Operations

• DIA deployed all of their blue drums, and it was in excess, compared to the available recycling
• ~21 bottles and cans bin were deployed
• 10 volunteers were present, guarding about half of the bins
• Blue bags were used to line the bins (as opposed to black). This is crucial for Waste Transfer Station operations
• Dining Services and volunteers of the event assisted with emptying the recycling bins when they were full
• Bags were tied and placed into the roll-off container at the end of Lot 31
• At the end of the event (about an hour later) volunteers tied bags and rounded up all of the bins, placing them near the roll-off container
• Jen Fraterrigo made the comment that there were no recycling bins around the tabling areas (but there were a lot of DIA blue drums), so recycling wasn't happening here. Students would bring their bottles over from the food area and go to tables. They need a recycling outlet in this area, too

Communication

• Dining Services made 1-2 PA about recycling during the event
• The bins had lids for the top (some of which you could not see into, some of them you could). If the bins had confusing messaging such as, "CANS ONLY" students were less likely to place bottles. It helped to take the lid off, and let students see a pile of bottles in the bin (normalizing a social behavior)
• All of the bins had messaging on the sides saying "bottles and cans" but messaging on the side is not highly viewed by students (it would help to have messaging on top)
  • Our 20 new Coca-Cola bins have good messaging, and bottles and cans cutouts on top
• The way the bin lids open, anything could be placed in them. We didn't see a ton of contamination, but there was some (specifically at unguarded bins). If we use bottle and can cutouts (as the Coke bins have been designed) that would emphasize what product we want recycled
• It was absolutely necessary to constantly remind incoming students that we recycle bottles and cans, otherwise they ended up in the general trash cans. Volunteers would sort through the trash bins as was reasonably possible

Volunteers

• Our volunteers were amazing! It would be beneficial to have double next year (around 20) to adequately cover the area
• Be Orange Go Green volunteer shirts really helped volunteers stand out

Diversion Rate

• Volunteers did a good job routing plastic bottles to the recycling bins, but there is a lot of food waste that goes on here (post-consumer). It would be beneficial to separate food waste from regular waste from recycling...
• Can we grind to energy the food waste?

Student for Environmental Concerns

1. Danika Ford
2. Rudy LaFave
3. Izzy Wilder
4. Liam Henry
5. Averhy Sanborn

Facilities & Services

1. Daphne Hulse
2. Sarthak Prasad
3. Naveen Reddy
4. Hrushikesh Chavan

Student Sustainability Committee

1. David Bassey

From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 2:45 PM
To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
Subject: FW: today

Hi Thurman,

Numbers from today. From what the volunteers and I observed, having the bin guards really helped route the plastic bottles to the correct bin, so a win there. But it unfortunately is not well reflected in the weight, because of how heavy organic waste is. F&S is already strategizing for next year – maybe if we try to separate food waste from regular trash (plates, forks) from plastic bottles, and break that number down even more. Just having thoughts. I’d love to see that food waste grinded to energy, but I imagine that would be a logistically challenging one.

Nonetheless, I think we did something great today! We made a lot of students think about their actions.

Thank you,
Daphne

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

https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
 


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: Patterson, Shawn L <spttrsn@illinois.edu>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 2:36 PM
To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
Subject: today

Well looks like you were correct. 6%

Total weight 2460lbs

Recycled 140lbs

Room for growth

SHAWN L. PATTERSON, CAFM

TRANSPORTATION & AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Tel:(217)244-4927

On 08/18/2023, Sarthak and Hrushikesh visited the Round Barns to give out two abandoned bicycles to their respective owners who had registered their bicycles.

