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Projects Updates for theme: all

  1. Undergraduate Library rehomes 6 3-bins to other facilities on campus

    Associated Project(s): 
    Indoor Bin Update

    The Undergraduate Library rehomed 6 3-bins at the onset of redevelopment:

    • Armory took 4 (P10E62260 second floor east side right out of the elevator, P10E62264 third floor southside center outside restroom, P10E62261 third floor northside center outside of restroom, P10E62265 in landing area in front of Room 232 under glassed bulletin board).
    • Mechanical Engineering Laboratory took 2 (P10E62262 and P10E62263 on first and second floors).

  2. Financial implications for reducing water bottles on campus?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Reduce Single-Use Plastics

    Below is an email exchange between Morgan White, Jennifer Fratterigo, and Daphne Hulse:

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Per the discussion this morning in the Sustainability Sub-council, please work with Aaron Finder to identify the UIUC concession revenue related to bottled water sales for Housing, the Union, and DIA.

    We would like to have this information in advance of the Sustainability Council meeting on 12/13, if possible.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

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

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    In addition to determining the revenue for bottled water sales, we also discussed collecting information about tipping fees for Housing, the Union, and DIA. These fees could be an offset for potentially lost revenue if water bottle sales were reduced. It would be great if you would send information about tipping fees before the Sustainability Council meeting.

     

    Thanks,

    Jen

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

    Hi Jen,

     

    I have reached out to Aaron to remind him about this request J

     

    For the tipping fees, could you detail more what this would look like? I remember it mentioned during the meeting, but I don’t think I’m fully understanding what a tipping fee is. Is this similar to a tax of some kind?

     

    Thank you,


    Daphne

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

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Thanks for contacting Aaron to refresh the request!

     

    Tipping fees are the fees paid to send trash to the landfill. I assume DWS charges a fixed rate per pound of trash. The units are responsible for paying these fees for the amount of trash they produce. Shawn should have this information, but I don’t know to what extent the fees are broken down by unit. I would like the finest resolution available, as I can always aggregate it to the level that is most useful.

     

    The thinking is that, if revenue declines because we reduce demand for beverages in plastic bottles, then waste generated may also decline (assumes most bottles are being thrown in the trash rather than recycled). This in turn would reduce the tipping fees a unit pays. However, I have not yet figured out how to estimate the change in weight and thus fees if fewer bottles are sold. We would probably need to make some assumptions about how many are thrown in the trash. Or maybe we can estimate based on waste audit data. Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas on how to estimate the potential change in fees.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Jen

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

     

    Hi Jen,

     

    Thank you for the explanation! In principle, a fixed rate per pound of trash is exactly how we want to operate. It creates tangible incentive for campus buildings to recycle (a service we do not charge them for).

     

    Our current operations only charge buildings by the size of their outdoor landfill receptacle. It wouldn’t matter if the receptacle had a single piece of paper in it, or if it was filled to the brim with concrete. We would charge the building the same price. This is because there is no difference in the fixed cost of paying for drivers or trucks to visit the site. The problem is apparent when once all the trash has been collected for the day and we haul it off to the landfill, the landfill charges us (F&S) per ton of trash. There’s a discrepancy between F&S charging buildings by size, and the landfill charging F&S by weight.

     

    This will be a longer process to reconcile, but it’s something on our radar. And something recognized as important to address. One of our receptacles (“front-load”) already has the technological capability to weigh the material within it, we just need to restart this program (got derailed by many things, especially COVID). The other process is updating our waste rates to become weight-based, which involves lots of entities on campus who would need to review and approve.

