Sustainability at OSU

Did you know that in 2011 nearly 18,000 pounds of material was diverted from the landfill and given to local non-profits as residents moved out of their res. halls? Our goal this year is 20,000 pounds, and you can help!

How you can help

Live in a Res. Hall?

Visit our resident webpage for all the how-to’s, view the 20-second how-to video below, and look for your move-out kit on Memorial Day!

Volunteer!

Assist with the donation drive on June 14th, 15th and 18th, receiving and sorting material with Campus Recycling staff in the warehouse or joining our crew to go out on routes!

See shift times and sign-up to help using this online form.

2012 Benefiting Organizations

• The Arc of Benton County (house wares, clothing, linens, shoes)
• Calvary Chapel (toiletries)
• The Cat’s Meow Thrift Shop (house wares, clothing, linens, shoes)
• Benton Habitat for Humanity (wood)
• Linn Benton Food Share (food, toiletries)
• OSU Surplus Property (house wares, wood, clothing)
• More coming soon

Learn More

The donation drive is coordinated by Campus Recycling, Surplus Property and University Housing and Dining. Learn more on Campus Recycling’s website.

This year, our OSU Recycling Manager Pete Lepre celebrated his 5th year at OSU. As Pete reflects on the changes he’s seen over the past 5 years, he recognizes several major accomplishments that the OSU community has made towards responsible recycling.

Pete Lepre being presented his 5-year service award by Business Services Director Brian Thorsness.

In 2007, OSU Recycling partnered with Allied Waste of Corvallis to offer the Master Recycler Class. This eight-week program covers all aspects of waste reduction. The classes are offered free to anyone who agrees to “pay forward” what they have learned about waste reduction through completing 30 hours of community service. Over the past five years, over a hundred people throughout surrounding communities have completed this program.

Each year, OSU Campus Recycling and Surplus Property work with University Housing and Dining to reduce waste during residence hall move-outs. By educating residents on repurposing and recycling and by giving them the tools to recycle and donate as much as possible, this program has been extremely successful. This year 17,558 lbs. of donations were collected – 1.5 times as last year! What’s more, this effort not only helped the environment by promoting the reuse of materials, but these donations also helped our local nonprofits and those in our community who are in need.

During Residence Hall move-ins there has been a great deal of packaging materials that were being sent to the landfill. So, in 2010, OSU Recycling launched the Styrofoam Recycling Program, which provides separate bins to recycle these materials. OSU students and staff really stepped up to make this project successful. In example, in just one 6-day period, 120 cubic yards (20 dumpster) of packaging material was collected and recycled. This effort not only kept these items out of the landfill, but it also saved taxpayer dollars – the recycling cost was only 13% of what the landfill fees would have been.

One of the most impressive examples of OSU recycling efforts involved the commitment to event recycling. Through collaboration among DaVinci Days staff, OSU recycling, Allied Waste, and community volunteers, 87% of the trash was diverted either to recycling or compost, at last year’s DaVinci Days. This meant that 67% less waste was sent to the landfill! At the University, Event Recycling took a major step forward at University Days events, where composting and other zero waste measures have been instituted and maintained – and serves as a shining example of the commitment and dedication of the OSU community to be environmentally responsible.

Being Recycling Manager is sometimes a dirty job, but Pete Lepre takes it in stride.

During this week, the city of Corvallis and many area businesses and employers urge you to try “another way” of getting to work or school.   Register at least one trip and you’ll be entered into a raffle for prizes.  The more trips you register the more chances of winning and the greater value of prize you qualify for.   Prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants, bicycle and sporting goods stores and music venues.

You’ll also be able to look for car and vanpool or bike and walk buddies for your regular commute and/or an occasional trip.   And, track your financial savings and CO2 not produced during the week.

Register now at www.ci.corvallis.or.us/getthere

On Tuesday, following valuable input from many stakeholders, OSU Information Services launched a new Videoconferencing Services website. The goal of this site is to give customers a central hub from which they can discover and request these services — regardless of whether that service is provided by Media Services, Network Services, or a DCA.  When customers do request services, they describe their need via a questionnaire, which further helps IS consult with them on the right solution for their needs.

