You are here

Content filtered by visibility: Public

Project Updates

  3. Contract renewed for Project 529 for FY24

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Registration

    The contract with Project 529 was renewed to continue our partnership in the FY24. This will allow our students, faculty, staff, and community members access to a national bicycle registration system.

    The contract was signed by Project 529 on 6/27/2023 and it was submitted to Contracts+ for UIUC signatures.

  7. ZW009 Project4Less Expansion - Transmitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    On 6/24/2023, the ZW009 Project4Less Expansion recommendation was transmitted to Alma Sealine and Jason Ensign at University Housing with the following email. The iWG assessment is attached.

    Hi Alma and Jason,

    Thank you for meeting with iCAP representatives about the Project4Less recommendation from the Zero Waste iCAP Team (ZW009).  After our discussion, the iCAP Working Group discussed the topic again, and we have the following recommendation (highlighting added): 

    The iWG recommends that Housing keep and strengthen their relationship with Project4Less, even though there is a funding shortfall for Housing at large.  This project should remain a priority, and in fact they can talk with the student leaders about how best to use the remaining Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) funding of $1,700. There is also a possibility of future SSC funding for future expansion of the program, as needed in conjunction with the continued efforts to reduce food waste.

    We also recommend that Housing promote the various sustainability programs they are doing.  This should be done through links to the iCAP Portal and in the Housing newsletter.

    It would be great if you would identify a contact person we can work with to help promote all the great things that University Housing is doing for campus sustainability. The Formal iCAP Procedures includes a section on campus unit responsibilities upon receipt of a recommendation, and we respectfully request a reply to this recommendation by July 14, if possible. 

    Sincerely,

    Morgan and Jen

    =====================================

    MORGAN B. WHITE and

    Dr. JENNIFER FRATERRIGO
    Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP)

    iCAP Working Group co-chairs

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    sustainability@illinois.edu  
    https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/

    See the ZW009 Project4Less Expansion recommendation here.

  8. 6-26-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    On June 26, UIUC sustainability representatives met to discuss the following:

    Attendance: Shawn Patterson, Marty Kaufmann, Thurman Etchison, Bryan Johnson, Shreya Mahajan, Naveen Reddy, Daphne Hulse

    1. Tailgating / Welcome Week

      1. Coca-Cola ordered 20 recycling bins (metal frame)

        1. Cost will come from the wraps, Jake gathering a quote

      2. Welcome Week Dining - planning meetings that zero waste could join?

        1. Moved to Grange Grove for this year

        2. Thursday, 13th at 9am next meeting (N end)

        3. Consider t-shirts for volunteers

    2. Housing Insider Newsletter

      1. Housing marketing team willing to consider sustainability submissions for consideration in their newsletters, but likely not every edition

      2. Next steps from here? Think about Eweek, iNews, GradLinks as places to include sustainability information, get the larger population thinking about sustainability

    3. Plastic waste reduction

      1. Gathering information, exploring strategies used by peer schools

      2. Aim - engaging/lighthearted

    4. Wednesday 6/28 - meeting with Coca-Cola

      1. Discuss cost of wrap for 20 bins

      2. Assess where we are at with the shared budget

      3. Discuss volunteer shirts for tailgating & explore giveaway items/incentives

      4. Discuss volunteer shirts for Welcome Week

      5. Anything else to add to the agenda for Wednesday?

  9. Redwood Materials: Jen, Daphne, and Amy meet to follow up

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

    On June 26, 2023 Amy Fruehling, Jen Fraterrigo, and Daphne Hulse meet to follow up after initial contact with Redwood Materials

    • Amy is the connector so she can stay involved if need be, but batteries are not her expertise

    • Ask Stephanie Hess about DRS about battery disposal on campus is how much is recycled. See if departments have a need for this

    • Collection drives would be for students, primarily, for their personal items

      • Ask Goodwill about technology collected from Dump and Run - was it a good outlet for students?

    • IT would be more surplus-oriented

    • Could payment be associated with batteries collected?

    • Would just have to try it out and see if it’s worth it - we won't entirely know what the demand will be for the service

    • ARC does battery recycling

      • Reach out about that

    • Collection sites must be supervised so nothing is mixed in

    • Housing or libraries as a place of disposal would be most ideal. Having it available rather than waiting on a collection drive once or twice a year, is Amy's thought

    • Seema will be sending over material about how they have done collection drives in other places, so we know how it might run

    • Electrical and computer engineering department

      • Specialization in batteries

      • Looking at how to create batteries with a longer life span

      • Do they have a program? Sell to students?

      • A way for iSEE to integrate campus sustainability and research, so Jen will take the first step here

    • Redwood contact is an alum, co-founder is tied to Tesla - Amy notes the significance of this

      • Feels like there could be even more than just collecting batteries

    • Opening up redwood materials collection to the community - because the spring electronics event is once a year in the spring, so sparse opportunity for the community/county

  10. DRS uses hazardous waste vendor for battery disposal

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    From: Hess, Stephanie Tumidajski <sthess@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, June 26, 2023 4:02 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; Hill, Landon E <landon@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    A good area to look into. I remember there being battery recycling a long time ago and then was told it was no longer is a thing.

