Committee on Environmental Quality -- Past Minutes (Spring 2006)

Past Minutes (Spring 2006)

To see minutes for other semesters:

April 20, 2006

Call to Order. 5:07 PM
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda
Recyclemania wrap-up and other recycling updates
1. Final standings: #9 of 62 in Targeted Materials - Paper (17.63 pounds per person), #43 of 61 in Targeted Materials - Cans and Bottles (1.66 pounds per person), and #50 of 87 in Per-Capita Classic (19.3 pounds per person)
2. Student Life Article
3. Recycling collection is going to be increased to twice a week, as a result of high volume
  1. Recycling collection is going to be increased to twice a week, as a result of high volume
Orientation Environmental Education (Emily D., Donna H., etc.)
1. Idea of using magnets to publicize recycling rules
  1. Should this be paid for through EH&S as part of budgeted funds for recycling education, or might this be appropriate for CEQ to fund?
  2. Price quotes from Off the Row for a 1-color magnet of $380 for 2,000 ($.19 each), $210 for 1000 ($.21 each)
  3. Mr. Magnets.com- 2,000 magnets at $400, 1,000 at $310; price includes shipping & unlimited colors
    1. Colleen Lyerla from Public Affairs is the contact person if we want to use WU logos
  4. Funding - possibly Environmental Health & Safety could give certain amount & CEQ will match it; Emily sees CEQ as recycling hub and believes we should pay for it
  5. Magnet suggestions - red & green, red for things that can't be recycled. Make CEQ standout. Can be put in rooms as CS40 distributes Nalgene bottles. Magnets will be given to every freshmen during Orientation. Should put some in staff/faculty common rooms.
2. Other updates on orientation planning
  1. Working with RAs/ Rob Wild? - Emily plans to contact Residential Life.
Earth Day Wrap-Up
1. Solar panel from Paul N. ran a little computer fan, and that went well
2. Poster of undergraduate research was successful- thanks Professor Knight
3. Event was successful.
Environmental Engineering Earth Day - April 21st
1. General information:
  1. Location is Lopata 101 in the Engineering School (not in The Village)
  2. About the Seminar
  3. Schedule of Events:
    1. Set-up 11 - noon. Someone needs to be by poster at 2:30
    2. 12:30 pm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Thibodeaux of LSU, speaking on "Katrina/Rita Disaster-environmental chemistry impacts plus the proximate and historical causes"
    3. 1:30 pm Panel Discussion with Mr. Charlie Buescher, Dr. Truman (Chairman of the Civil Engineering Department), and Dr. Kidder (Professor of Anthropology)
    4. 2:30 pm Reception in Lopata Gallery
  4. Posterboard with CEQ information will be presented
Solar Panels
1. Installation
  1. All equipment except for racks was in Kansas City by Tuesday 04/18/06; rack delivery was unexpectedly delayed, resulting in postponement of installation until next week
  2. Wiring on the roof has been completed.
  3. Installation now planned for Tuesday April 25th and Wednesday April 26th.
  4. Website will be live to "see the system wake up" on Wednesday.
2. Money stuff
  1. Facilities did PO for full cost, and we will reimburse them ~$11,182 with CEQ funds and money committed by other groups
  2. Jonathan L. and David H. will coordinate
3. Kiosk stuff
  1. First kiosk will be loaned by ResTech to CEQ for placement at location of the choice of Environmental Engineering (Dr. Biswas)
  2. Kiosk includes a Compaq PC running Windows XP; touchscreen built into the kiosk displays the output
  3. Jonathan will be meeting with Chris Clayton at ResTech on Friday 04/21 at 2:30 PM to take a look at the kiosk running; you can come too
Partnering with Student Union on environmental and sustainability issues and initiatives
1. Paul Moinester - new Student Union President, an environmental studies major. Wants to work to make school more sustainable, especially through reducing and reusing. Founded CS40 Hybrid Living committee.
2. Wants environmentally interested students to come together and develop goals for the next school year.
  1. Suggestion to Paul - RPM (residential peer mentor) - to educate on environmental sustainability and recycling procedures.
  2. Freshman Readership Program - This year all incoming freshmen will read the same book over the summer and it will be incorporated more into academics. Paul would like to see the book be one related to sustainability issues, such as Cradle to Cradle.
  3. Environment Sustainability link will be on the website for EH&S to act as a hub to advertise all environmental activities going on in numerous local organizations.
  4. What he'd like to see-
    1. Biodiesel fuel made from Bon Appetit grease and oil waste
    2. Co-op store - organic, fair-trade off campus store in U-City
Green Thurtene Update
1. Student volunteers in tied-dye Thurtene T-shirts will be there & putting recycling in recycling bins
2. Will be provided with blue bags, containers w/ lids. If students put bags outside the fence, Top Care will collect them. Top Care will pick them up on Sunday & Monday morning.
3. Engineers without Borders is handling the paint.
EERWG -May 1 University Council presentation
1. An important step to see how deans are feeling about the ideas in the report.
Potential sources for additional CEQ funding
1. Steven Givens, assistant to the Chancellor. Original CEQ funds were achieved through the Chancellor. Annual Report to the Chancellor's office should be effective catalyst.
2. What does CEQ want to propose funding next year?
  1. i. Ideas? Email Jonathan Lane.
Organizational Updates
1. Green Action - Graduation Pledge - Seniors sign card pledging to be environmentally and socially conscious in this next life stage and beyond! Then they get a green ribbon and wear it on graduation day.
Open Forum / Announcements
1. Hand dryers (Emily D.) - in restrooms. Why paper towels? Hand dryers break frequently. Ask facilities department to inquire more.
2. (Tom) What is the right role for faculty in this committee? How do we reach more graduate students? How to improve participation, attendance? Consider these issues over the summer, and share your thoughts.
3. (Jonathan) Thanks to everyone for a great year, and goodbye to our seniors.
Adjournment