The questionnaire uses a webforms module to help direct communications from and to customers.  In addition to sending email to the service provider(s), the webform populates submissions into a database. This allows IS to run a simple report on aggregate data or access historical requests.

Network Services uses a number of webforms for service requests, and IS will roll out still more webforms as we build out the new IS website, which is on track to launch on June 30.

OSU’s Student Sustainability Initiative is currently recruiting for Fee Board members! Members are volunteer voting members who are collectively responsible for the advancement, effectiveness, health, and longevity of the SSI.  As the governing body of the SSI, the Board is charged with responsible expenditure of student fee funds and strategic planning of the organization.  They are accountable to and work closely with the Fee Board Chair, as well as each other.

Responsibilities:

• Further the SSI’s mission
• Assist in the long-term planning and development of the program
• Attend an average of two (2) SSI Fee Board meetings per month during the academic year as a voting member
• Attend SSI staff meetings approximately once per month during the academic year, or as requested
• Ensure consistent and effective communication with the each other, the Fee Board Chair, the OSU Sustainability Coordinator and SSI staff
• Assist in budget development for the subsequent year
• Assist in grant project selection and the grant allocation process
• Assist in promotion and management of the Sustainable Energy Revolving Loan Fund
• Assist in formulating, tracking, and report performance metrics for the SSI and progress toward SSI organizational goals
• Be available ~5 hours/month September – June, and maintain at least email contact with the Board Chair June – September.

Serving as a Board Member is a great way to be part of a forward-looking organization and gain real world, resume-building experience with a governance structure that is common in many sectors.  To apply, submit a cover letter and resume addressed to the SSI Search Committee by emailing them to the Fee Board Chair.  Application deadline: 11:59 PM, May 4th, 2012.

The “Bag It Corvallis” campaign needs your help. Volunteers of the Student Sustainability Initiative can help invite the public to sign postcards, with the Bag Monster at the Saturday Farmer’s Market on April 28th and May 5th between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The postcards will be delivered to the City Council, which is considering an ordinance. The campaign’s goal is support for an ordinance in Corvallis that bans single-use plastic carryout bags with an incentive toward reusable bags. Single-use plastic bags are used on average for 12 minutes each, litter our beaches and present a hazard to the environment and human health.

If you are interested in volunteering at one of the Farmer’s Markets or in some other way, please contact Debra Higbee-Sudyka at dwhigbe@juno.com.

The College Hill High School Horticulture Program invites the local community to attend their fourth annual Plant Sale and Garden Tour Fundraiser.  The fundraiser will take place at the Harding Center, 510 NW 31st, on Wednesday May 9th, 9am -2pm, and Saturday May 12th, 8am-noon. “Our horticulture program offers our students hands on experience in gardening, landscaping, and other related trades,” said program instructor Cherie Taylor, “We like to take this yearly opportunity to invite our friends in the community to tour one of the best school gardens in the district and see first-hand the hard work and dedication of our students.” The horticulture program operates on grant funding, local business donations, and the contributions of community members. The annual plant sale is one the program’s biggest fundraisers. In addition to the free tour of the greenhouse and 4,000 square foot garden, hundreds of plants and vegetable starts will be available for purchase, with suggested donations starting at just $1. Students have also made bird houses and home composting worm bins which will be available for sale. “I would really encourage people to stop by for a tour, even if you don’t consider yourself a gardener,” said Amanda Halama, an AmeriCorps volunteer at the school. “There are great things happening here at CHHS, and we want to continue to build our connections with our community members so that we can better share our stories of success.” College Hill High School is an alternative education program of the Corvallis School District serving at-risk youth. The CHHS Horticulture Program is in its fourth year of operation.

The College Hill High School Horticulture Program invites the local community to attend their fourth annual Plant Sale and Garden Tour Fundraiser.  The fundraiser will take place at the Harding Center, 510 NW 31st, on Wednesday May 9th, 9am -2pm, and Saturday May 12th, 8am-noon.

