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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  1. TEACH AD workshop at the Healthy Lifestyle Hub, about the anaerobic digesters installed at Green Era Campus

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    University of Illinois at Chicago
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste

    Sarthak Prasad and Daphne Hulse attended an in-person TEACH AD workshop at the Healthy Lifestyle Hub in Chicago to learn about the anaerobic digesters installed at Green Era Campus in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.

    Attached Files: 

  2. Redwood Materials: F&S, iSEE, and ACES introduced to GIES alum Seema Nilakhe to discuss battery recycling opportunities

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

    RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

     

    Great – thank you all for your thoughts and connections.  I’m moving Madhu and Bob to bcc and can loop them back in as needed.

     

    Jennifer, Morgan and Daphne, can you please share your interest in joining a call along with your availability for the last 2 weeks in June?  I’ll get a call scheduled with Seema so that we can explore a possible collaboration.

     

    Best,

    Amy

     

    Amy Fruehling, MBA

    Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

    College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

    1301 W. Gregory Dr.

    Urbana, IL  61801

     

    217.265.4045

    afruehli@illinois.edu

     

    From: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 12:06 PM
    To: Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>; Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Cc: White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Amy,

     

    Bob is correct that campus no longer has a battery recycling program. I would be interested in following up about how we might restart the program. Colleagues in Facilities & Services, including Morgan White and Daphne Hulse, Zero Waste Coordinator, might also be interested in joining a call.

     

    On a related note, the alum may be interested in an initiative to recycle components of EV batteries (among other types) for reuse in Europe that leverages a partnership between industry and academia.

    https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news-archive/2019/new-project-launches-focusing-on-the-sustainable-reprocessing-of-rare-earth-magnets

     

    Best,

    Jen

     

    Jennifer Fraterrigo (she/her)

    iSEE Associate Director for Campus Sustainability and
    Professor of Landscape and Ecosystem Ecology
    Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

    University of Illinois

    W-423 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave.

    Urbana, IL 61801

    jmf@illinois.edu
    ph 217-333-9428

    https://fraterrigolab.nres.illinois.edu/

     

     

    From: Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 9:27 AM
    To: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Amy,

     

    Campus had a battery recycling program but it was discontinued in 2015 due to lack of funding.  It is now left to units to fund recycling programs if they want.

    https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/battery-recycling

     

    I also thought of Jen Fraterrigo for discussing potential partnerships on campus.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Bob

     

    Robert L. Schooley
    Professor and Head
     
    Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

    College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    W-503 Turner Hall | M/C 047
    Urbana, IL 61801
    217.244.2729 | schooley@illinois.edu
    nres.illinois.edu
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

     

     

     

    From: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:24 PM
    To: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>; Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Amy

     

    Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This sounds interesting.  Would you know what kind of batteries she is interested in building a recycling program for?

    I am ccing Jen Fraterrigo and Morgan White to let us know if we have any current program for this and get their thoughts on potential opportunities for battery recycling on our campus.  

     

    Best

    Madhu

     

     

    Madhu Khanna

    Pronouns: she, her

    Alvin H. Baum Family Chair & Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment

    ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics

    Co-Director, Center for Economics of Sustainability

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

     

    Office: 1101 W. Peabody, Suite 336, M/C  635

    Urbana IL 61801

     

    email: khanna1@illinois.edu; phone: 217-333-5176; fax: 217-333-5538

     

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

    https://ceos.illinois.edu/bio-khanna

    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LPH4gbUAAAAJ&hl=en

     

    https://illinois.zoom.us/j/2173335176?pwd=Ri8rTzQ0S1RxZHpiY2tEWVdaSlhtZz09

     

     

    From: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:13 PM
    To: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Madhu and Bob,

    Checking in to bring this request to the top of your email again.  I’d like to get back to our alum contact at Redwood Materials this week. Did you have any thoughts on her request below, or are there others you’d suggest that I reach out to?

     

    Thanks!

    Amy

     

    From: Bollero, German A <gbollero@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, May 26, 2023 3:18 PM
    To: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Re: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    I will let Madhu and Bob to respond to this.