April 6, 2006

Call to Order. 5:13 PM
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda
Report from Working Group Meeting with Chancellor (Tom S.)
1. Meeting was Thursday at 4 PM, immediately prior to CEQ meeting
2. Chancellor was presented with Working Group report last week, and met with Leith Sharp, among others
3. Next step- communicate the idea and stress its importance to deans.
4. Have to keep momentum going and Tom highlighted keeping undergraduate involvement.
5. How we can help: support Chancellor whenever he addresses or comments on environmental issues & this new initiative.
6. May 1st- Presentation to University Council.
7. Biomass, plant biology mentioned by Chancellor
8. Tom hopes to use this to financially stabilize CEQ and develop it more.
9. Too early for Chancellor to agree to internship possibilities for students (undergraduate and graduate), etc.
10. CEQ funding- no annual financial support currently; this could be an opportunity to receive funding
Recycling and Recyclemania updates
1. Recyclemania position through Week 8 - #8 for paper
2. This Saturday the competition ends, with the final report posted next week
Orientation Environmental Education (Emily D., etc.)
1. Green Action planning to participate - students will come during Orientation to table and distribute flyers & magnets.
  1. Suggestion- Investigate sending information during summer to freshmen
2. Should CEQ consider funding magnets with recycling rules, to give to freshmen?
  1. $0.23/ magnet, approximately $260-$300
3. Bon Appetit or Hybrid Living - distribute mugs or Nalgenes- explore possibility of printing recycling rules on them
4. How should we coordinate with the recycling company to do education at that time?
  1. Representatives from student environmental groups could be present at company's presentations and then educate sophomores through seniors
Earth Day (April 14th)
1. General information on April 14th event
  1. Event is in Bowles Plaza and starts at 11:00 AM; participants should be there at 10 to set up
2. CEQ participation
  1. Solar panel from Paul N. that currently runs a little computer fan - Jonathan has it
  2. Possibly larger solar panel information display, if the panels are being installed on Friday
  3. Possibly Green Roof info - Jonathan has a brochure and a model from Paul N.
  4. Suggestion on faculty posters- Have just one or two to demonstrate what research is being done and it's not overwhelming
    1. Professor Knight will bring stand, flyer, and poster(s) to Bowles Plaza
Earth Day (April 21st)
1. We've been asked to have a booth during the ENVESA Earth Day
  1. Will use Paul's solar panel
Solar Panels (Jonathan L.)
1. Installation
  1. Panels are currently being shipped from California and should arrive in Kansas City early next week
  2. Dates and times for installation should be worked out Friday 04/07, and CEQ members will know details ASAP
  3. Hopefully installation will be on April 12, 13 or 14
  4. Data will probably start streaming online on the day of installation
    1. Create a solar panel website possibly.
2. Money stuff
  1. Facilities did PO for full cost, and we will reimburse them ~$11,186 with CEQ funds and money committed by other groups
  2. Jonathan L. and David H. will coordinate
3. Kiosk stuff
  1. We'll work with Matt A. regarding getting kiosks running to figure out details of when, how, how many and at what costs
  2. When we get that figured out we can try to lobby the library to get one placed there
  3. Promising to get a working kiosk to Environmental Engineering was a contingency for their financial support of the project, so much or all of kiosk costs can come from that pot of money; there should be ~$1000 available from the total money donated and approved if we include a full $8500 from CEQ, and the costs should be lower than that.
Green Thurtene Update (Natalie Z, etc.)
1. Next meeting is 4-10-06; Green Action will be at event walking around with recycling bins
2. Thurtene occurs- April 22nd-23rd --6pm in Whittaker Parking Lot
Future Planning & Leith Sharp Discussion
1. Leith Sharp Presentation Discussion
  1. General Thoughts- Keep momentum going by breaking it down into small projects and completing them
  2. Student Internships- paid/unpaid; work to help process on campus
  3. Once implemented the University will start saving money, encouraging more efforts.
  4. Greater emphasis on peer-education
  5. Ideas (Erin R., etc.)
    1. Environmental peer education- Harvard hired students to educate each ResCollege, residential environmental mentors
    2. Environmental project loan fund
    3. Biodiesel shuttles- MO & IL pushing this
    4. Gardening- Hybrid Living interested in pursuing next year
    5. Student efforts to promote reduction of greenhouse gasses
Open Forum / Announcements
1. Tuesday April 11th, 7 PM, Green Action's 7th Hour in Holmes Lounge - Panel Discussion on organic and GMO food
Adjournment 6:02pm

