April 2012 - EC Sustainability News

EC Sustainability News | Our Carbon Footprint Results Brought to you by the EC Sustainability Committee Recommendations may be sent to sustainable@elmhurst.edu

Elmhurst College’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory: April 19th Campus Presentation In 2010, the College completed its first ever effort to determine the scope of our environmental impact resulting from our operational activities. We engaged the well-known firm of Affiliated Engineers from Madison, Wisconsin to conduct the greenhouse gas inventory. Affiliated Engineers has surveyed many colleges and universities in the Midwest and is recognized for its expertise.

The report out of the inventory will be presented by a consulting engineer to the College Community on April 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Illinois Hall. The report will identify the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and assess the College’s activities in comparison to other schools.

Every member of the College Community is invited to attend. Please feel free to bring your lunch, beverages will be provided.

April 14th Recycling Extravaganza – Electronics and More Spring cleaning time is here! Have you asked yourself how you can be a good steward? Don’t you feel better when you donate your stuff? The College is hosting an expanded public recycling event. Let’s teach Elmhurst how to take it off the curb in style - drop off electronics, appliances, bikes, building materials, books, scrap metal, batteries, household items, fluorescent light bulbs, and clothing – paper shredding on site. Click here for a full list: Recycling List.

Saturday, April 14th 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mill Theatre Parking Lot (Enter on Park Ave. and exit on Myrtle Ave.) Participating Organizations include: Creative Recycling Services, Cornerstone Used Book Store, DuPage County, DuPage Habitat for Humanity Restore, Elmhurst Bicycle Club, Elmhurst Lions Club, SCARCE and St. Vincent dePaul.

Employee Challenge: Now, for the real fun, employees! The College office or department that recycles the greatest number of items per employee in the unit will receive a sustainable lunch sponsored by Chartwells. Log your items at: http://apps.elmhurst.edu/recycling-event/. Due to the expansion of the event, the employee collection will take place during the public event on Saturday.

Illinois Law: Illinois legislators passed the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act, Public Act 97-0287, in August, banning 17 electronics from landfills. Beginning January 1, 2012 the law makes it illegal for consumers to dispose of banned items in the trash and makes it illegal for landfills to accept them.

Violations carry a $7,000 fine for waste haulers.

Kudos to the College for being ahead of the times! In 2011, Information Services recycled 805 pieces of miscellaneous electronic equipment with a weight of 3,881 lbs.

Learn more at: http://public.elmhurst.edu/projects/sustainability Send recommendations and comments to: sustainable@elmhurst.edu