“Our horticulture program offers our students hands on experience in gardening, landscaping, and other related trades,” said program instructor Cherie Taylor, “We like to take this yearly opportunity to invite our friends in the community to tour one of the best school gardens in the district and see first-hand the hard work and dedication of our students.” The horticulture program operates on grant funding, local business donations, and the contributions of community members.

The annual plant sale is one the program’s biggest fundraisers. In addition to the free tour of the greenhouse and 4,000 square foot garden, hundreds of plants and vegetable starts will be available for purchase, with suggested donations starting at just $1. Students have also made bird houses and home composting worm bins which will be available for sale.

“I would really encourage people to stop by for a tour, even if you don’t consider yourself a gardener,” said Amanda Halama, an AmeriCorps volunteer at the school. “There are great things happening here at CHHS, and we want to continue to build our connections with our community members so that we can better share our stories of success.” College Hill High School is an alternative education program of the Corvallis School District serving at-risk youth. The CHHS Horticulture Program is in its fourth year of operation.

Join us Wednesday at noon in MU 211 to learn about the new regional rideshare system OSU is using, supported by the Oregon and Washington departments of transportation, and many other stakeholder groups.

Drive Less Connect is an online rideshare program intended to help get you to your destinations more efficiently.  Whether you want to match up with drivers or passengers (by carpooling, vanpooling, or even bicycling) the program makes it easy and fun.  The ride matching resource is state-wide, but this event is specifically for the Corvallis community and OSU campus.

To encourage information sharing, networking and ride matching, we are hosting the Social on Wednesday, April 25 from 12-1 p.m. in the Memorial Union room 211.  And we’re providing FREE FOOD! (Also find the event on Facebook)

The Social will begin a short description of Drive Less Connect followed by a break for snacks and a fun mapping activity.  The rest of the hour is the “social” portion of the event where you can meet other users of the system and find potential carpool matches face to face.

This event is part of Earth Week, a week of fun and educational activities geared toward raising environmental awareness and engagement.  For a full event line-up visit the Earth Week calendar.

See you there!

April gave way to Earth Month, but now are you ready for Earth Week? That one week a year we dedicate our time, effort, and appreciation to the planet that sustains us all? Granted, one week was not sufficient so we have extended our festivities throughout all of April, but we will be reaching the climax beginning this Saturday, April 21st through Saturday, April 28th with over 20 events! View the Earth Month Calendar to see what is being offered around OSU and see what you want to do to honor our glorious earth.

At Oregon State University

Celebrate with us by taking part in some of our awesome events sponsored by Campus Recycling, the SSI, OSU Sustainability Office, Energize Corvallis,the Organic Growers Club, and many more!

The long-standing Earth Week celebration at OSU is a week of fun and educational activities geared toward raising environmental awareness and engagement, taking place April 21-28 this year.

Whether you are interested in bringing out your wild side at Earth Ball 2012, getting your hands into the dirt at the annual Hoo Haa at the Organic Growers Club farm, taking an Electric Vehicle Tour of Campus Sustainability, checking out our 54 vendors at the annual Community Fair or finding people who can carpool with you on your commute at the Drive Less Connect Social, this year’s Earth Week offers all that and much more!

See the full calendar below, and on the Earth Week website.

Earth Week Calendar

Click on the event titles for more information.

Saturday, April 21

• Dunawi Creek Wetlands Cleanup: 8:15 am – 1:30 pm, Meet in the MU Journey Room.  Pre-registration required – http://tiny.cc/ewcreek.
• Earth Ball 2012: 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm, Corvallis Odd Fellows Hall (223 SW 2nd St.) (Facebook Event)

Sunday, April 22

• Earth Day Hoo-Haa!: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, OSU Organic Grower’s Club Farm (Facebook event)

Monday, April 23

• Electric Vehicle Tour of Campus Sustainability: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Meet at People’s Park. Tours begin at 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, and 12:30.
• Ditch the Disposables Discount @ e.Cafe: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, e.café (in Kelley Engineering Center) (Facebook Event)
• Discussion: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?: 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Gilfillan Auditorium (Facebook Event)

Tuesday, April 24

• Earth Week Community Fair (& Free Styrofoam Recycling): 11:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Memorial Union Quad (Facebook Event)
• Film Showing: A Delicate Balance: 3:00 – 5:00 pm, MU Room 206
• Vegetable Container Gardening Workshop: 4:00 – 5:30 pm, Student Sustainability Center (Facebook Event)
• FireWorks: The Making of a Sustainable Restaurant: 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm, FireWorks Restaurant (1115 SE 3rd St.)

