| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.57 |
| Liaison | Jeff Spoelstra |
| Submission Date | July 22, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Michigan University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Laura
Darrah Assistant Director Residence Life |
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Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign directed at students within the previous three years that has yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes
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Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign directed at employees within the previous three years that has yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes
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The name of the campaign (1st campaign):
Green Opening
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A brief description of the campaign (1st campaign):
The Green Opening campaign promotes a green residence hall move-in by increasing the visibility and ease of recycling cardboard and Styrofoam, the two largest recyclables generated during move-in. A fenced-in area is erected next to additional recycling roll-off dumpsters brought in for move-in week. Signage on residence hall floors, lobbies, exit doors and at the fenced area encouraged students and families to drop their cardboard boxes and Styrofoam at the site. Volunteers at each site break down boxes and set them in the recycling dumpsters. Each evening, the dumpsters are covered to prevent contamination. No additional landfill dumpsters are rented for move-in. In summer 2013, information about moving green was added to the Residence Life "What to Bring” packing list mailed to parents and handed out at orientation. The Green Opening campaign is a collaboration among Residence Life, Office for Sustainability, and Landscape Services.
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A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (1st campaign):
The Green Opening campaign significantly increased the weight of recyclables collected during fall move-in. Prior to its implementation in 2011, most additional recycling dumpsters brought in for move-in went to the landfill due to contamination. Since the Green Opening campaign, only one dumpster has been contaminated during move-in week. Total tons of cardboard and Styrofoam collected includes 7.27 tons (2.97 lbs/resident) in 2011, 7.69 tons (3.27 lbs/resident) in 2012 and 7.06 tons (3.02 lbs/resident) in 2013.
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The website URL where information about the campaign is available (1st campaign):
None
The name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
RecycleMania
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A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A national competition ranking school's abilities to reduce waste and increase recycling. The 10-week competition has 630 colleges participating, and WMU compares its participation with other participating Michigan institutions. Students and staff collect approved recyclable materials within their areas and take them to any of the recycling locations on campus. Promotion of RecycleMania happens via the Western Herald student newspaper and WMU News, a faculty/staff newsletter. Updates on WMU's status are provide online and, depending on the year, via posters in the residence halls. WMU usually participates in the following categories: Grand Champion, which is the percent of all waste produced that is recycled; Stephen K. Gaski Per Capita Classic, the amount of recyclables produced per person; and Waste Minimization, the amount of total waste including recycled and trash produced per person.
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A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
WMU was ranked 71 of 266 schools in the 2012 Grand Champion category, with a 37.37% recycling rate of WMU’s overall waste generation. In 2014, WMU was ranked 115 of 199 schools, with a 29.87% recycling rate. The total pounds per person recycled fell from 11.38 pounds in 2012 to 6.32 pounds in 2014, but so did the per person amount overall waste generated. In 2014, WMU produced 30.46 pounds of recyclables and trash per person, and in 2014 WMU produced 21.17 pounds per person. WMU did not participate in RecycleMania in 2013.
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The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
None
A brief description of other outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:
Trash to Treasures: During residence hall move out, residents can bring down gently used items to donate to the Deacons Conference. Items accepted include clothes, books, household items, furniture and appliances. The Deacons Conference then distributes the donations to families and individuals in need within the Kalamazoo area. WMU has not significantly increased its residence hall closing landfill volume since the program began. In April 2012, WMU spent $13,589.91 on move-out waste disposal, and in April 2013 move-out waste disposal costs were $13,786.89, a 1% increase. The Deacons Conference collects 1.5-2 moving trucks full of donations annually.
http://www.wmich.edu/housing/about/sustainability
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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