    We do not recycle batteries that come through DRS. Those are disposed of using our hazardous waste vendor. I’ve copied the regulated waste compliance manager on this email. He can probably give you an idea about the volume of batteries that come through our waste facility and answer your specific questions.

     

    Steph

     

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, June 26, 2023 3:54 PM
    To: Hess, Stephanie Tumidajski <sthess@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Subject: DRS battery disposal

     

    Hi Stephanie,

     

    A recurring topic that’s come up in sustainability conversations on campus has been about batteries, and we are working to assess what the needs are for this type of specialized recycling and for whom (campus property, personal, etc). In the past several years, battery recycling has been decentralized under departmental programs through companies like Battery Solutions and Call2Recycle for single-use and rechargeable batteries. I also understand that DRS disposes of departments’ unwanted batteries – I am curious, is this a program that is widely used by campus? Do most of the batteries collected under DRS get recycled?

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    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.

  12. ZW011 State Farm Center Recycling - Transmitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    On 6/6/2023, the ZW011 State Farm Center Recycling recommendation was transmitted to Mr. Josh Whitman and Mr. Tim Knox at the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA), with the following email. The iWG assessment is attached.

    Dear Mr. Whitman and Tim,

    The Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) Working Group (iWG) recently reviewed recommendation ZW011 from the Zero Waste iCAP Team. The iWG recommends that the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics increase permanent recycling infrastructure on the upper concourse of the State Farm Center by purchasing and installing 3-stream bins that adhere to the campus standard. Additional details are provided in the attached recommendation and assessment.

    The Formal iCAP Procedures include a section on campus unit responsibilities upon receipt of a recommendation, and we respectfully request your response to this recommendation by June 30. If you have any questions regarding this recommendation, we are happy to meet to discuss it.

    Sincerely,

    Jennifer Fraterrigo

    **************************************************

    Dr. JENNIFER FRATERRIGO AND

    MORGAN B. WHITE
    Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP)

    iCAP Working Group co-chairs

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    sustainability@illinois.edu  
    https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/

    See the ZW011 State Farm Center Recycling recommendation here.

    Attached Files: 

  13. Returning CustomPak and TerraCycle boxes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Mask (PPE) Recycling

    From: Allie Cope <allie.cope@terracycle.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 2:27 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>; Cathy Hosler <cathy.hosler@terracycle.com>
    Cc: Kristen Wogelius <kristen.wogelius@terracycle.com>
    Subject: RE: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Custom Pak Pickup

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    9 boxes is usually the recommended maximum per pallet, so that would work!

     

     

         Allie Cope

         Logistics Coordinator

              708-223-1074

            www.tcrwusa.com 

           www.terracycle.com

     

               

     

    Eliminating the Idea of Waste®

     

                            313 Airport Rd., North Aurora IL 60542 USA  

     

    To request a bulk recycling pickup, please go to https://tcrwusa.com/pages/pickup-request-form

    Please consider the planet before printing. This email and any attachments thereto may contain private, confidential, and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto.

     

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 2:20 PM
    To: Allie Cope <allie.cope@terracycle.com>; Cathy Hosler <cathy.hosler@terracycle.com>
    Cc: Kristen Wogelius <kristen.wogelius@terracycle.com>
    Subject: RE: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Custom Pak Pickup

     

    Hi Allie,

     

    Wanted to follow up with you on University of Illinois’ initiative to send back our mask recycling boxes. We collected 9 CustomPak boxes across campus to ship back. Is there a specific number of CustomPak boxes we need to fit on a single pallet?

     

    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: Allie Cope <allie.cope@terracycle.com>
    Sent: Monday, December 19, 2022 1:26 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>; Cathy Hosler <cathy.hosler@terracycle.com>
    Cc: Kristen Wogelius <kristen.wogelius@terracycle.com>
    Subject: RE: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Custom Pak Pickup

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    We can accept the CustomPak boxes. The Zero Waste boxes should have prepaid labels already on them for when they are full and ready to be returned.

     

    Thank you!

     

     

         Allie Cope

         Logistics Coordinator

              708-223-1074

             *New Website!*

            www.tcrwusa.com 

           www.terracycle.com

     

               

     

    Eliminating the Idea of Waste®

     

                            313 Airport Rd., North Aurora IL 60542 USA  

    Please consider the planet before printing. This email and any attachments thereto may contain private, confidential, and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto.

     

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, December 19, 2022 1:19 PM
    To: Cathy Hosler <cathy.hosler@terracycle.com>
    Cc: Kristen Wogelius <kristen.wogelius@terracycle.com>; Allie Cope <allie.cope@terracycle.com>
    Subject: RE: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Custom Pak Pickup

     

    Hi Cathy,

     

    Thank so much for your quick response; I will work on collecting and staging these as requested. Clarifying question: we have some CustomPak “VaporShield” boxes, and we also have some boxes that are branded as the TerraCycle Zero Waste recycling boxes (images for both are attached). Do you accept returns for both of these, or just the CustomPak?