Wednesday, April 25

• Drive Less Connect Social: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, MU 211 (Facebook Event)
• OSUsed Store Earth Week Sale: 12:00 – 4:00 pm, OSUsed Store (644 SW 13th St.). Get your 25% off coupon at http://tiny.cc/ewcoupon (Facebook Event)
• “The Future of Sustainable Design” Panel: 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Memorial Union 206
• Plastics for Poets presents “Addicted to Plastics”: 4:00 – 6:00 pm, 1001 Kelley Engineering Center

Thursday, April 26

• Sustainability Coalition Quarterly Gathering: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
• OSUsed Store Earth Week Sale: 12:00 – 4:00 pm, OSUsed Store (644 SW 13th St.). Get your 25% off coupon at http://tiny.cc/ewcoupon (Facebook Event)
• Worm Compost Bin Workshop: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Student Sustainability Center. Pre-registration required by 4/24 at 5 pm – http://tiny.cc/ewwormbin.

Friday, April 27

• OSUsed Store Earth Week Sale: 12:00 – 4:00 pm, OSUsed Store (644 SW 13th St.). Get your 25% off coupon at http://tiny.cc/ewcoupon (Facebook Event)
• Pacific Region Compost Facility Tour: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Meet at the Property Services Building warehouse gates, 644 SW 13th St. Register by 4/25 or before the 30 spaces are filled - http://tiny.cc/prctour2012. (Facebook Event)
• Film Festival and Vegan Resource Fair: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Gilfilan Auditorium (Facebook Event)

Saturday, April 28

• Safe Rx Day: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, MU Journey Room

The primary sponsors of Earth Week 2012 are Campus Recycling and the Student Sustainability Initiative. See a full list of participating organizations, and more information about Earth Week, on the the Earth Week website.

Hosts Stanford philosophers John Perry and Ken Taylor will discuss “The Moral Costs of Climate Change” with guest Allen Thompson from the OSU School of History, Philosophy and Religion, and co-editor of the new book “Ethical Adaption to Climate Change.”

The live taping will also feature by a report from the Philosophy Talk roving philosophical reporter (Caitlin Esch), topical songs from the Platones (Merle and Amy Kessler), questions from the audience and the commentary of Ian Shoales, the 60 second philosopher (Merle Kessler).

Philosophy Talk Hosts
John Perry: Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of California at Riverside and
the Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Stanford University.

Ken Taylor: is the current Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. He is also the director of Stanford’s interdisciplinary program in Symbolic Systems.

The Center for Civic Engagement is hosting an Earth Day service project on Saturday April 21st from 8:15am to 1:15pm! Join us for a morning of litter patrol, invasive species removal, and light pruning along a vibrant wetlands habitat. Dunawi Creek features prominently in Starker Arts Park & adjacent Sunset Park (with an interpretive boardwalk), providing opportunities to understand more about wetlands during the course of our community service event.

Students will meet in the MU Journey Room at 8:15am to get organized, turn in paperwork, and travel to the service project.The service will last from 9am to 1pm. CCE will provide transportation to and from the service site. Students will return to campus just after 1pm. CCE will provide some snacks but student participants should plan to bring a sack lunch. Space is limited to the first 40 students who register. Participants will be required to complete liability waivers that will be emailed to you after registration.