Sarthak sent announcements (to Caitlin Kaparaz) to be added to the ISSS newsletter (publishing on August 25):

1. Reclaim Your Abandoned Bike
   Every summer, F&S tags and removes all abandoned bikes. If you left your bike and want to reclaim it, email bike@illinois.edu and include where it was located, the make/model, color, and serial number, if possible. Bike registration information or other documentation will be needed to prove ownership (e.g., pictures). Deadline to reclaim your bicycle: Friday, September 22. All unclaimed bicycles will be donated after that date.
2. Light the Night – Free Bike Light Giveaway
   The 16th annual Light the Night is Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Alma Mater Plaza, Hallene Gateway, and Ikenberry Commons Quad. You MUST bring your bike to get a light set. Approximately 1,000 bike light sets will be available this year. Remember, bike lights are required by Illinois law when riding at night. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please sign up here.
3. Celebrate Bike to Work Day on September 14 and Receive a Free T-Shirt
   Ride your bike to campus on Thursday, Sept. 14, and get a free t-shirt! Welcome stations will be set up across the area from 7 – 10 a.m., including eight U of I locations. Celebrate Champaign County Bike to Work Day with others by stopping in for refreshments and snacks. You must bring your bicycle and pre-register at https://go.fs.illinois.edu/BiketoWorkDay to get the shirt!

Optional announcement

• Register your bicycle
  Bicycle registration is mandatory for all bicycles parked or operated on campus and owned by students, staff, faculty, University departments, and community members. There is a one-time $10 registration fee per bicycle. All bicycle registrants will enter a raffle for a chance to win a U-lock or a Helmet. Learn more about the bicycle registration raffle. Contact bike@illinois.edu if you have questions regarding bicycle registration.

Two new digital signs were added to campus buildings

1. Bike Registration: from 8/21/2023 until 11/20/2023 (https://bike.illinois.edu/register-your-bike/)
2. Abandoned bicycles retrieval: from 8/21/2023 to 9/22/2023 (https://bike.illinois.edu/resources/bicycle-roundup/

On 08/16/2023, Morgan, Daphne, Sarthak, Quinn and Hrushikesh attended/ hosted Sustainability LLC iCAP presentation for the upcoming and aspiring undergraduate students to provide them information about all the aspects of iCAP and other entities. Additionally it was also a great mode of communication to connect with the young minds and get to know their vision regards the same cause.

On 08/15/2023 and 08/17/2023 , Sarthak and Hrushikesh had meetings regarding the progress on the Campus Bike Plan 2024. Please refer to the attached file to check for the updated information.

On 08/08/2023 and 08/10/2023 , Sarthak and Hrushikesh had meetings regarding the progress on the Campus Bike Plan 2024. Please refer to the attached file to check for the updated information.

On 08/01/2023 and 08/03/2023 , Sarthak and Hrushikesh had meetings regarding the progress on the Campus Bike Plan 2024. Please refer to the attached file to check for the updated information.

On 07/25/2023 and 07/27/2023 , Sarthak and Hrushikesh had meetings regarding the progress on the Campus Bike Plan 2024. Please refer to the attached file to check for the updated information.

From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 8:51 AM
To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
Subject: Welcome Celebration recycling update

Hi Thurman,

Quick update on the recycling efforts for this coming Friday – good news first: we should have a good turnout of student volunteers for this event.

The complicated news: the 20 Coca-Cola bins did arrive just a few days ago, but they are unfortunately going to require some F&S modifications before they can be put to use. They’re extra sturdy (bolted down to the pallets) which is great for outdoor events, but they do not currently have any openings to put recycling in and dump it out (see picture below). We expect we’ll have to saw open the plastic top, and then they’ll be a useable bin. Coke finished designs on the wrap that will be placed over top of the bins (attached), so they have some messaging on them when we’re ready to put them to use.

As a quick solution, we have 24-26 bottles/cans recycling bins that we can line with blue bags and put to use (picture below). It unfortunately won’t have the great messaging that the Coke bins would have, but we will have the volunteers there to help manage. Not as sturdy as our new bins will be, but I expect better than the bins that were used last year that blew around. F&S will be bringing these over to Lot 31 on Friday when they’re bringing the tables and chairs, so our volunteers can line these with blue bags and place them nearby the trash bins.

Thank you,
Daphne

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

https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
 


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.

BPAC met on August 15, 2023. Please see attached the documents discussed during this meeting.

Sarthak Prasad shared 2018 notes from conversations held with stakeholders at The Ohio State University, West Lafayette (Purdue University), Bevier Cafe (University of Illinois), US Army Corps -- Champaign, and Michigan State University -- East Lansing on the topic of anerobic digesters. Attached are the notes. The document will continue to grow as more conversations occur.