SSC approves the Illinois Biodisel Initative scope change request to extend its funding agreement until May 2019. The amount of allocated funding has not changed.

Archived text: "The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Its mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society."

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Zero-waste activities last week were 

• A review of and response to a battery recycling program/funding proposal drafted by the Campus Committee on Recycling Batteries. The Committee includes Clara Bosak-Schroeder, Ömer Özgür Çapraz, Marcus Smith, and Robert McKim.
• Response to an inquiry about the styrofoam recycling drop-off location at DART.
• An email to Morgan and Micah regarding content of the iCAP portal page about styrofoam recycling. 

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

Sarthak Prasad downloaded the BRC solar production data from the TIGO site.  It is attached here.

They would like to put in an 8x16 foot garden, south of Uni gym, beginning about 6 feet west of the parking lot and about 6 feet north of the sidewalk along Springfield. The students are working on plant selection and will take care of planting, weeding, watering, and general maintenance.

There are still a dozen or so cooling towers on campus, and ISTC staff are meeting with related building representatives later this month to review the options for reducing water consumption in these towers.

Student volunteers from Business Environmental Responsibilities stepped forward over the winter to assist with outreach to departments that purchase nitrile gloves but are not yet participating in the glove recycling program. They now have a list of about a dozen departments that purchase large quantities of gloves. Over the summer, they will identify contacts within each department. In the fall, F&S will provide them with information and materials to send to interested departments, and they can start emailing and calling the departments.

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Zero waste activities for the past week were as follows: 

• Morgan and I had a phone meeting to go over next steps on the glove recycling program, now that the trailer is planned to be relocated. We'll revise the map on the program handout once we receive confirmation of the new location.
• I prepared a contact spreadsheet for the BER volunteers who stepped forward to help with outreach for the glove recycling program. It lists departments with $2,000 or more in nitrile glove purchases for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2017-2018. I sent it to the volunteers, along with instructions for them to look up contact names, emails, and phone numbers for the departments. Once the trailer map is revised, we'll ask them to start calling and emailing the departments. I attach the list so you can see it. I updated the iCAP portal with the information that the volunteers will assist with outreach. 
• I viewed a CURC webinar on bin infrastructure and forwarded slides and notes to Morgan.

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

The current Bee Campus committee at the U of I is working to develop a University Habitat Plan and official web page this semester (Spring 2018). In addition, with funding from the SSC, we will be installing pollinator signage on campus this year. A goal is set to submit our first application for certification by June 2018.

On Wednesday, May 2nd, the ECBS SWATeam had their final meeting of the 2017-18 school year. Eco-Olympics received two different grants for funding and had many strong participants. They have also registered for Quad Day and are planning methods for improvement. The Freezer Challenge is making steady progress in terms of awards and sign-ups. Paul is working with Joyce on contacting a solar company for the ECEB metering project. Finally, the team worked on revising their recommendations for energy conservation funding.

On Friday, May 4th, the EGen SWATeam had their final meeting of the 2017-18 school year. Guest Scott Willenbrock presented the pros and cons of solar/wind PPA. He also discussed the Illinois Solar Project located in Sidney and their REC pricing. The SWATeam plans to issue an RFP for solar PPA with a local solar developer. 

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Here is a summary of zero-waste activity from this past week: 

• I completed a draft Architecture Review Committee proposal for replacing trash bins with dual bins in the core campus area. It is with Morgan for her comments.
• The BER student volunteers have been in touch. Two of them are available over the summer to review the OBFS/Purchasing report of departments that purchase gloves. They will use the campus directory to identify initial contact people in the departments so that they and/or other volunteers can reach out to departments that are not yet participating in the glove recycling program. I will prepare the report for their use by deleting departments that are already participating and those that purchase only small amounts of gloves (under $2,000 for the year covered by the report). 
• I emailed Joe Pickowitz to see if the vendors have provided parts for the EPS densifier yet. He was also making inquiries about obtaining throughput data for the machine. 

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

Becky Jonas created a recycling survey to send to CEE faculty and staff, in advance of changing the recycling system and messaging in Newmark Civil Engineering Lab.