Below is an email exchange regarding University Housing recycling:

It was great talking with all of you about sustainability in University Housing. I hope my input didn’t scare you too much. Given our size, and the number off residents we house, we have to maintain some discipline in how we communicate to and interact with our residents. I’m sure we can find a viable method for reaching our residents to inform them of sustainability issues and event across campus. Below are a few talking points I jotted down during out meeting.

• Below are four key communication methods for reaching our residents.

1. 11x17 posters in the dining halls. You would need to produce 200 posters to reach all the halls. I can share any drafts you have with various people in Housing to get their feedback before they are printed.
2. Digital Signs Link: https://housing.illinois.edu/resources/policies/digital-signs
3. Dining hall napkin holders (I need to double check with Thurman Etchison on availability, or Meredith can ask him next time she talks with him)
4. Housing Insider and Family and Graduate Housing Newsletter. The Housing insider a weekly newsletter we send to all undergraduate residents. The FGH Newsletter is sent to all graduate and apartment residents monthly. Notices in the Housing Insider are typically one and done. They don’t like to run the same notice for consecutive weeks at a time.

• I attached our standard recycling container label. This is placed above all recycling containers in Housing and in the trash/recycling rooms in the residence halls.
• Placement of a QR code on the residence hall room recycling containers, similar to what was displayed on the Don’t Waste It recycling containers. I suggest we wait until next summer when the students are not in the rooms to add this to the containers. It’s far less complicated if the residents are not in their rooms. Although, like Meredith suggested, we could explore providing the stickers at the residence hall front desks for the students to place on the containers themselves.
• We discussed incorporating a short segment on sustainability in the RA training at the beginning of the academic year. I will bring this idea to the Residential Life leadership to get their thoughts.
• We also discussed how we might be able to include components on sustainability in our programming to Housing residents. Nathan Sanden is responsible for implementing the Residential Curriculum, so I will share this idea with him for thoughts and input.

I ended up closing the meeting invite without saving, which I was using to keep notes during the meeting. So please let me know if I missed any key takeaways.

BRYAN JOHNSON

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Hi Bryan,

Daphne Hulse and I have been developing plans for a campus-wide plastic waste reduction campaign. I think the communication methods you mention below could be valuable for messaging. If you agree, Daphne can incorporate these into the strategy.

We remain interested in adding a sticker with a QR code to the residence hall room recycling containers to direct students to a website with more information about recycling and waste management. Can you provide an estimate of how many stickers we would need?

I also want to follow up on your last two points about incorporating sustainability into RA training and programming to Housing residents. Our survey data indicate that first year students are more likely to purchase single-use plastic bottles, so we think targeting this group is important. Has Residential Life leadership and or Nathan Sanden responded to your inquiries concerning this issue?

If you would like to discuss any of these items further, Daphne and I would be happy to join you on a call.

Thank you,

Jen

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Okay, I have some answers for you. Attached is our proposal to the SSC to fund the recycling containers. The original purchase was for 6,511 containers, but I would guess a few have disappeared by now. I was not able to find anyone within our Sustainability LLC to help mange this project or take on submitting another request to SSC to fund the stickers. If we move forward with this project, we will need to meet with Housing Facilities staff to iron out the logistical details. Our facilities staff will not be able to assist with placement of the stickers, so we will need to find a different avenue for getting them placed. I copied Matt Brown and Mark Kuehl from Housing Facilities on the email to keep them in the loop.

Herb Jones, Director of Residential Life, said he is open to a conversation to talk through your thoughts on incorporating a sustainability component into our RA training. Jenny Bates, copied here, manages his calendar, if you would like to reach out to her and schedule a time to meet.

Also, here is an updated link to Housing’s website for digital sign requests. We redesigned our webpage a couple months ago and the old link was inactive.  https://www.housing.illinois.edu/digital-signage

Also, also, I am still trying to confirm if we rent out the space on the napkin holders in the dining halls. We have not done this in the past, but we have a new Director of Dining who might have a different direction for these.

Thanks,

BRYAN JOHNSON

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Bryan,

Thank you for sharing this information. It is all very helpful!

Daphne and I can look into developing an SSC proposal, perhaps with the assistance of our iCAP Engagement team. I think we can also find people to help with sticker placement if the project is funded.