March 23, 2006

Call to Order. 5:11 PM
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda - Adopted
Old Business
1. Solar Panels
  1. Contributions- $5,000 Facilities, $3,000 Environmental Engineering, $500 Bon Appetit, $100 Project Democracy
  2. Coverage tomorrow (3-24-06) in Student Life about project. Project presented to SU Senate on 3-22-06 at request of Speaker of the Senate
  3. Facilities will issue contract next week, Chancellor has approved it
  4. Installation timeline depends mostly on when company can get panels; we'd like to install by Earth Day if we can, approximately April 20th
2. Environmental Education and Research Working Group Report Discussion
  1. Send suggestions or questions to Jonathan by Saturday
  2. Why the proposed buildings will not be LEED certified - pricey, constraining, and complex. The buildings will be built to high environmental standards.
    1. Patrick J. is in Sustainable Design, an architecture/artsci/engineering class exploring sustainability and considering test projects of different buildings on Delmar. Patrick J. would like for the findings of this class to be presented to the Working Group
      1. Web Page
3. Earth Day
  1. Email to be sent to faculty on working group asking for research posters to display at Earth Day
  2. April 14th- WashU Earth Day, outside, if rains will move to Gargoyle
  3. April 21st- Environmental Engineering sponsoring Earth Day, which includes a speaker from LSU discussing Hurricane Katrina and the environment; CEQ might want to present there
  4. Solar panel information display- Will approach company about having a solar panel informational display. Contact Paul Norman regarding displaying his personal solar panel by 4-6-06.
  5. More than ten trees will be planted on campus on the April 14th Earth Day.
  6. Can display an outside recycling bin at Earth Day and still need to publicize school-wide recycling rules.
4. Green Thurtene
  1. Meeting next Monday, 11:30am in Gargoyle to further discuss the excess wood.
5. Recycling Updates
  1. RecycleMania- 48th overall out of approx. 87 schools. 2 weeks remaining.
  2. Blue bags now in recycling bins throughout all of campus.
6. Ms. Leith Sharp - from Harvard, speaking at 5pm, March 30th in Cupples II, 212 or Eads 204 [Update: actually speaking in Lopata 101]
New Business
1. Planning for Summer & Fall
  1. Summer-
    1. Develop way to inform students about recycling rules, Green Action will be at orientation to inform Freshmen and/or recycling company could be there
    2. Water use purportedly higher during summer. However, this has not been confirmed. Possible reason- due to building on-campus and the landscaping that is done in connection with it, results in lots of watering
      1. They are very attentive to efficiently using water
2. Discussion Events
  1. Panel on Global Warming & Energy Conservation - sponsored by Project Democracy
    1. "Discuss systems to promote an earth and energy friendly, better-functioning campus"
    2. Monday, April 3rd at 8:30pm in Friedman Lounge
  2. Seventh Hour- Fiddling with Your Food- sponsored by Green Action
    1. Different perspectives on what is happening today with our food
    2. Tuesday, April 11th 7pm in Holmes Lounge
Adjournment 6:02pm

