Good afternoon! Did you remember to change your clocks this morning? Hopefully you are ready for another great week of challenging yourself to track and reduce your plastic waste! You are officially halfway through the Plastic Free Challenge! How does it feel? Meticulously tracking your plastic use for two weeks now is a lot to celebrate. Now is a great time to reflect on what you have learned so far, what resources and new lifestyle changes you have learned, and what you still want to work on in the next two weeks. Please remember to submit your Week 2 Google Form with an uploaded grin (attached) as soon as possible - though no later than Monday, March 15. As a group, we have already decreased our waste significantly -- let’s keep it up!

This week, in addition to refusing, repurposing, and recycling plastic, we encourage each of you to dedicate time to challenge yourself to commit to a new, environmentally-conscious action. Whether it be having a discussion with a roommate about consumerism, watching a documentary on plastic, or picking up litter, "negative point" opportunities are a great way to help the environment even further and spread awareness of the detrimental effects of plastic (while, of course, helping lower your point total for the week, too).

Have you been committing to environmental actions that we don’t have on our point list yet? Share it with us - we’d love to hear! We are also interested in knowing why you all are participating!

Here is the Week 3 form; please submit this with your weekly grid by Monday, March 22. We will check in with you again on Thursday with more tips on how to reduce your plastic waste! As a reminder, at any time throughout the challenge (especially if you have recently joined!), you can revisit any of our emails or resources that have been distributed to the group at this Box folder. This folder can also be found by scrolling down to "More Information" on the iSEE Plastic Free Challenge webpage.

Have a fantastic week!

Meredith Moore, iSEE Sustainable Programs Coordinator 

Emily Dickett, iSEE Sustainability Intern

Hello! You are almost halfway through the Plastic Free Challenge - wow! With over 130 of us participating, in just two weeks we have already created positive change in our community and world. Think of all the plastic waste we have avoided and the waste we will continue to reduce over the next two weeks! 

We loved hearing about your experiences during the first week, and we are very impressed with your insightful comments and creative ideas, such as switching to dryer balls instead of single-use dryer sheets and creating your own self-care products instead of buying plastic containers (even though they may be recyclable!). Many of you have great goals for this week, such as going one whole day without generating any waste (and not compensating by throwing away more the day before or after) and going on a walk to pick up litter every day. Keep it up!

This week, let’s continue trying to target plastic waste with purchasing power and when you are out and about. Avoiding single-use plastics is tough, especially during this COVID-19 period when some stores are not allowing customers to bring reusable coffee cups or bags. We urge you to ask, or write to, the stores you shop at to revisit their reusable items policy, as many stores have recently lifted their ban on reusable items. Communication is key, and it shows that people want to do the right thing. Not sure how to start buying in bulk? Here is a great step-by-step guide. Check out the attached "Week 2 Tip Guide" for more details and ideas on how to earn "negative" points for the week.

Please remember to submit the Week 2 Google Form and upload your grid by Monday, March 15. We have reattached the grid and point system if needed. As always, please reach out to us with any questions, comments, or feedback. If you recently signed up for the challenge, or if you wish to revisit our previous emails/resources, check out this Box folder.

We look forward to checking in with you again on Sunday. And remember,

"Plan ahead . . . bring reusables instead!"

Craving more resources? Check out UPSTREAM and this great list: 

• National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
• Beyond Plastics 
• UPSTREAM’s Reuse Learning Hub
• Reuse Acceleration Policies
• More information on the National Reuse Network and the Government Reuse Forum
• Covid Safety Resources
• BFFPPA summary 
• Plastic-Free President 
• Federal Stimulus & Other Funding Report
• Course (open to all): Beyond Plastic Pollution with Judith Enck 
• A Story of Plastic Virtual Film Screening & Panel Discussion 

Thank you!

Meredith Moore, iSEE Sustainability Programs Coordinator 

Emily Dickett, iSEE Sustainability Intern

The Telecommuting & Commuter Program intern met with supervisor Sarthak Prasad on Friday, March 12th, 2021 to discuss updates on the program and goals for the upcoming week. They both attended the Transportation SWATeam meeting on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 and introduced the new role to the group. Moreover, they decided to focus on the telecommuting policy since it is currently more time-sensitive than the commuter incentive program. During the next week, the intern will research telecommuting policies at other Big 10 universities and report them in an updated excel sheet. Once this research has been completed, they will begin conducting interviews with the universities that have telecommuting policies to receive better input. 