    Thanks

    GB

     

    From: "Fruehling, Amy" <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 at 2:54 PM
    To: German Bollero <gbollero@illinois.edu>, "Khanna, Madhu" <khanna1@illinois.edu>, "Schooley, Robert Lee" <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Bob, German and Madhu,

     

    Redwood Materials, founded by Tesla co-founder, JB Straubel, is a renewable energy company that focuses on making batteries sustainable and affordable by localizing the battery supply chain and producing components in the US from recycled batteries. A fantastic Gies alumni and former student that I worked with, reached out and is interested in creating a battery collection program at Illinois.  She referenced the campus-wide recycling program with Coca Cola.  While I think this could fit nicely into the Campus Sustainability program, I think that we could discuss possible research, project or funding collaborations that would enhance a program of this nature and support an academic partnership.

     

    I am reaching out to you given your roles in the college and campus sustainability initiatives.  Are there any programs within iSEE, NRES or that campus is working on that might align well?  Are there others within your units that you recommend that I pose this question to?  I’d like to have a follow up call with the alum, Seema Nilakhe, to share some options, and then can bring others into the conversation to hopefully begin talking about how to move forward.

     

    Thank you for your thoughts,

    Amy

     

    Amy Fruehling, MBA

    Sr. Director of Corporate Relations

    217.265.4045

    8DFIANu9afgYkAAAAASUVORK5CYIIA

     

  3. Weekly Update: Emptying the Round Barn, New staffers

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We were closed yesterday for the Memorial Day holiday.

    Last week I moved bikes out of the barn. We’re not 100% done but only have 25 or so bikes left.

    This week I’ll move the rest of the bikes out of the barn and do some reorganizing to accommodate the influx. We also have a new staffer starting this week, so we’ll host a training session or two with them.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 13
    Sales: $1,069.50
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $530
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $110

    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 11 for $86.75

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  4. Weekly Update: Updated hours, Moving bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Last week we started our Summer Hours of M/W/F 2 – 6p. No complaints so far and if visit numbers are any indication, it’s the correct move. A lot fewer folks through the doors this time of year.

    On Wednesday, with the help of a TBP volunteer we moved 10 or so bikes over to the Urbana space. A good small step, but still more bikes to clear. That’ll continue this week as well.

    We’ve been selling bikes at a marginal clip but can’t have enough bikes ready come August so we’ll wrench on a few more this week during the down times.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 22
    Sales: $834.25
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $672
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 1 for $8

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  6. 5-17-23 F&S and YMCA meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    On May 17, 2023 Morgan White, Daphne Hulse, and Marc Alexander met to discuss the future of Dump and Run.

    • F&S will need to provide public functions stuff for YMCA dump and run sale in the fall (use SSC funding - what is left)

    • We will need to create a MOU including what all this means for YMCA and long-term funding for their sale and our spring move out

      • Be sure to include that F&S will support the August sale in a public functions capacity, and supports the continued use of Stock Pavilion

    • Honor the partnership with the YMCA

      • MOU get marc’s perspective, morgan’s perspective, pete’s perspective, housing’s perspective

    • Be clear that there is a spring collection and august sale. They are separate events but all under the Dump and Run name.

      • Phrase example: “The Campus Bike Center is a collaboration between UIUC and the Bike Project of Champaign.”

        • Dump and Run: “Dump and Run is a collaboration between University YMCA and UIUC.”

      • Collaboration means that we sometimes work in different capacities as the university can be so much larger than a small organization

      • Daphne to draft a MOU for F&S-Housing and F&S-YMCA

        • “…Based on x y z background this is how we intend to move forward in our partnership over the years. One year time intervals automatically renewed each year unless a party decides something should change or cease…”

    • Recurring expenses could be argument among us internally to determine who should contribute (Morgan thinks this is a Pete question)

      • Student fees can go to anything

      • State funds to Housing is slightly limited

      • State funds to off campus entities is very limited

    • Timeline

      • Get the MOU signed and approved before move in weekend, so we can proclaim it the way we planned to

      • August for YMCA to rubber stamp it

    • As a general reference, it is good to get things written down and signed on a MOU with existing leadership who support these initiatives, so they continue even when leadership changes

  7. Native Planting at Burrill Hall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    Burrill/ Morrill Walkway

    The following is an email sent by John Marlin on May 16, 2023:

     

    As most of you know I am retired from campus and involved in other off campus conservation activities. I will no longer be overseeing the Burrill Hall native planting.

     

    During the pandemic, maintenance at campus native plantings by volunteers was not allowed.  This coupled with very dry conditions caused deterioration of several sites including the one at Burrill Hall. F&S bought the woodland wildflowers for the planting and the Entomology Department installed them and provided some maintenance in conjunction with some students.