Space is limited. Pre-registration required. Register here: https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/main.aspx?SurveyID=4918&cmd=survey

• Project Name: Dunawi Creek Wetlands Clean-up; Project Activities: Invasive Plant Removal, Litter Pickup, Weeding, Tree/brush pruning.
• Please wear clothes that can get dirty and sturdy work shoes/boots. Shoes must be closed toe.
• Dress for the weather! Plan to wear layers and bring rain gear (shoes, jacket, pants) depending on the forecast. This project is planned to be rain or shine!
• To Bring: Water bottle, sack lunch, waiver forms, and a positive attitude!
• Bring outdoor work gloves if you have them.
• Location: Starker Arts Park at SW 45th Place & Country Club Drive; Organizing Agencies: Corvallis Parks & Recreation and SOLV (Sustaining Oregon’s Legacy through Volunteering)

How can sustainability concepts be effectively integrated across the disciplines and what is the role of scientific literacy specifically in advancing sustainability education?

What various forms does place-based learning take at campuses across the region, as well as nationally and globally, and how can we design curriculum that can help drive solutions to pressing regional issues including food justice, salmon survival, regional contaminants, coal exports, and regional contributions to and impacts of climate change?

How can we better integrate attention to globalization in sustainability education and research and draw insights from the structural adjustment of the global south to anticipate and address increasing pressures to privatize water, public lands, and institutions in the Pacific Northwest?

These questions and others will be addressed at the Strengthening Sustainability Curriculum across the Disciplines and across the Pacific Northwest conference set for April 20 in Vancouver, Washington. Sign up for a stimulating day of panels and workshops addressing ways to engage with pressing issues facing our bioregion and to join with others in shaping a sustainable and equitable future.  Individuals and/or campus teams of any size may attend, including faculty, staff, students, teachers, and community members interested in sustainability and justice
initiatives.

Cost is $40 for regular registration; $12 students; $10 or less for those on limited budgets. Registration fee covers lunch, refreshments, and resources for the day. Registration deadline is April 11. Register now!

Over 40 years ago, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson helped drive communities across the U.S.  to organize teach-ins for the environment on April 22, 1970 – the first Earth Day. Right here on our campus, OSU students put together a series of events, participating in this landmark date. While Earth Day-related festivities have not occurred every year since, our annual Earth Week celebration has been going strong for what will be the 12th consecutive year this year!

The annual Earth Week celebration at OSU is a week of fun and educational activities geared toward raising environmental awareness and engagement. This year Earth Week is April 21-28.

The primary organizers and sponsors of Earth Week this year are Campus Recycling and the Student Sustainability Initiative. However, any local organization is invited to participate, which is one thing that makes OSU’s Earth Week so unique. The Earth Week website allows any OSU or community group to submit an environmentally-related event to the central calendar as well as register for the Community Fair. Participating groups for 2012 include OSU student groups and departments, local businesses and nonprofits, and government agencies. See the list of participating organizations here.

Mark your calendar for April 24 at 11 am to 3 pm in the Memorial Union Quad for the annual Earth Week Community Fair, where over 50 groups will table this year. Other events include the annual Earth Day Hoo Haa! at the Organic Growers Club farm, an electric vehicle tour of campus sustainability features, a container gardening workshop at the Student Sustainability Center, several environmentally-themed films, and much, much more. Check out the full calendar here.

To provide suggestions or request additional information, please contact Andrea Norris at email or at 541-737-5398.

From increased property values, to clean air and water, to better test scores from kids, trees provide city dwellers with a long list of social, economic, and environmental benefits.  For Oregonians, one day just isn’t enough to express our appreciation for all the great services trees provide. So we celebrate a whole Arbor Week!

This year, Oregon’s Arbor Week falls on April 2nd-8th (it’s always the first full week of April). Here are some ideas around Corvallis on how to celebrate:

Happy Arbor Week!

1)   Honor a heritage tree—The famous Trysting Tree located on the OSU campus will be recognized as an official heritage tree on the afternoon of Friday, April 6th. Attend the celebration and learn the unique history of this very special tree.  The event is free and open to the public.

2)   Explore a forest—go for a walk or run in McDonald-Dunn Forest. Breathe in the fresh air and listen for wildlfe. Trail maps and interpretive materials available at Peavy Arboretum.

3)   Take a tree tour—Use the free OSU Campus Tree Tour iPhone app to discover the amazing collection of trees growing on the OSU campus.  Customize your own tour and learn to identify different species.

