Student volunteers from Business Environmental Responsibilities stepped forward over the winter to assist with outreach to departments that purchase nitrile gloves but are not yet participating in the glove recycling program. They now have a list of about a dozen departments that purchase large quantities of gloves. Over the summer, they will identify contacts within each department. In the fall, F&S will provide them with information and materials to send to interested departments, and they can start emailing and calling the departments.

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Zero waste activities for the past week were as follows: 

• Morgan and I had a phone meeting to go over next steps on the glove recycling program, now that the trailer is planned to be relocated. We'll revise the map on the program handout once we receive confirmation of the new location.
• I prepared a contact spreadsheet for the BER volunteers who stepped forward to help with outreach for the glove recycling program. It lists departments with $2,000 or more in nitrile glove purchases for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2017-2018. I sent it to the volunteers, along with instructions for them to look up contact names, emails, and phone numbers for the departments. Once the trailer map is revised, we'll ask them to start calling and emailing the departments. I attach the list so you can see it. I updated the iCAP portal with the information that the volunteers will assist with outreach. 
• I viewed a CURC webinar on bin infrastructure and forwarded slides and notes to Morgan.

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

The current Bee Campus committee at the U of I is working to develop a University Habitat Plan and official web page this semester (Spring 2018). In addition, with funding from the SSC, we will be installing pollinator signage on campus this year. A goal is set to submit our first application for certification by June 2018.

On Wednesday, May 2nd, the ECBS SWATeam had their final meeting of the 2017-18 school year. Eco-Olympics received two different grants for funding and had many strong participants. They have also registered for Quad Day and are planning methods for improvement. The Freezer Challenge is making steady progress in terms of awards and sign-ups. Paul is working with Joyce on contacting a solar company for the ECEB metering project. Finally, the team worked on revising their recommendations for energy conservation funding.

On Friday, May 4th, the EGen SWATeam had their final meeting of the 2017-18 school year. Guest Scott Willenbrock presented the pros and cons of solar/wind PPA. He also discussed the Illinois Solar Project located in Sidney and their REC pricing. The SWATeam plans to issue an RFP for solar PPA with a local solar developer. 

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Here is a summary of zero-waste activity from this past week: 

• I completed a draft Architecture Review Committee proposal for replacing trash bins with dual bins in the core campus area. It is with Morgan for her comments.
• The BER student volunteers have been in touch. Two of them are available over the summer to review the OBFS/Purchasing report of departments that purchase gloves. They will use the campus directory to identify initial contact people in the departments so that they and/or other volunteers can reach out to departments that are not yet participating in the glove recycling program. I will prepare the report for their use by deleting departments that are already participating and those that purchase only small amounts of gloves (under $2,000 for the year covered by the report). 
• I emailed Joe Pickowitz to see if the vendors have provided parts for the EPS densifier yet. He was also making inquiries about obtaining throughput data for the machine. 

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

Becky Jonas created a recycling survey to send to CEE faculty and staff, in advance of changing the recycling system and messaging in Newmark Civil Engineering Lab.

Lance Schideman, Morgan White, Linhan Yang, Manying Zhang, and Kulsoom Abbas met to discuss progress on the projections of total food waste by building on campus.  We will adjust the total estimated, based on population changes over the course of the year.

Hi Pete and Shawn—

Zero-waste activities this week were 

• An update to the glove recycling page to post a PDF with instructions for participants to drop off gloves at the trailer at PPSB
• Brief communication with Joe Pickowitz regarding the styrofoam densifier (he is waiting for parts for it so that he can collect performance data on it) 

Best regards,
Marya Ryan
Zero Waste Coordinator

Grounds will be mowing the low mow zones throughout Orchard Downs and Vet Med tomorrow into early next week.  This is necessary to control the noxious weeds and tree saplings that are invading these areas.  We will most likely mow off the low mows around Dorner Pond, Water Survey and areas along S. Fourth Street as well. 

We have decided on the original two locations:

• Illinois and Lincoln
• Alma Mater

Date agreed upon was Thursday, September 20, 2018. 4:30 – 7:00 PM.

Light selection is half Planet Bike Blinky sets and half silicone–wrap sets. MTD will be ordering $3,000 of the silicone lights and TBP will, with their approval, order $3000 of PB Blinky sets.

With the speed of distribution last year the stations ran out of lights before the end of the event. This year we will not need the reflector station.

F&S would like to see if we can set-up the event to spend some time talking to the recipient of lights about bike safety and/or do an ABC Quick Check before we install the lights.

The Student Sustainability Committee allocated $38,000 to make energy upgrades at Temple Hoyne Buell Hall.

This proposal directly funds:

1. Window hardware
2. Demand control ventilation with low-leak dampers
3. Automatic sensors and actuators
4. Interactive digital displays

Solar Urbana-Champaign is back with version 3.0! 

• New options for renters, homeowners, commercial property owners, businesses, and farm owners.
• Now available in Piatt County in addition to Champaign County.
• Solar Power Hour presentations all summer long.
• September 30 sign-up deadline.
• Solar Power Hour kick-off events: Wednesday, May 16 in Urbana and Thursday, May 17 in Monticello (see below).

The successful Solar Urbana-Champaign group purchasing program is available again in 2018. Since 2016, the program has led to the installation of over 1 megawatt of solar on 138 properties across Champaign County. The program has educated hundreds of individuals about solar and helped people save on solar through volume purchasing.
Now, the program expands eligibility to Piatt County residents as well as Champaign County residents. And, thanks to new state legislation, even more people can get access to solar.
Start by attending a Solar Power Hour (full calendar below). This free information session teaches you the basics of solar, its financial implications for your household, and how the solar group buy program works. Then, get a free, no obligation site assessment from the competitively selected solar installer for Solar Urbana-Champaign 3.0.
This program was brought to you by the City of Urbana, Prairie Rivers Network, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Assocation. We welcome everyone to help spread the word!
If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by responding directly to this email. Shine on!

- Peter
 

On May 14, 2018, Marya Ryan added a PDF with instructions for program participants to drop off gloves at PPSB.