     

    I hope this has shed some more light on how waste operations work. I’m always happy to discuss in more detail with you, too.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Daphne

  3. Resilience iCAP Team December Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team

    The Resilience iCAP Team had its final online meeting of this semester on Monday, November 28th, from 11:00 - 12:00 PM. The team discussed two recommendations: Coordinated Rainwater Management Plan Recommendation and Sustainability Economic Analysis Recommendation. The team plans to revise and send the Coordinated Rainwater Management Plan Recommendation to the iWG by this Friday, December 2nd. Also, the team chair, Stay Gloss, will present the Sustainability Economic Analysis Recommendation at the iSEE Management Meeting and ask for any potential iSEE funding. Meeting minutes are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  4. Status Update on Water006 Recommendation: Lot23 Monitoring

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Rainwater Management

    On May 28, 2022 Meredith Moore sent an email to Arthur Schmidt regarding the status of the Water 006 recommendation:

    Hi Art!

     

    I hope you are well. I am reaching out to check in about the status of the Water006 recommendation: Lot23 Monitoring. This is an old recommendation that was returned back to the Water and Stormwater SWATeam in August 2019. It can be found here: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project-update/water006-lot-f23-monitoring-returned.  Based on the project update, a proposal for funding was to be submitted to the Student Sustainability Committee. Are you aware if this happened?

     

    I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

     

    Meredith

    -----------

    On November 30, 2022 Mrogan White sent the following to Arthurt Schmidt:

    Hi Art,

    Could you please answer these quick questions?

    1. Did you ever move forward with installing a monitoring system of any kind in the parking lot at Florida and Lincoln (Lot F23)?
    2. If the SSC would provide funding for such an installation, would you be able to serve as an advisor for the project and use the collected information?

    Thanks!

    Morgan

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

    On Dec 1, 2022 Art responded:

    Hi, Morgan:

    Many years ago when this first came up we installed an instrumentation vault at the SE corner of the lot where the storm sewer pipe leaves the lot.  We never received any funding to move forward with this, so no instrumentation ever installed.

     

    I would be thrilled to help/advise with moving this forward.  I would also try to find portions of this where my Field Methods class could help install/calibrate/maintain instruments or collect samples.  I have a couple classes were we could use the data.

    Art

     

     

  5. 11-30-22 External Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola

    On November 30, UIUC sustainability representatives met with Coca-Cola and discussed the following:

    Attendance: Jake Slager, Shawn Patterson, Pete Varney, Jen Fraterrigo, Mariangelix Bonila, Erika Harvey, Brette Bennett, Bryan Johnson, Steve Breitwieser, Travis Tate, Kendall Chadwick, Shreya Mahajan, Meredith Moore, Daphne Hulse, Marty Kaufmann, Thurman Etchison, Sarah Carten, Liz Doeschoet

    Presentation

    • Increase recycling and reduce waste (top two goals)

      • Implement consistent messaging, infrastructure, and activation

    • Talked with sustainability ambassadors, coke sustainability team, and UIUC folks to come up with this presentation

    • Don’t Waste: Block I design makes it look like “I Don’t Waste” — part of the branding

      • I is really key, because everyone should be involved

      • Goal: to make recycling as easy as possible. Make it a movement, not an afterthought

    • Brand identity

      • Co-branded marks developed, but the mission and purpose is much larger than just the brand

      • Collective sense of ownership through the brand design

      • Iconic I is a key part of the visual. It anchors everything else. Using it as an emotional element, a part of ownership

      • Broken up with two formats

        • Big banners, large signage — more real estate, bigger impact in those instances

        • Smaller pieces — flyers, digital, social more standard sizes

      • Don’t Waste Days: specific to events on campus; more targeted than just the Don’t Waste general branding

      • Always use the marks on white, navy, or orange backgrounds

    • Tone of voice:

      • Empowered, uplifting, courageous, bold, and self-assured

      • Combined the language of the university with Coca-Cola

      • Hybrid approach: make the world a better place, build a sustainable feature. It all starts on campus by capturing students’ attention through education and entertainment. it should feel like a natural extension of the U of I’s brand personality

      • Work to combat skepticism with recycling: is what I’m doing really making that big of a difference? Combat this.