Meeting minutes are attached!

Beginning in 2011 Alice Berkson began taking photos at the Florida – Orchard prairie on campus next to the President’s House.  The photos were taken each month from the same locations beginning in 2013.  The two years prior to that all 12 months are not represented.  A few photos are missing including all of October 2015.   A few extra shots are occasionally included of unusual situations or plants.   

See https://uofi.box.com/s/cfmmscpv2335f57g7nzngx4g8nf4cqgj to view or download the images.

The photos are in yearly folders.  Individual photos are labeled with the date first YYYY-MM-DD so that they will sort in order.   

Photos were taken at the four corners.  At the North corners along Florida Avenue shots were taken east to west and west to east as well as diagonally from NE looking SW, and from NW looking SE.  At the southern corners, only the diagonal photos were taken.   

The resolution on the photos is high so that small sections can be enlarged to identify plants and other features.   

As of this writing the series is complete from 2011 through 2020.  

John C. Marlin  January, 2021 

Meeting minutes for the Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting on 3/12 are attached. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• M. Liberman: NERC Recommendation
  • Is it ready?
  • Do you need support?
• T. Etchison: Reusable Dining Options Pilot
  • Update?
  • Do you need support?
• C. Steel: Adopt-A-Highway
  • Update?
  • Do you need support?
  • Are there any alternatives?
  • Can we make a recommendation that iSEE host their own event, which we help facilitate?
• C. Steel: Composting Program/Urban Canopy
  • Update?
  • Do you need support?
  • Are there alternatives?
  • Can we go a different direction with this local, closed-loop composting program idea?
• Roundtable Discussion
  • Removal of virgin paper from F&S stores/catalogues
  • Elimination of thermal paper receipts
  • Assessment of third party vendors footprint (single-use plastics, recyclable materials, etc) in the Union.
  • Student Waste Management Educational initiative.
  • Single-use plastics in vending machines.
  • Reuse of Surplus Goods
  • Battery Recycling

The Energy iCAP Team met on March 10th, 2021 to discuss next steps on a recommendation for a Comprehensive Energy Master Plan after F&S has published their Energy Management Plan that aims for a 50% reduction in energy utilization by 2026. The team also discussed recommendations for a Green Labs Program and ways to manage space usage on campus. Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed in-person activites and created a hybrid workforce, the team believes it will be important to study underused spaces on campus to reduce building-level energy use. 

Meeting minutes, agenda, and chat log are attached!

Izabelle, Morgan, and Brent met to discuss progress on the Meadow at Orchard Downs. Izabelle is going to select the preferred tools to purchase, and meet with Morgan on site on Sunday, 3/14/21, to put stakes around the outline of the first section to work on. Brent is going to get a work order set up to be able to place orders.

All, Things picked up a little on Thursday/Friday last week as the weather began to turn. We also had two drop-off repairs come in, a Kids Bike Giveaway donation, a bike sale, and a membership sale. Todd from TBP picked up some scrap, which was super helpful. I’m working on getting him a key so he can stay on top of our scrap pile.

This week is projecting to be warmer and accordingly, I’ll bring on a second staffer for hours for Mon, Tues, Wed. I’ll make arrangements to grab some bikes from the warehouse, as well, since we’ve worked through our current bikes. Now we just need to sell them so we’ll have space for more.

The numbers:

Visitors: 17
Sales: $311
Bike (refurb): 1 for $200
Memberships: 1 for $30
U-lock: 1 for $21
Tire/tube: 4 for $15
Misc: $45

Thanks!

Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Manager

Hello! We hope you are having a nice weekend and enjoying the warmer weather. Congratulations on completing Week 1 of the Plastic Free Challenge! How does it feel? Did anything in particular surprise you during Week 1? We have already learned a lot about our daily habits and are excited to get started on Week 2. Hopefully, we will decrease our waste each week, both as individuals and as a group. If you have not already, please remember to submit your Week 1 Google Form with an uploaded grid (attached) as soon as possible, though no later than Monday morning.

