Green Lab thank you very much for your patience while the submissions for the 2023 Freezer Challenge were reviewed over the past number of weeks. You’re receiving this email because you were a site coordinator for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign  this year. Thank you for encouraging labs to participate in the Freezer Challenge this year! You and your lab(s) are a part of over 1,900 labs from 170 different institutions, across 27 countries which participated this year, a new record! The combined efforts of the scientists and labs participating in the 2023 Freezer Challenge saved an estimated 20.6 million kWh over the past year, which is the equivalent of avoiding an estimated 14,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. 

     

    66 scoresheets were submitted from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, representing a total of 94 labs, the combined actions of which saved an estimated 1293.5 kWh/day! Great job, and well done! Please see the attached Excel document for details of all the actions taken by labs at your organization this year, with each row being a different scoresheet submitted back to us. Total raw points for actions and kwh/day saved are on the far right. *Please note that all lab points of contact received a separate email from programs@mygreenlab.org in the past 24 hours informing them of their lab’s estimated energy savings too. 

     

    The winners of the 2023 Freezer Challenge will be announced by mid-August via My Green Lab and I2SL newsletters and our social media channels, so stay tuned for that announcement! 

     

    Thank you for engaging labs at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign to implement cold storage best practices through the Freezer Challenge! We hope you’ll encourage your organization to participate in the 2024 Freezer Challenge next year. 

     

    Sincerely,  

    My Green Lab & the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL)

    ----------------------------------------------

     

    We have officially surpassed the highest number of labs participating and reached our highest avoided energy reduction at over $54k avoided annually at the current kWh rate.

    We also have a lab receiving an award for the best lab in their category. See next email forward.

     

    Best

    Paul

  9. Background research on anaerobic digesters

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Big Ten & Friends Sustainability
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste

    Sarthak Prasad shared 2018 notes from conversations held with stakeholders at The Ohio State University, West Lafayette (Purdue University), Bevier Cafe (University of Illinois), US Army Corps -- Champaign, and Michigan State University -- East Lansing on the topic of anerobic digesters. Attached are the notes. The document will continue to grow as more conversations occur.

    Attached Files: 

  10. F&S, iSEE to investigate anaerobic digestion at other campuses

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Big Ten & Friends Sustainability

    Sarthak Prasad, Jen Fraterrigo, and Daphne Hulse intend to pursue conversations with campuses that have successfully installed anaerobic digesters. Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University have been identified as the first campuses to initiate a conversation with. The goal of these conversations will be to understand how campuses achieved momentum and will for the digesters to be financed and built (stakeholders include but are not limited to farmers, relevant academic departments, crop sciences, digester operators, waste management and sustainability, organic waste haulers, researchers).

  11. North American introduces F&S to aerobic composting technology

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste
    Achieve Zero Waste

    From: Zach Hansen <zhansen@na.com>
    Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 10:16 AM
    To: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Food Composting

    Sounds great!

    Daphne, if you are interested in getting more information on this solution, my counterparts in California has worked closely together on a number of projects with them so I could set up a call.

    Thanks and I hope you all had a great weekend!

     

    Zach​​​​ Hansen

    Account Executive

    O: (630) 864-8755

    na.com

    8AtXGxmW7lstMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    oPEKqip9B1X8FGABYlWFzFb2pawAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

    Learn about our family of brands

     

    From: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 9:01 AM
    To: Zach Hansen <zhansen@na.com>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Food Composting

    Coincidence?

    Daphne just discussed composting with me last week and it is of importance to her. I’ll let her take the lead on this if she wishes to follow-up.

     

    Thank you,

    Pete

    (217) 333-7583

     

    From: Zach Hansen <ZHansen@na.com>
    Sent: Friday, August 11, 2023 4:37 PM
    To: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Food Composting

    Hi Pete, Macie, and Daphne,

    Completely unrelated to the F&S meetings that we have been having, but I wanted to bring this to your attention.

    If there are increases in demand for composting around the facilities like cafeterias, housing, even athletics, this was a pretty cool machine that seems incredibly easy to use and composts food scraps in 5 days!

    https://info.waxie.com/for-solutions

    Have a great weekend!

    Zach

     

    Zach​​​​ Hansen

    Account Executive

    O: (630) 864-8755

    na.com

    8AtXGxmW7lstMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    oPEKqip9B1X8FGABYlWFzFb2pawAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

    Learn about our family of brands

     

  13. Weekly Udpate: Interviews for CBC

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Short week for me as I was out Wed – Fri last week. My staff covered in my absence.