      • Recognize the critical role of Athletics in the messaging: individuals and leaders may have more of a voice that influence many people (kept this in mind and used this to craft the message)

    • Content ideas, activation ideas, athletics

      • Content

        • Instructional signage

          • Leverage signage to showcase what can and cannot be recycled. Easy for people to understand to make it as painless as possible. “Moment of truth” about to throw away bottle or can and they catch the message and decide to recycle the item

          • Location suggestions

        • Awareness signage

          • Keep recycling top of mind at all time

          • Evergreen message

          • Show proof of progress helps combat skepticism (data)

     

    Immediate feedback

    • Daphne: Likes Moment of Truth (Pete likes this too). Like the awareness signage, which plays well into data and tracking, increases transparency around operations and recycling
    • Meredith: Thinks consistent instructional signage is very important. And the Block I is very recognizable which means whether you’re at State Farm Center, Memorial Stadium, or on campus somewhere, you start to recognize these signs.
    • Jake: One thing he’s learned about sustainability is that the consistency is very important.
    • Jen: Name, image, likeness situation with Athletes. Would we have to think about this? Logistics to discuss.
    • Jake mentioned likeness to Marty — something to continue thinking about
    • Brette: this is all meant to be a though-starter. It will all need to be tweaked as we move forward.

    • Video content

      • Short-form: 15 seconds. Built for social, but can be used elsewhere. Feature one or two people testifying what they don’t waste. Finish out with key spokesperson.

      • Long-form: 1 minute. YouTube, in-stadium or arena. Include 5-10 students, athletes, coaches, or faculty. End with a key spokesperson.

      • I Don’t Waste movement goes beyond recycling.

        • Work with various athletes, coaches, and recognizable figures on campus to say what they don’t waste: time, shot, down, opportunities, chances. Make it personal to our community

        • Make it feel natural to the students. Start and end or trickle in recycling and waste messaging where it can feel natural

      • Social

        • Recommended platforms to reach out to owners and start the conversations around sharing the Don’t Waste message

        • Continued engagement

          • Reinforce the message and get people to continue engaging on the topic

          • Proof of progress - combat doubt and skepticism. We do this through showing our actual data and how we are progressing.

            • How do we get the data on an ongoing basis?

            • Doesn’t always have to be a huge audit or a big number. Can be little wins on an ongoing basis.

          • Instagram Add Yours feature: it’s a newer trend people are enjoying. Adds sticker to their story “I don’t waste” anyone can click on the sticker and post their own response

            • Easily start on a U of I owned profile

          • Instagram gifs: create school-branded gifs with a sustainability theme

          • Surprise and Delight social participation”: surprising students who engage in the social media campaigns or share content from in-person activation. Winners receive co-branded sustainability prize packs

      • Activation

        • Infrastructure

          • People won’t walk more than 15 feet away from the trash can to recycle something

          • Addition of new bins and making sure recycling and waste and paired would help increase recycling

          • Reusable cups

            • Freestyle machines track

            • There are lower tech options

            • Offer large reusable cups for purchase or at orientation. Would have to think about POS or meal plan integration. If people use the vessel, make sure there is a reward or incentive

          • Sponsoring a bin

            • Work with RSOs to sponsor new recycling bins in coordination with the school, the orgs can have plaques affixed to a bin or decorate a temporary bin to increase recycling opportunities on campus

            • Recycling maps

              • Illinois App

              • Showing people where they can recycle

          • Don’t Waste Days

            • Don’t Waste Wednesdays

              • Select one day a week or a month where the university focuses on sustainability initiatives

            • Monthly or quarterly campus clean up events

              • Offer incentives like t-shirts, concert tickets, sports tickets

          • Celebrate the little wins

            • Green teams: in-person group distributing sustainable prize packs if they catch someone recycling

            • Educate your campus community

            • Recycle bin game

    • Athletics

      • Don’t waste game days

    Closing feedback:

    • Thurman: Man on the street to kick of the social campaign (student testimonials). Recycling webcam that is on at all times to show the trick shots, or at least track what’s going in the bin
    • Marty: Remain mindful of how much Athletics can commit to various initiatives.