March 2, 2006

Call to Order. 5:09 PM
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda - Adopted
Quick Items (10 minutes)
1. CEQ Faculty Appointment Status (Tom S.)
  1. Professor Knight from Biology has been appointed and is with us today
  2. Contacted faculty in architecture & history
2. CEQ Funds (Jonathan L.)
  1. Our account has $15,000
3. Recycling (Paul N., Donna H.)
  1. Any new info on volumes and contaminants, blue liners, etc.
    1. Blue liners working well, more ordered. A few contamination issues observed: some resulting through housekeeping methods, and food item contamination of mixed paper in office situation.
    2. Contamination on campus- food containers in recycling bins, around Olin Library and food service areas.
    3. Total volume - lower for last week than previously
  2. Status of school-wide email
    1. Last meeting, Tom S. said he would contact Lisa S. about getting full e-mail list
      1. Lisa told him to contact Jill Carnaghi, and he will do so.
4. Environmental Audit follow-up (Donna H.)
  1. Checking last numbers - Jim from Medical School
    1. Issue should be resolved by the end of next week
5. Orientation recycling education update (Emily D., Donna H.)
  1. Emily and Donna met with orientation coordinators, who suggested:
    1. have Green Action and other green groups help with move-in,
    2. have a tent or booth on forty during move-in,
    3. possibly have recycling and other environmental choices mentioned in Choices program for Orientation,
    4. We could walk around with recycling bin during events asking people if they want to recycle anything (to increase awareness),
    5. flyers for dorms advertising environmental information.
    6. Pursue a magnet with recycling rules.
      1. It is possible that EH&S might help fund such a giveaway item.
    7. Work with CS40 to get environmental information to be put in every freshman room.
Bigger Items (40 minutes)
1. Environmental Education and Research Working Group Update (Bruce B., Tom S.)
  1. Working on drafts of proposals
  2. Haven't met as groups since last CEQ meeting
  3. Self-imposed deadline is April 1st
  4. When, where, and how can students give input
    1. Speak with/ give suggestions to Jonathan or Tom
    2. Semi-final Draft should be available for our review no later than next CEQ meeting on March 23rd.
  5. This proposal when completed should only be about 4 pages; an implementation committee will consider how to actually make goals happen, considering budgetary constraints.
  6. Is an environmental mission statement for the university possible?
    1. We have one currently. Donna Hall will send to CEQ members.
  7. Scheduling Leith Sharp presentation (March 30, 31)
    1. Sharp is the Harvard sustainability director. A public talk will be scheduled.
2. Recyclemania (Emily D., Natalie Z.)
  1. Population figures need immediate revision
    1. Numbers have been corrected, and now include faculty and staff, full-time and part-time. Harvard had similar numbers when including faculty and staff.
  2. Congratulations e-mail from Harvard on the Recyclemania email list
  3. Emory rivalry publicity - Underpass was painted mentioning the ranks, WU is below Emory.
3. Solar Panel Proposal (Jonathan L.)
  1. Review of formal proposal-
    1. Proposal needs to be discussed with Shirley Baker (Dean of Libraries) and Jerome Ribaudo in Facilities who handles roofs
    2. The actual quantity of energy produced is somewhat secondary, as it may only be about 1/10,000th of the university's energy use; the purpose is educational
    3. Is it worthwhile?
      1. Education and advertising sustainability
      2. Progress towards more sustainable efforts- green roof possibility in future
    4. Educate students in publicity campaign for panels
  2. Committee in support of goal?
  3. Discussion of options
    1. Is 7 panels (1.155 kW) the optimal choice for us?
      1. Approximately- $16,000
      2. Qualifies us for the "Million Solar Roofs" program
      3. We can add more later if we want, but there's little reason to do so now
    2. Kiosk options
      1. ResTech has about ten touchscreen kiosks from WU 150th anniversary and Matt A. will let us use one free for a period of time; in the long-term we could work out purchasing it
        
