Committee on Environmental Quality

CEQ

What is CEQ?

The Committee on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is a committee consisting of faculty, students, and staff who serve in an advisory capacity to the University administration to promote greater understanding among members of the University community of the importance of living, working, learning, and teaching in an environmentally responsible manner.

Minutes of Last Meeting (February 2, 2006)

  1. Call to Order. 5:11 PM
  2. Welcome new and returning members
  3. Attendance
  4. Adoption of this Agenda - Adopted
  5. Old Business
    1. Recycling and RecycleMania Update (Jane S.)
      1. For period ending January 26, 2006 recycling total for paper was approximately 8,100 pounds.
      2. Reported worst sources of contaminants - fast-food and co-mingle bins with "mixed paper" bin contents
      3. University-wide E-mail?- Waiting for Mr. Kline's approval
      4. New things- Soon blue bags will be in recycle bins to better track where contents end up. Test first in Simon Hall.
      5. Idea for Green Action- have members dorm storm- go dorm to dorm telling students about the new policy (example- bottle tops are now recyclable)
    2. Environmental Education and Research Working Group update ( Tom S., Jonathan L.)
      1. What info is public?- Essentially everything.
      2. Ideas include an Environmental Studies Building that can foster a graduate program, research specialization in areas including rivers (since two converge near WashU) and environmental health (since we have such a great Medical School), looking at programs at other universities.
      3. Chancellor desires programs to be a leader in the field.
    3. Environmental Audit update and follow-up - Medical School checking one last figure, then info will be sent to Student Life
    4. CEQ faculty appointments status (Tom S.) - Tom got Dean Macias' approval for 5 ArtSci professors and 1 Architecture professor, and will now seek out those professors
    5. Orientation ecology/recycling component (Donna H. & Emily D.)- Emily spoke with a student leader of Freshmen Orientation, who will speak with the staff member running Orientation.
    6. Recycling education for current students; Greek chapters?- Emily and Whitney told/ will tell their respective chapters
      1. Idea- Have someone go to each sorority/fraternity chapter meeting and educate them on new policy. Green Action members will be coordinating this.
    7. Duplex printing by default at library- Lindsey Weber is said to be pursuing it
    8. Earth Day planning- Deborah is planning it and Patrick Juelich is working with her. Anyone interested contact Mr. Juelich.
  6. New Business
    1. Bon Appetit and Dining Services (Rick T.)
      1. Their current and past efforts
        1. Trying to buy as much local and organic food as is possible based on the large demanded volume and growing season
        2. Waste reduction, etc.-
          1. no more claim shell type containers in Bears Den (BD)
          2. Higher quality coffee cups, reducing number used
          3. Food wraps now put in paper instead on a plate
          4. Eliminated paper chef hats for "skull" hair netting
          5. Moved from Starbucks to Kaldi- more environmentally friendly company
          6. Give Freshmen free reusable mugs on Move-In Day and selling them in different units- have a mug get discounted coffee price
        3. Sustainable Seafood program
      2. Current Concerns
        1. Throwing out newspapers- suggested exploring possibility of place to put newspapers when cleaning tables, so they are not thrown out.
          1. Possibly Student Union providing a container to recycle the newspapers in eating areas
    2. Student Papers on Campus Environmental Issues (Jonathan L.)
      1. Papers written for students every semester in Architecture, Business, Engineering & ArtSci
        1. Almost never seen by actual decision-makers
        2. How to get them? Essay contest?
        3. Medical School has applied findings from such papers
        4. CEQ desires involvement in a program that would create access to the findings of such papers.
    3. Renewable Energy
      1. Should CEQ purchase some solar panels?
        1. Suggestion they might be put on Wohl, Eliot Hall, or university center
        2. Referred to Ed Barry - Campus Engineer/ Head of Utilities
        3. Solar panels allow WashU to participate in Million Solar Roof Plan
        4. Tennessee Tech- charged $8 per student to fund green energy
          1. Natalie Z. has a how-to article on how they did this
    4. Working with Student Life
      1. Article in tomorrow, Friday, February 3rd, about RecycleMania
        1. [Note, article was delayed until Friday, February 10th]
      2. Are Student Life newspapers being recycled? Could print "Please Recycle" in more visible location.
  7. Web Site Update (David H.)
    1. Updated with links to recycling policies of nearby areas.
    2. E-Newsletter - For now frequently update the web site with current news and relevant national events.
  8. Adjournment 6:03pm