We are looking forward to discussing incorporating a sustainability component into RA training with you on April 7 at 3:00 pm.

Best,

Jen

Attendance: Pete Varney, Shawn Patterson, Dan Hiser, Bryan Johnson, Mark Kuehl, Morgan White Daphne Hulse

1. Squirrels. Housing was scouting areas outdoors and BSWs brought up the concern with squirrels.

1. If we collect food, will the squirrels be an issue?

2. We would only accepted closed, non-perishable foods, but this does not ensure students will follow the guidelines exactly.

3. What do the squirrels do?

1. E38 in front of Campus Rec/Scott Hall, squirrels have been seen eating the wiring. BSWs are concerned that squirrels would eat and break things stored in the storage units.

2. PODS locations for LAR, Allen, & Busey. There are not many great spots outdoors.

• Potentially: parking spots - in front of Allen, or over by McKinley.
• Busey: place it on the grass between this area? Not a lot of space.
• All of the other places suggested, it would work okay to put PODS outdoors.

3. Staff to man the storage containers.

1. If volunteer staff are outdoors to open and close the doors to the PODS, it can allow us to keep the PODS idea and also prevent squirrels from entering.

2. Things don’t really get busy until Wednesday. Maybe do a couple hours of pickup during afternoon on Monday and Tuesday. Start full time on Wednesday. Saturday is the last day. No volunteers on Sunday.

4. Dan & Transportation Co. can provide transportation to the places that can’t have a big pod in them.

1. This would follow our original plan to put gaylords in the halls and have them taken to PPSB.

5. Create certain hours for drop off (volunteers man during these hours). All other hours the PODS are closed.

6. Suggested locations for PODS.

1. 4 spots at IKE (one at each corner)

2. 1 PAR

3. 1 ISR

4. 20 footers.

5. Markup on exactly where those are at, LAR-Busey-Allen would go.

6. Northside of Allen Hall/LAR check with transportation people - Morgan will check and copy Daphne.

7. Daphne to reach out to the Main Library about their food pantry.

1. Thurman in Dining may be able to assist with collection.

2. Group agreed that keeping food collection separate from Dump & Run is best.

8. Daphne’s quotes (for local PODS companies) was close to the estimate that Bryan and Mark found.

1. One company was significantly more expensive, probably because they come from Normal, IL (not in town) and they have extra fuel surcharges, expensive pick up and drop off fees.

2023-03-24 Meeting recording here on google drive.

Hello Student Sustainability Committee. Attached is a SSC Step 1 funding application request for the campus Rainwater Management Plan. I have also included a photo of the Boneyard Creek since it is a campus waterway and the application requested one map, graphic or picture. Please contact me with any questions and thank you for considering.

Betsy

From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:40 PM
To: Kim, Hannah <hannahk9@illinois.edu>
Cc: Vaya, Sakshi <svaya2@illinois.edu>
Subject: FW: Composting Tumbler

Hi Hannah,

During our call yesterday we briefly touched on part 2 of your project, to be informed by the research study. If it is determined a small-scale pilot compost project should be implemented on campus (& depending on the response from the Sustainable Student Farm), this class which regularly produces food scraps might be a great start.

Thank you,
Daphne

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


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: Wong, Corina <cwong54@illinois.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023 12:13 PM
To: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078@illinois.edu>
Cc: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
Subject: Re: Composting Tumbler

Hello Meredith and Daphne, 

My class consists of 40 people (or 20 pairs) and we meet twice a week. Our food scraps would consist of egg shells, fruit, and veggies scraps. I'm thinking about 5-10 pounds a week. It depends on each lab. 

Thanks,

​Corina Wong (she/her/hers)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Food Science Major - Class of 2026

cwong54@illinois.edu | 773-733-3719 

From: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078@illinois.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2023 11:02 AM
To: Wong, Corina <cwong54@illinois.edu>
Cc: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
Subject: RE: Composting Tumbler

Hi Corina,

Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in responsibly disposing of food from FSH 232. I am copying Daphne Hulse, who is the campus Zero Waste Coordinator so that she can stay in the loop as well. We still have a tumbler at the National Soybean Research Center and Presby Hall. These are approximately 65 gallons; do you have an estimate of how much food waste your course generates? The Presby Hall tumbler is not at capacity, so theoretically, you are welcome to use this for vegetable/fruit scraps. We are in the process of identifying a larger scale option though unfortunately this is all we have available at the moment.

