Pomona Sustainability Newsletter Sept. 2011 #2

Pomona Student Sustainability Newsletter

Volume III, Issue 2 - September 2011

Whether you're new on campus or returning after the summer, we thought it'd be good to give an overview or reminder of how recycling works on campus - where things should go and what happens to them after they're discarded. So here's a primer:

What:

Plastics #1-7, including plastic film and bags, packaging, six-pack rings, and much more - check the bottom of all items to see if there's a recycling symbol!
Aluminum, steel, tin - including tin foil!
Glass (all colors)
Paper and cardboard, including envelopes with windows, bubble mailesr, egg cartons, paper bags, magazines, and much more.
Small electronics, batteries, CFLs, CDs/DVDs, Brita filters, and ink cartridges can go to the Recycling Center at the Smith Campus Center (near the Mail Room).
Items do NOT need to be perfectly clean to be recycled! For instance: yogurt on the sides of a container is okay - half a container of yogurt is not.

Where:

Blue bins/white bags - Housekeeping tells the difference between trash and recycling based on whether the bag in the can is white or clear. So make sure you're putting white bags in your recycling cans!
Every classroom, office, and residence hall room should have a recycling bin. If yours doesn't, contact Housekeeping at x73304 (607-3304).
The Smith Campus Center Recycling Counter takes a variety of items for responsible disposal.

Then what?

Recycling is picked up by the City of Claremont, where it's combined with other City recycling and taken to a recycling facility in La Puente, 35 miles southwest of Claremont. All materials are sorted (by hand!) and bundled for shipment elsewhere.

Questions? Email sustainability@pomona.edu.

And remember: WHEN IN DOUBT, RECYCLE IT!

Announcements

FREE Greenware sustainable event kits Reduce what you send to the landfill after holding an event by eliminating paper plates and disposable utensils. Pomona's new Greenware program allows anyone planning a campus event to checkout reusable plates, bowls, and cups made from recycled plastic plus metal silverware and 100% recycled napkins. The kit, which also comes with a compost bucket and biodegradable bag, will be customized to the quantities you need and also includes signs designating compost, recycling, and landfill cans. When the event is over just return the kit back to the SIO or Dining Services to be cleaned so it's ready for the next event! To reserve your own custom Greenware kit, fill out the form on this website.
New Compost Locations! Three new north campus compost locations were installed this summer - one near each of the new residence halls and one on the west side of Clark I facing Walker Beach. See the map to the right for locations.

TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT | Collect gently used paper for reuse

Okay, we just told you all about recycling. But reuse is even better! Instead of immediately recycling used one sided paper, organize a storage bin to collect that paper and use it as scratch paper or for draft printings. You can even bring this one-sided paper to Duplicating to print your flyers with a discount!

Events

Park(ing) Day Friday, September 16 10-4, Harrison Parking Lot (between Carnegie and Pearsons), PO Come help Pomona celebrate Park(ing)Day, an annual, worldwide event that challenges people to re-claim and re-imagine public space by transforming parking spaces into temporary public parks. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, greenery, blankets, food, and music!
Huntington Ranch trip Saturday, September 24, 9-3 Join PEAR and the Farm for a joint field trip to Huntington Ranch, the urban agriculture installation at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. This site is not usually open to the public, but they're having an open house and we're going! Contact Jen Schmidt at jes12010@pomona.edu for more info.
47 Thing - Toxic Tour with CCAEJ Saturday, October 1 Join the SIO and ASPC for a Toxic Tour of Inland Empire environmental issue sites with the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ). This is one of the "47 Things" every Pomona student should do! Sign up starting 9/19 in the ASPC office with your ID. Spots are limited!
Bill McKibben Bridges Lecture October 27, 7 p.m., Bridges Auditorium, PO Join Pomona for a landmark lecture from worldwide sustainability leader Bill McKibben. Details and lecture title forthcoming.
Brave New Planet: Imagining Ecological Communities October 28-29 Two days of discussion, workshops, lectures and more, featuring Bill McKibben. See more here.
PEAR meeting Every Sunday, 8 p.m., SOCA Lounge, PO Get involved with Pomona'smain sustainability club! Join projects, propose ideas, or just hear about what's going on on- and off-campus.

Are you organizing a sustainability-related event? Let us know at sustainability@pomona.edu to be included in this calendar!

Opportunities

On-campus

The Environmental Quality Committee will be taking applications early in the semester. Contact Environmental Affairs Commisioner Hsuanwei Fan (hsuanwei.fan@pomona.edu) for more information.
The Ralph Cornell Society of Native Planters will be holding their first meeting soon! Email Zoe Carlberg (zoe.carlberg@pomona.edu) for more information.

Off-campus

Green Corp is looking for future environmental leaders! This program hires college graduates to receive intensive training and experience in environmental organizing and activism. The program's first deadline is 10/15 - find out more here.
Interested in green building? Think about starting a student USGBC chapter on campus! USGBC Students represent college and university-based groups of students from all disciplines who come together to learn and participate in hands-on green building experiences on their own campuses. This student program engages young leaders through service initiatives and LEED documentation for campus facilities projects. USGBC helps students integrate sustainability themes into their coursework, advocates for sustainable university practices and policies and facilitates student attendance at green building conferences, events and collaborations with other student organizations around green initiatives, campaigns and activities. For more information about starting a USGBC Students group on campus please visit www.centerforgreenschools.org/usgbcstudents or contact Michael Strobel (USGBC Regional Chair) at mstrobel@edge-dev.com.

ECOMYTH | All plastics can be recycled everywhere

False. We're super lucky here at Pomona, because the City takes plastics #1-7 in conventional recycling bins. But in many places, only certain numbers are accepted. These numbers refer to the type of plastic used in the item, and are very important because most recycling centers can only recycle (and thus accept) certain types of plastics. Want to know more? Checkout this informative guide!

Newsletter Feedback and Submissions

Do you have content for the newsletter? From upcoming events to tips, opportunities, announcements, and news - please let us know! Email sustainability@pomona.edu.

Thanks,

Sustainability Integration Office staff