The two-month-long energy conservation effort Campuses take Charge has officially kicked off at OSU as of April 2nd. The campaign encourages students to try new energy-saving actions for a month, and to log their conservation data after they are finished. The campaign is sponsored by Energize Corvallis, the OSU Sustainability Office, and the Student Sustainability Initiative.

To join, students can simply follow the link, sign up and select three actions to try for a month. In order to participate these steps must be taken prior to April 30th.

At the end of each participant’s month of energy-saving actions, they are eligible to receive an exclusive Take Charge Coupon Card featuring local Corvallis Businesses. These businesses include Block 15, Les Caves Bier and Kitchen, Roxy Dawgs, Cycle Solutions, Nearly Normals, Benton Habitat for Humanity Restore, Second Glance, Second Glance Annex, The Alley, and the First Alternative Co-Op.

Join us and start Taking Charge today!

LEDs in the Valley Library.

The OSU Sustainability Office will be funding and replacing halogen track lights in the Valley Library with LEDs. LEDs are much more efficient than halogens and last much longer. The replacement the building’s track lights alone will save over $3,000 a year in energy savings.

The Valley Library, previously lit with halogens.

The old halogen lights are also not suitable for lighting artwork, because if halogens are pointed directly at a painting then they can fade the colors over time.  LEDs, on the other hand, do not produce any ultraviolet or infrared light which is why they are starting to be used by museums in their art galleries. Currently even the Mona Lisa is lighted by LEDs!

The Harvesting Clean Energy (HCE) conference is the Northwest’s premiere event bringing together the agriculture and energy industries to advance opportunities for rural communities to produce clean energy, boost struggling rural economies, and help the region and nation meet the energy challenges of the coming decade.

Now in its 12th year, Harvesting Clean Energy consistently draws over 500 participants from a diverse range of fields – from motivated farmers, ranchers and other rural landowners to professionals from agriculture organizations, rural utilities, tribes, economic development agencies, and research institutions, to lenders, energy developers and consultants, and representatives of federal, state and local governments.

The conference rotates between Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana each year.  Drawing on dozens of top-notch speakers with direct experience in successful projects, Harvesting Clean Energy focuses on practical steps to design projects that will pencil out, address key barriers, access technical support and secure financing amidst tough finance markets.  The energy opportunities addressed include wind power, biomass energy and biofuels, solar and geothermal resources, microhydro, energy innovation in the food processing sector, and efficiency technologies to reduce energy costs and enhance profitability.

Conference planners have had several meetings with the Sustainability Office and OSU Conference Services to figure out how to accommodate this large and important regional conference.  Conference Services has done a great job to accommodate the capacity and price range for the conference (thanks Tina and Emily!).

Look for more information in the coming months, and save January 27-29, 2013 for the Harvesting Clean Energy conference in Corvallis!

For this week only, Monday through Friday, March 19-23, all online requests for pick-up of confidential papers will have the regular 15 cents per pound destruction fee waived. This is for OSU materials only, not personal papers.

We encourage departments to take advantage of this opportunity to clear out unneeded files and save money, while also helping OSU boost our paper recycling weights prior to the end of the RecycleMania competition!

Instructions: Submit an online request during this week (must be placed on or between March 19 and 23 for fee to be waived).

Note: Due to the higher-than-average number of requests we are receiving, we may not be able to pickup within 3 business days as we usually do. However, all requests submitted during finals week will be picked up no later than Friday, March 30 (the end of spring break).

Happy recycling!

Herman Miller Education has announced a new video contest for students from campuses nationwide. Show how your campus is green in fun and creative ways and you could win up to $2500!

 

Here are the guidelines:

• All video entries must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern Time, on April 6th, 2012.
• The video must be no longer than three minutes.
• School logos–including names and mascots–are not allowed in the video submissions.

Here are the prizes for winning submissions:

• 1st – $2500
• 2nd – $1500
• 3rd – $1000

Winners will be decided by public vote. Visit the official contest page at http://bit.ly/xyzmSk