Thank you!

Meredith  

--------------------------------------------
“There are a lot of dreamers – dreaming is very important, but it’s really the dreamer and the doer. You’ve got to be the doer.” –Will Steger  

MEREDITH MOORE
Sustainability Programs Manager 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)
1101 W Peabody Drive (Suite 382), Urbana, IL, 61801
217.333.0119 | mkm0078@illinois.edu
www.sustainability.illinois.edu
 


Please consider the environment before printing out 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: Wong, Corina <cwong54@illinois.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 10:08 PM
To: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078@illinois.edu>
Subject: Composting Tumbler

Dear Meredith,

My name is Corina Wong, and I am taking FSHN 232: The Science of Food Preparation. When researching composting at UIUC, I found your contact information regarding a composting tumbler. I was wondering if the composting tumbler still exists. 

I'm emailing you because in FSHN 232 we produce a lot of food waste due to the nature of food preparation. Right now, our food waste is simply tossed into the trash. I would like to find a solution to our food waste (and one that would last for future semesters since this class is offered every fall and spring). I was wondering if we could put our food waste into that tumbler. If not, do you have any alternative solutions? I have contacted the dining services, and unfortunately, delivering our food waste to the Grind2Energy services is not possible. 

Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions!

Thanks,

​Corina Wong (she/her/hers)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Food Science Major - Class of 2026

cwong54@illinois.edu | 773-733-3719 

Hello Jen and Morgan,

I have attached a draft of the award letter to be sent to the deans and dept heads, and am reaching out to iSEE in regards to supporting this program.

I believe in the past ISEE co-presented these awards with F&S and more recently the awards were presented at the Sustainability Celebration which works well to promote more exposure for all sustainability items on campus.

Unfortunately, the BTAF Mechanical Engineering conference and I2SL conferences are during the same week so we were not available to join this past year.

We are now looking at 5 separate presentations at each location to present this years awards and wondering what support or involvement ISEE would be interested in?

Thank you 

Paul Foote

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

Hi Paul,

Jen and I spoke about this, and iSEE is interested in continuing to participate in the presentation of the ECIP awards.  We would like to suggest that this be a single award presentation, rather than the five separate events.  It can occur during Earth Month, and perhaps it could be held at the ACES Library, which is a nice venue and it was the ECIP winner with the highest energy savings.

Please let us know if this is an acceptable plan, and we can arrange a call to talk about the details.

Also, I asked Ehab about the Henry Admin Building leadership, and he suggests Paul Ellinger be the point of contact for the award letter.

Thanks,

Morgan

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

Hello Everyone,

This is a terrific plan, Rob gave the go-ahead to plan the venue, date & time etc.

When works best for all?

Thank you

Paul

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

Hello All,

I am bumping this to the top of the email list for scheduling the venue and timing for this event.

Let me know when we can discuss/finalize the details?

Best

Paul Foote

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

Hi Paul,

Is there anything that you were anticipating including in this event agenda, other than the ECIP announcements and plaque distribution?  If not, it might be better to include both years’ winners in the fall 2023 campus sustainability celebration. 

I realize this is a shift from what we were thinking of, but it would be a shame to put together an event that is only 15 minutes long…  It would also be difficult to get a broad audience.

Thanks,

Morgan

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

Hi Morgan,

We were thinking this timeframe might fit better than the fall venue with multiple conferences etc…

Pending the date, we should have information regarding the next round of funding and were planning to gather the facilities managers at this event to share examples and promote future project applications.

Thoughts everyone?

Best

Paul

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

Hi Morgan and all,

I crossed the revolving loan fund and ECIP, the ECIP awards can be discussed at our next monthly meeting.

Thank you

Paul Foote

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

Hi Paul, What monthly meeting?

thanks, Morgan

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

Hi Morgan,

UES has a monthly meeting for ECIP, RLF, rapid back and other funding items as needed.

Best

Paul