     

     

  6. Week 7 - BFU Application

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Friendly University Status

    This week, Aparna reviewed all of the past BFU Applications submitted to compare the progress over the years. The same was discussed and gone over again with Sarthak to help with the comments and notes made by her on the applications for a more thorough understanding. The next steps would be to start filling out the application for 2023. Aparna has been added by Sarthak Prasad to help with the submission for BFU: Bicycle Friendly University 2023. 

  7. Final Report: successes, areas for improvement, and feedback

    Associated Project(s): 
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    America Recycles Day
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)

    On November 28, 2022 during the weekly Internal Coca-Cola meeting the group reviewed the attached final report.

    Important takeaways:

    • 280 lbs of recycling was collected (cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic bottles), with an event diversion rate of 10.6%. With just incremental changes (student volunteers, recycling bin infrastructure in the upper concourse, and the implementation of blue recycling bags), we achieved this! An even greater diversion rate would not be difficult to achieve.
    • Organizing student volunteers into a shift-based system would cut volunteer time per student, streamline the volunteer training process, and simplify volunteer roles. We could incentivize pre- and post-game volunteerism with tickets to the game.
    • Stronger, more durable blue recycling bags are needed for future events if we are going to have student volunteers handling them; they leak easily otherwise.
    • Dedicate a group of volunteers to just post-game collection from the stands. There is a huge opportunity to collect recyclables left in the cup holders.
    • Feedback from volunteers and attendees was very positive:
      • In a post-event survey released to attendees, 300+ responses showed the following:
        • 51% of attendees were aware that this was a recycling-focused event.
        • 55% of attendees did recycle their bottles and/or cans.
        • 83% of attendees would support future recycling events at State Farm Center.
        • General comments indicated overall support for seeing the volunteers in action and support for the implementation of permanent recycling containers at the facility.

    Next steps:

    • Between F&S and DIA, determine how a recycling receptacle can be placed near the facility so blue recycling bags can be separated from the trash compactor located below the facility.
    • Draft a proposal for permanent recycling bin locations and the associated cost.
    • Look into Coca-Cola beverage sales (20oz and 12oz) and compare this to an estimate of how many were recycled. Coca-Cola and the University would like to see a 100% recycling rate for their products.
    • Plan for the next event! Likely spring 2023 during the basketball season. Big Ten?
    Attached Files: 

  10. 11-28-22 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola

    On November 28, UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

    Agenda:

    1. Final Report walk-through - successes, areas for improvement / iCAP portal walk-through.

    2. How many Coca-Cola bottles are sold versus recycled at State Farm Center:

      1. 872 20-oz bottles sold during the 11-14 game (coke, coke zero, diet coke, sprite, fanta orange, powerade, dasani).

      2. 12-oz bottles sold in the premium area - waiting for a number.

      3. Use the data to calculate a % recovery rate for recyclable materials.

  11. Award Ceremony Invitation

    Associated Project(s): 
    ReImagine Our Future

    Below is an email invitation to award ceremony for the Reimagine our Future student sustainability competition.

     

    Dear Initial Judges and Specialist Advisors,

     

    Thank you so much for your work making this competition possible. I have received submissions on the questionnaire from many of you judges, and clearly, you spent time assessing these students' work and it is much appreciated. Many of you also sat down with students and aided them on their projects. In whatever capacity you were able to help, my advisory committee and colleagues are so appreciative.

    This year the competition was managed by the Student Sustainability Committee and supported by many units across campus. Over 70 UIUC faculty volunteered their services as specialist advisors and judges. Almost 200 students took part including student teams from universities in China and South Africa. Winners will be announced after Saturday’s presentations and the prize money totals $5000. 