     

    Department head May Berenbaum has put together an effort to revitalize the planting and has some limited funding for some maintenance of the native plants.  F&S plans to make some changes in part of the area and the path is to be restored.  Daniel Bush will initially work with the native plants and supervise any students. 

     

    In the past weeds removed from the site were placed by the two square concrete benches and I notified Ryan Welch who had the maintenance crew remove them.  I assume a similar arrangement can be made possibly with Mr. Dalby as the contact.

     

    This site was quite popular with people walking past and provided a good instructional resource, especially the area near the sidewalk.  I hope that this will continue.

     

    John C. Marlin

     

    Dennis Dalby replied:

     

    Thank you John,

     

    It was nice meeting you today to gain some of your tips and input regarding the planting and upkeep of this area.  I’ve been working with Ryan Welch and SIB to get this area brought back up to its current level and look forward to its improved upkeep with the discussions that we had today.  We’ll be working with Ryan to have a wood chip path added once again and will add a few small plants of our own within the areas that we (MCB) will maintain.  SIB will maintain the areas of the native plants.  It will look and function much better once all is in place.

     

    Thanks again for stopping by to share your experience,

     

    Dennis

  8. Weekly Update: Bike donations, Updated working hours

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, We received 8 bike donations directly from graduating students last week—easily a record during my tenure so far. Not sure how the word got out, but it was effective! Of course, I forgot to ask for a few photos for future marketing use, but one person did request a photo with her bike before she donated it.

    I also worked with TBP volunteers to move a chunk of bikes out of storage, so we’re making headway on that. But still a good number of bikes left, too, which I’ll continue to work on going forward.

    This week we start our summer hours of M/W/F 2 – 6p.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 49
    Sales: $868.25
    Bikes: 3 for $570
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $36

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  9. Bike Safety Quiz Form for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Education
    Enforcement for Safe Cycling
    Bicycle Safety Materials

    Here are some links that direct you to UIUC's bike safety quizzes!

     

    Links to Share – share these links with anyone who’s interested in taking the quiz. Feel free to post on social media, websites, etc.

    Adult BikeSafetyQuiz

    Adult BikeSafetyQuiz - Spanish

    Child BikeSafetyQuiz

    Child BikeSafetyQuiz – Spanish

  10. Dump and Run 2023 held from Monday, May 8 through Saturday, May 13

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Collections began at 10am on Monday morning and continued through 3pm on Saturday afternoon. More than 16,000 pounds of household items were donated to Goodwill through the program. Salt & Light collected 3,500 pounds of soft items (clothes, bedding, linens

    Attached Files: 

  12. Green Research Committee Informal Summary

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee

    The following is an email sent by Stephanie Hess on May 11, 2023.

    Green Research Committee,

    Jeremy and I met with Susan, Ehab, and Madhu last week to give them an update on our progress over the past few weeks. I have attached the topics discussed. Here is a brief summary of that meeting and how we propose to move forward.

    • The October deadline can be extended. However, if there are requests for campus funding, it is a good deadline since all the budget meetings with the Provost happen in the Spring. As long as we continue making progress, we will update them in October with what we have done by then.
    • When we write recommendations, we should consider the financial impact. Cost to implement and money saved following implementation.
    • Jeremy is going to put together a single document that includes the information Paul shared on Teams and more details for the topics discussed in the meeting. That will be shared with the committee.
    • Next meeting, we will discuss that document. Please read it before the meeting and write comments.

    I will try to get something on the calendar soon.

    Thanks,

    Stephanie

     

    Attached is the Informal Summary.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Weekly Update: Schedule update, bikes for sale

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, The past work week was full of last shifts for a lot of the student staff, as well as a lot of talk of finals schedules. Ended on a bright note as a couple rented a tandem from us as practice as they didn’t want their “Just Married” post-nuptial ride on a tandem to be their absolute first one. Fun!

    This is our last week of being open M – F. Next Monday we start M/W/F hours.

    This week I’ve got a meeting to hash out some Tue/Thurs appointment hours to still help folks in need of bike repair.  I’ll also move some bikes out of the warehouse with the help of TBP folk.

    The lobby is currently packed full with sale bikes, so we’ll have to rearrange in the back to accommodate moving some sale stock back there. A good problem to have.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 33
    Sales: $233*
    Memberships: 3 for $90*
    Tires/tubes: 8 for $73*

    Thanks!

    *Due to technical difficulties, these numbers may not be 100% accurate.