        Potential savings- ~$800+
    3. Placement preferences
      1. Committee preference is to make it visible since it is an educational tool, but it will still be aesthetically pleasing
      2. Matt A. suggests possible placement on lower overhang library roof and then move up to higher, more permanent place
        
        i. Borrow a dummy model to put on the lower ledge, with a sign saying "I am a solar panel", but with the actual ones on the main roof
      3. Could we give tours, bringing people up to the roof? Tom S. says that they could put some walk paths leading from the door to the roof to where the panels are, so many people could go see the panels without risking damage to the roof
  4. Funding issues
    1. We have $15,000 in our account
    2. Facilities will donate $5,000
    3. Departments and schools need to be contacted; seeking maybe $1,000 from larger ones, maybe $500 from Architecture or Environmental Studies
    4. Propose- CEQ set a limit of spending $10,000 on this project
      1. Matt K. - Should we wait until we know our budget for the future?
      2. Tom S. - No one has any plans to give money to CEQ because we haven't done great things with the money we have; doing something special like this can lead to more future funding
      3. Our approval of funding now, rather than in three weeks, can show that CEQ and Facilities are committed, making others more likely to support it
      4. Erin R. - We should be able to raise enough from departments that we don't pay for more than half. How about $8,000?
      5. Emily D. - It's more than $16,000 total; how about $8500 maximum?
    5. Proposed that CEQ funding of solar panels be approved at a total not to exceed $8,500.
      1. Approved
  5. Where do we go from here?
    1. Jonathan L. will send e-mail about contacting departments about funding, and will look into talking to library
4. Wash U's Earth Day - Friday April 14th
  1. Committee will decide on CEQ booth ideas today
  2. Possibilities: environmental audit info and energy efficiency, highlighting faculty research, solar panel information
    1. Use posters and have easels for faculty research posters. Provided with a folding table. Put outdoor recycling bin by table.
      1. We can borrow easels from departments.
    2. Include informational about green roofs.
    3. Contact EarthWays Center, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, if they would like to display some information.
      1. Jeremy is the contact between CEQ and EarthWays.
    4. Solar Panel display or model of library with panels on it
      1. Paul Norman has a one-foot-square solar panel that we could possibly borrow
5. Green Thurtene Update (Natalie Z.)
  1. Will be presenting to Thurtene chairs on Monday; it will cost $50 more to have dumpsters there for this company
  2. Company will salvage materials that can be used for building.
  3. Have not found a paint recycling company yet.
  4. There are ~25 large blue recycling bins that we could probably use
  5. The lot must be clear by 8:30 AM the Tuesday after the Carnival; starting at 3 AM everything that is left gets dumped
Adjournment 6:03pm