    You are welcome to attend the face-to-face award ceremony at the Siebel Center for Design, in which case you should contact my email (aecruz2@illinois.edu) before Wednesday 30 Nov. at 2 p.m. If you cannot attend the physical event, you are welcome to join via Zoom, with details given below. 

    I am also attaching extracts of the top-three winners' entries from last year's competition for your viewing. 

    Thank you again, 

    Allie Cruz 

    Award Ceremony for the 2022 Reimagine our Future student sustainability competition 

    9 a.m. (Central Time) | Saturday, Dec. 3 | Siebel Center for Design, and Zoom 

    Join via Zoom: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/85346452110?pwd=TzhWSHdMZXJpVmNobGtncUYzd0t0dz09 

    Meeting ID: 853 4645 2110 

    Password: 186469 


     

     

  13. Sustainability Sub-Council Meeting Minutes 11-17-22

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Council
    Include iCAP in Strategic Plan
    Clean Energy Plan

    The Sustainability Sub-Council met on Thursday, November 17 and discussed the following agenda. 

    1) Zero waste
    2) Energy planning
    3) Campus Strategic Plan
    4) Old business
    a. Sustainability General Education requirement
    b. Sustainable land management committee report

    The meeting minutes and PowerPoint presentation are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  14. ENG 177 Spring '23 Course

    Associated Project(s): 
    ENG 177 GFX Global Sustainability Scholars

    Below is an answer to an inquiry regarding ENG 177 course availability for the spring 2023 semester. 

     

     

    From: Forman, Gretchen M <gforman at illinois.edu> 
    Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 10:12 AM
    To: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078 at illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: ENG100 First Year Experience spring course

     

    Hi Meredith,

     

    I too hope you are doing well!  I miss seeing you!

     

    We will have an ENG 177 Global Sustainability Scholars class in the spring that I will be teaching and I’m hoping we can still partner with you on projects for the students.  This is the class that Angie and I previously taught.  We are partnering with sustainable organizations in Trinidad and Tobago this fall and travelling there in January.  

     

    We then will focus on local sustainability work in the spring and would love to connect the students with you all and the campus projects as we have in the past.  I’d love to find a time after Thanksgiving to chat with you about the details and to catch up.  I’ll be out of the office on Monday the 28th but have availability the rest of that week or the week after.  Let me know what might work for you.

     

    Looking forward to connecting with you soon!

     

    Gretchen

     

  17. Week 6 - Next steps

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Friendly University Status
    Reduce Bicycle Theft on Campus
    Independent Student Projects

    The next steps for the project progress would be to review the past BFU applications from 2011 - 2019 to understand the stage we as a university are at currently and would help to identify, compare and contrast the work across these timelines to improve the status and make recommendations after reviewing the feedback. 


     

  18. Week 5 - Check in meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Friendly University Status
    Reduce Bicycle Theft on Campus
    Independent Student Projects

    In the past weeks,  Aparna reviewed the  BFU Application to understand the scope of work, did research/literature review work, and familiarized herself with the current initiatives taken by the university at present to combat bike thefts. Moreover, she also had a conversation with a transportation staff from UCLA and ASU who had recently reached out to me on their ideas/approach on this topic for a qualitative aspect of this project. The same was also discussed with her capstone advisor, Prof. Lindsay Braun to go over the progress and find better clarity. 

  19. RLF Projects and Dollars

    Associated Project(s): 
    Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

    The following is an email conversation between Morgan White and Anthony Spurlock.

    Anthony sent the following on Nov 17, 2022:

    Morgan,

    Per your request, 27 RLF projects have been completed totaling $6 million.  41 total projects have been approved totaling $8.6 million.

    Regards,

    Tony

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

    Morgan sent the following response:

     

    Thanks!  Is the 27 included as part of the 41 approved project, or were there 68 total projects approved? ~Morgan

    ---------

    Anthony clarified:

    27 is part of the 41.

    Regards,

    Tony

     

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