    In the couple days I did work, we got the rest of the bikes out of the barn and began some Tetris-like work in reorganizing our space and bikes. Got a deluge of applications since I was out, which is great. I’ll schedule interviews for this week.

    Likely will get very busy this week as students return. I’ll build bikes as I can.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 20
    Sales: $1,021
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $480
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Tires/tubes: 4 for $52

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. Lead acid battery recycling, Surplus electronic battery recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
    Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 9:37 AM
    To: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    Hi Jen,

     

    Follow up - the Waste Transfer Station does not track how many lead acid batteries are collected across campus and picked up by Interstate, so I have reached out to Interstate to see if pickups are something they track.

     

    Thank you!

    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

     

     

     

    From: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, August 11, 2023 10:24 AM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    In other words, we generate revenue from recycling the lead acid batteries and then use that revenue to purchase new lead acid batteries. Is that correct? That’s great!

     

    Thanks for following up with Surplus. Once I hear back from you I will reach out to Seema.

     

    Jen

     

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, August 11, 2023 10:03 AM
    To: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    More info on the batteries: the lead acid batteries that are taken to the cage on the west side of WTS are then given back to Interstate Batteries as a refundable core deposit. This is often mandated by state legislature. Lead acid batteries are used in vehicles (so our Garage is a big producer of these), and the cost of purchasing new lead acid batteries covers the cost of returning them for recycling. So these are one type of battery currently successfully being recycled. I’ll see if WTS keeps a record of weight on this, to know how much we are recycling.


    I will follow up with Surplus to see if they have any idea how many electronics batteries they are sending to Secure Processors, the vendor that accepts these kinds of batteries for recycling.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

  17. Foam Compacting Machine Location and Status

    Associated Project(s): 
    Styrecycle: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling program [ARCHIVED]

    On August 7, 2023 Amy Rosenbery sent the following email:

    Hi Morgan!

    I’m working on our inventory and the Foam Compacting machine that Ben purchased in 2015 is on our list.

    Do you know if this equipment went to ISTC? I don’t know who has this or where it’s located. It used to be on the 2nd floor here at NSRC but it’s not there anymore.

    Best,
    Amy

     

    On August 9, 2023 Morgan White replied:

     

    Hi Amy,

     

    That Styrofoam machine was transferred to a different non-profit in Illinois, by ISTC.  Joe Pickowitz and Shantanu Pai were involved in getting it moved form ISTC to the other non-UIUC facility.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

    Amy replied:

    Hi Morgan!

    That’s what I thought. I found an email about it going to Community Resource, Inc. in Urbana so I looked them up and the place is permanently closed now.

    The equipment is still showing up on iSEE’s inventory.

    Thanks for your help!

    Best,
    Amy

     

  18. DRS process for battery disposal: trash, recycling, waste transfer lead acid batteries

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    From: Hill, Landon E <landon@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 4:20 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    Hi.

     

    Is there something specific that you are looking for?

     

    DRS picks up most anything chemical that is requested for disposal through the campus waste management app: https://www.drs.illinois.edu/Page/RequestAWastePickup

     

    All alkaline batteries are trashed.

     

    Rechargeable batteries are recycled.

     

    Lead acid batteries are taken to the cage on the west side of the Waste Transfer Station.

     

    Landon

  19. Monthly Meeting with Jake

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    On 08/07/2023, Sarthak and Hrushikesh had a monthly meeting with Jake.

    Meeting Notes:

    - Actively promoting Bike Registration to students or commuters visiting and using the Campus Bike Center.

    - Campus Bike Center should have printer QR code sticker/ flyer for Bike Registration.

    - Bike Friendly Application will be submitted on 08/08/2023.

    - Light the Night Event near Ikenberry Hopkins Hall and ARC.

    - Bike Lights including the screw fitting types will be used for the events.

    -  Bike Safety Quiz is recommended to be promoted by the Campus Bike Center.

    - Merchandise purchase order is placed.

    - How to use Outdoor Pumps video can be made by the Campus Recreation marketing team.

    To do for Sarthak:

    - Find out Campus Bike Center Built-up area for UIC recommendation.

    - Try to get the merchandise before August 20th for the Campus Bike Center events.    

  20. Weekly Update: Calm before the storm, getting ready

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, These days feel like the calm before the storm. Starting to get phone calls and emails from families and folks looking for bikes as they plan to come to town. We’ll sell out of our supply of bikes before the semester begins, if past demand is any indication.  We’ll work on getting a few more B-a-Bs prepped and ready to go, as demand looks to increase in the absence of refurbished bikes.

    I’ll be out of the office Wednesday – Friday this week. My staff will cover open hours on those days.

    The numbers:

    Sales: $572
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $345
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 6 for $43

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

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