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  16. Green Globes 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certified Greener Campus Programs

    Thank you to everyone who attended the iSEE and SSLC 2023 Green Globes, where we recognized student organizations for their sustainable initiatives taken in the past year. Special congratulations to Students for Environmental Concerns, Illinois Urban Farmers, and Red Bison for receiving scholarships to further those initiatives! We are excited to see what the future looks like for these sustainable organizations, keep up the great work!

  17. WCIA: U of I hosting 21st Dump and Run event for students to donate unwanted items

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run
    Issue Press Releases and Sustainability Reports

    by: Noah Nelson

    Posted: May 6, 2023 / 02:00 PM CDT

    Updated: May 10, 2023 / 06:13 PM CDT

    CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — U of I Facilities and Services (F&S) announced that the 21st annual Dump and Run event is expanding to multiple campus locations this year beginning Monday, May 8.

    The U of I said the Dump and Run event, a collaboration between University Housing and U of I F&S, is designed to achieve campus sustainability goals, including reaching zero waste targets and preventing trash from reaching waterways and landscapes.

    Officials said in past years when the event was hosted at the University YMCA, more than 30 tons of material was recycled and kept from reaching the landfill because of these efforts.

    U of I officials said expanding the Dump and Run event this year makes it easier for students and others to donate unwanted items at the end of the semester. They said eight 20’ x 8’ mobile storage units will be placed near campus residence halls for the event, including:

    • Barton Hall/Flagg Hall/Weston Hall/Student Dining and Residential Programs Building
    • Busey Hall/Evans Hall
    • Florida Avenue Residence Halls (Oglesby Hall)/Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls
    • Hopkins Hall
    • Illinois Street Residence Halls (Wardall Hall)
    • Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls (Allen Hall)
    • Nugent Hall/Wassaja Hall
    • Taft Hall/Van Doren Hall/Snyder Hall

    University volunteers will be available at the sites to help prevent overflow and ensure additional pickups as necessary.

    “We’re excited to bring the Dump and Run event right to where the students live and closer to the majority of faculty and staff,” said Daphne Hulse, F&S zero waste coordinator. “This setup offers everyone a simple way to give back to local nonprofits while preventing littering and keeping items that can be reclaimed from reaching the landfill unnecessarily.

    Each day, the containers will be opened at specific times to accept donations. Officials said individuals can donate surplus or gently used items by putting them into bulk boxes inside the containers. Accepted items include:

    • Accessories (handbags, belts, scarves, hats, etc.)
    • Appliances – small to medium size (coffee makers, kettles, mini-fridges, microwaves, etc.)
    • Books
    • Collectibles/antiques
    • Computers and equipment (printers, cables, speakers, hard drives, monitors, etc.)
    • Clothing (rips and tears are okay – but must be washed)
    • Electronics
    • Furniture
    • Housewares (dishes, mirrors, decorative accessories, etc.)
    • Jewelry
    • Linens
    • Lamps
    • Multimedia (DVDs, CDs, records, etc.)
    • Shoes
    • TVs (flat screen only)

    Throughout the week, officials said the donations will be collected by local participating charities Salt & Light and Goodwill.

    “We are pleased to continue to support the Dump and Run initiative, which is a benefit to our residents, the campus, and the local community,” said Alma R. Sealine, executive director of University Housing.

    The donation schedule includes:


    OBA_TRANS.png

    • May 8: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • May 9: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • May 10: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • May 11: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • May 12: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • May 13: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    U of I students and staff can donate accepted items in one of the available mobile storage units during open hours until Saturday, May 13.

  20. 5-3-23 Housing + F&S meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Agenda

    • · Shipping container locations - finalize
    • · SDRP
      • o Concern from Housing staff about the location. They say it is blocking the emergency drive to SDRP.
      • o Checking with Stacey DeLorenzo.
      • o Bollards are up in front of the container - must they remain this way? Confirm safety standpoint, and then they can be lowered.
      • o North bollards on Euclid Dr - receiving route schedules from the non-profits
      • o On Friday - non-profits will be dropping of gaylords to each of the containers
    • · F&S will lock and unlock each day
    • · Volunteers
      • o A little over 10% of the volunteer spots are filled.
      • o Crafting an internal message for F&S employees.
      • o Send the crafted message over to Bryan.
    • · Advertising/messaging
      • o Submitted to iNews as a general advertisement for students
      • o Second volunteer message at Eweek, GradLinks

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