February 16, 2006

Call to Order. 5:11 PM
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda - Adopted
Old Business
1. CEQ Faculty Appointment Status (Tom S.)
  1. 10 faculty members contacted; 5 haven't replied, 3 did not accept, 2 on leave; asked for names from people who cannot
  2. Some will join after Working Group terminates April 1
  3. Tell Tom any recommendations you have
2. Recycling (Donna H., Jan S., etc.)
  1. Blue Liners
    1. Implemented blue liners in recycling bins in Simon Hall
      1. So far, performance has been perfect
    2. One possible problem w/ the bags would be when contaminated recycling bag is put into trash, therefore, blue
    3. Blue liners will soon be in every recycling bin to designate from trash
  2. New numbers now include a very high volume of paper that goes to shredders at West Campus and was not getting counted before
  3. Status of school-wide email about recycling - Finding out the proper way to send it out; their department doesn't have a full e-mail list
    1. Tom will contact Lisa Simmons about this
  4. Prospect of recycling company providing recycling education- Up to CEQ to talk to company about what should be done
    1. We'd discussed doing tabling in Mallinckrodt, also possibly flyers and table tents
3. Recyclemania (Emily D., Natalie Z.)
  1. Results of first two weeks- we're now adding in numbers from Medical School & shredded paper from West campus - Week 2 = 8 pounds/ student (before needed population adjustment)
  2. Our category- Per Capita, 82 schools in this category
  3. 10 out of 60 for cans & bottles, 33 out of 60 for paper
  4. Discrepancy over which students are included in the count - take all "per student" numbers to this point with a grain of salt
  5. Publicity in Student Life and The Record - publicity in February 10th issues of both papers
4. Renewable Energy (Jonathan L.)
  1. Discussing solar panel system similar to U Vermont
  2. Met with Ed Barry from Facilities; if we supply the funds, it's likely this can happen
  3. Scheduling next meeting w/ Mr. Barry and an engineer from Ramsey Environmental
  4. Promising locations include roofs of Olin Library, Athletic Center and Wohl Center
  5. Great opportunities for environmental education!
  6. Thoughts - (Erin R.) - U Vermont project was funded by government & students helped run solar panel program. Possible involvement for engineering students?
  7. Sam Fox building- reflective roof & green roof! Do study concerning conservation and financial pros & cons for various types of roofs.
    1. Several roofs coming up for repair- including Crow, Rebstock, and Brookings.
5. Environmental Education and Research Working Group Update (Bruce B., Jonathan L., Tom S.)
  1. Finishing up draft for report to Chancellor
    1. 3 components - education, research, operations
    2. Education - opportunities at undergrad and grad levels
    3. Environmental Institute- looking for physical site, have laboratories, encourage collaboration
    4. Operations- suggest hiring sustainability director for university
      1. Propose that construction projects have environmental review before they begin
  2. Draft isn't ready for public view yet; it still needs a lot of work
    1. Still looking for the aspect that will distinguish WU from other institutions
  3. March 30 & 31st, bringing Leith Sharp, Director of Harvard's Green Campus Initiative, to present to and meet with a variety of groups, possibly including a presentation to students
6. Environmental Audit follow-up (Bruce B., etc.)
  1. Were those final numbers verified? - Not yet; Bruce will contact Jim at Medical School again.
  2. EH&S will be redrafting their webpage during 2006, putting on info relating to areas including energy efficiency, environmental footprints, and recycling
7. Orientation recycling education (Emily D., Donna H.)
  1. Emily received E-mail from Michelle Mulhair, Assistant Coordinator for Orientation; Ms. Mulhair has not yet discussed with the new Director of Orientation what the content of "Choices" will be next fall
    1. Ms. Mulhair also mentioned it would be great if prepared flyers that listed recyclable items and bin locations; it would be easy for RAs to incorporate that in a floor meeting
    2. suggested making a flyer giving locations of recycling bins and stating the recycling policy
  2. Donna is in contact with another staff member
8. Idea of getting bins for used newspapers
  1. Feasible to pick newspaper up separately from trash?
  2. No new developments
9. Student papers on campus environmental improvements (Jonathan L.)
  1. Obtaining initial papers from Tech Writing (Ratinoff)
  2. Suggestions for other professors to initially contact - Jerome Bauer- Religious Studies, and Michael Repovich ? Architecture
  3. Past papers from Repovich are being updated and used to support the report and suggestions of the Environmental Education and Research Working Group
    1. Related idea of creating a 3-D model of an iconic campus building like Brookings, showing systems that save energy, etc.
New Business
1. Wash U's Earth Day
  1. Friday April 14th
  2. CEQ needs to plan a booth
    1. Last year we did Ecological Footprint info
    2. Maybe we can display information relating to the environmental audit
    3. How can we incorporate faculty & staff?
      1. For faculty, highlight their research
      2. Ralph Thaman & Ed Barry have good material for presentations on Wash U energy savings
    4. We will decide what to do at our next meeting
2. Green Thurtene (Natalie Z.)
  1. Green Action and Engineers Without Borders- Recycling scrap wood
  2. Recycle paint- no paint sheds in St. Louis area, donate leftover to Habitat for Humanity?
    1. Home Depot- Possible program that if paint is bought from them, leftovers can be returned
  3. Recycle at Thurtene and try to diminish contamination
  4. Greeks and the building process for Thurtene- clean-up afterwards needs to be improved
    1. Concern- Disposal of latex paint into storm sewer
    2. Last year brushes were being hosed off, which isn't good
    3. We could possibly wash latex paint into a sanitary sewer line
3. "Greeks Care" wants aluminum-only bin for raising funds to donate
  1. It's with another company - would that violate the contract?
    1. It DOES NOT violate contract! Approval to do program!
Adjournment 6:00pm

February 2, 2006

Call to Order. 5:11 PM
Welcome new and returning members
Attendance
Adoption of this Agenda - Adopted
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. Klein'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.
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.
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.
Adjournment 6:03pm