     

    Thank you,


    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at 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: Cathy Hosler <cathy.hosler@terracycle.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 12:15 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Kristen Wogelius <kristen.wogelius@terracycle.com>; Allie Cope <allie.cope@terracycle.com>
    Subject: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Custom Pak Pickup

     

    Hello Daphne,

     

    Thanks for reaching out. It looks like you have our Custom Pak boxes. These will need to be collected, palletized, and shrink wrapped for transport. Once ready,  please complete the attached form and return it (reply all). Once received, our logistics team can work on coordinating a carrier to come and haul away the material and transport it back to our recycling facility (on a bill of lading). It’s important to note that someone will need to attach the proper paperwork, be on site to direct the driver to the material and sign the BOL.

     

    I hope this helps! If you have additional questions, I’d be happy to help.

     

    Thank you for recycling!

     

  14. Digital signage for Summer Bicycle Roundup

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

    Attached digital signs was shared with several departments on campus with the following message:

    F&S is in the process of removing all abandoned bicycles left on campus over the summer. All bicycles on campus property have been tagged with an orange sticker. If a bicycle still has this sticker by July 5, it will be considered abandoned and subsequently impounded. Bicyclists must remove this tag from their bicycle to keep it active and to avoid impound.

    This sign was posted on 6/22/2023 until 7/14/2023 at the following departments:

    • Illini Union and Bookstore
    • F&S
    • BIF
    • Campus Recreation
    • Beckman
    • Architecture Building (FAA)
    • Law Building
    • CSL
    • DCL
    • ECE
    • Engineering Hall
    • IESB
    • Labor and Employee Relations
    • Loomis Laboratory
    • MSEB
    • Micro + Nanotechnology laboratory
    • NCSA
    • Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory
    • Siebel Center
    • Vet Med
    • CIF
    • Research Park
    Attached Files: 

  15. Redwood Materials: Daphne and Shreya meet with Seema Nilakhe for an introduction

    Associated Project(s): 
    Battery Recycling
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Single-Use Battery Recycling

    On June 21, 2023 Daphne Hulse and Shreya Mahajan met with Seema Nilakhe to discuss Redwood Materials and opportunity for collaboration.

    • Introductions

      • Seema Nilakhe, originally from Chicago suburbs, attended U of I

      • Amy Fruehling was career counselor for Seema during her undergraduate years

      • Dabbling in environmental initiatives

      • Worked at Amazon for supply chain

      • Worked at Tesla

        • Infrastructure projects in North America

      • Wanted to work at start up so went to Redwood Materials

        • Lithium ion batteries

        • Based out of Reno, Nevada

        • Consumer partnerships is Seema’s role

      • Don’t take

        • Lead acid

        • Cadmium

        • Car batteries

    • Daphne notes that the batteries Redwood would be interested in would likely come from university property, which is handled by CMS/Surplus/OBFS

      • Seema can assist with looking into this process

    • Redwood process:

      • Pickup batteries with large OEMs (large car companies that make EVs)

      • Redwood picks up scrap

      • Redwood partners with Call2Recycle

      • Typically you have to pay a fee for Call2Recycle for their services (U of I may have had the service for free?)

      • Collections would be the biggest benefit for us:

        • Cell phones, laptops, smaller devices are high in cobalt and nickel and critical elements that are part of the battery

        • Larger devices would need to be checked for logistics and chemistry

        • Pricing is based on gross weight

        • Collections - don’t provide packaging but suppliers have the drums, crates, or collection mechanism to do that

        • DOT shipping guidelines (Redwood has that and can give us a sample) we have to be in compliance

        • Under 60 watt hours

        • Engineering may have drums that we could use to ship the batteries

        • Gaylords work too

      • Differences between primary and secondary batteries

        • Primaries - non-rechargables

          • Watch batteries

          • Typically lithium ion

      • Have partners which take all of the excess materials that aren’t batteries

        • Secondary - rechargeable

    Next steps:

    • CMS/Surplus - ask if they already recycle batteries, or need an outlet for it

    • Check inventory on drums and gaylords/shipping materials - Seema will send DOT guidelines

    • Event with marketing/public relations

    • Bin in the Union - how do you keep people from randomly throw items in there that are not batteries? Must be supervised

    • Stick to call2recycle for AA AAA alkaline

  19. Explained the Campus Bike Plan update project to students

    Associated Project(s): 
    2024 Campus Bike Plan
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts

    Sarthak met with Hrushikesh Chavan (Master of Architecture student) and Nathaniel Nevins (Bachelors in Landscape Architecture) separately to explain the Campus Bike Plan 2024 update. These students will read up the 2014 Campus Bike Plan, the progress reports, and other documents shared with them to learn more and recommend suggestions for this new Plan.

  20. 4 new EVs and new EV charging stations installed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet
    Develop Scenarios for Converting the UI Fleet to Renewable Fuels
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    F&S has received 4 new Ford F-150 Lightnings all electric trucks, bringing the total to 6 Ford Lightnings and 1 Ford e-Transit cargo van for F&S fleet.

    We have also installed another level-2 Ford dual point smart chargers on the south side of PPSB and we are working on the installation on another one. We have 2 more chargers to install. The Charging Stations installations are being done using the SSC funding.

Pages