We encourage you to reflect on your Week 1 waste and perhaps set some new goals for Week 2. Maybe that means remembering to keep a reusable water bottle on hand, setting out your grocery bags before leaving so you are not stuck in a situation without one, or if ordering take-out, remember to request it without extra cutlery, straws, or napkins. Discover a sustainability-themed documentary or read an interesting article - and consider sharing it with the group or others in your life. Whatever you choose to focus on, keep up the fantastic work!

Here is the Week 2 Form. Attached is a copy of the grid and point guide for your convenience. Please submit your Week 2 Form by Monday, March 15th. 

At any time throughout the challenge (especially if you have recently joined!), you can revisit any of our emails or resources that have been distributed to the group at this Box folder. This folder can also be found by scrolling down to "More Information" on the iSEE Plastic Free Challenge webpage. As always, we invite you to email us with any feedback, questions, comments, or to let us know how the challenge is going for you. We also encourage you to share these thoughts with your fellow participants on the Waste Reduction @ Illinois Facebook page; we can all learn from each other and hopefully decrease our plastic waste as a group.

Thank you and have a great week!

Meredith Moore, iSEE Sustainability Programs Coordinator 
Emily Dickett, iSEE Sustainability Intern

The new Telecommuting & Commuter Program intern met with supervisor Sarthak Prasad on Friday, March 5th, 2021 to discuss the new program and expectations for the coming months. Past research in telecommuting and computer incentive programs at the University of Illinois and other Big 10 universities were related and shared. The team discussed the general timeline of the project and hopes to complete qualitative research in the next month and a half. By the next weekly meeting, the new intern will read through all the articles provided by the transportation SWAT team and attend their bi-monthly meeting this upcoming Wednesday. 

Meeting minutes and the March agenda are attached!

Good morning! You are several days into Week 1 of the Plastic Free Challenge . . . how is it going? We would love to hear what you have learned, what you are struggling with, or any creative ways you have earned negative points for your waste-conscious actions thus far. Feel free to share your feedback with us through email or with the Waste Reduction @ Illinois Facebook Group.

If you’re like us, you are probably surprised with the amount of plastic you use and how integrated plastic is into your everyday life. Becoming conscious of this waste is a great first step to reduce it. Did you do any research on plastics this week or learn anything new? Here is a good resource with easy swaps to get rid of that plastic in your life. Try estimating your plastic footprint, which will hopefully decrease by the end of the month and beyond. Don't forget to track these actions as negative points on your grid.

Every week on Thursday we will send an email checking in with a tip to help reduce your plastic waste for the week. This week, we are introducing the seven R’s of sustainability: a more up-to-date and sustainable version of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The seven R’s highlight the importance of refusing plastic before you repurpose, reuse, and recycle. While the other R’s are great, the best way to decrease the plastic in our landfills and oceans is to refuse them altogether. Did you know that black plastic cannot be recycled? This is such a common item, especially when ordering take-out or to-go items. Check out the attached tip guide with more information and a few ideas on how to earn negative points for waste-conscious actions.

Lastly, we would like to clarify how to score points for the actions you do often. For example, if you recycle every day, please count that action once each week (-5 points for the entire week); however, if you throw away your contact lenses every day, count +2 points for each day. We will then have a more accurate score for the week and can better compile the data from the group at the end of the challenge.

Please remember to upload the Week 1 Waste Grid (attached) to the Week 1 Google Form at the end of the week, no later than Monday morning on March 8. Please reach out to us with any questions, feedback, or concerns, and remind friends it is not too late to sign up for the challenge! Don’t worry, though - once you complete your Week 1 grid, you will have extra chances for prizes.

Thank you, and keep up the great work!

Meredith Moore, iSEE Sustainability Programs Coordinator 

Emily Dickett, iSEE Sustainability Intern

The Resilience iCAP Team met on March 2nd, 2021 with Vision Zero representative Stacey DeLorenzo to discuss how can the team can help accomplish zero fatalities from transportation in our communities. Updates were given on the Environmental Justice and Urban Biodiversity Plans, as well our ongoing collaboration with the Education Team to develop a sustainable communities paid internship program. The team also brainstormed ideas for how to move forward with identifying major local sustainability issues.

Meeting minutes, agenda, and chat log are attached!