Moving Toward Zero Waste: Recycling as a Gateway to Sustainable Behaviors CURC Webinar September 2, 2010 Laurie Cousart, Director for Sustainability, Business Services Division

Penn has invested in a sustainable University City:  Diverse  Dense  Walkable  Transit-oriented  Close to jobs, retail, entertainment  First-class school system 2

Penn’s Campus Today  290 acres  14 million sf in 180 buildings  20,000 students  20,000 faculty and staff  12 schools  1 campus 3

What is the Penn Green Campus Partnership?  Umbrella organization formed in 2007 to address sustainability planning and policy development at Penn  Includes all student, faculty, and staff groups and initiatives related to environmental sustainability 4

The Climate Action Plan:  Integrates sustainability into all areas of academics  Encourages students and staff to serve as environmental stewards of their College Houses and office spaces  Connects students to senior administrators through sustainability projects 5

Presidents’ Climate Commitment Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee Climate Action Plan LEED Certified Buildings Sustainability Coordinators in Schools & Centers Penn Green Pre-Orientation Program Student Eco Reps Staff Eco Reps 6

 Eco-Reps – peer-to-peer environmental leadership program in College Houses and Greek Chapters  Penn Environmental Group – undergraduate leadership  FarmEcology – raises awareness and educates Penn's campus about the benefits of local foods  Penn Engineers Without Borders – annual Water Purification Projects in Honduras and Cameroon  Undergraduate Assembly – created a new position for a Director for Housing, Sustainability, and Facilities  SAS/Wharton Student Sustainability Advisory Boards – provides students with a forum to give feedback and implement ideas pertaining to sustainability 7

8 Music Building LEED Silver Horticultural Center, Morris Arboretum, targeting LEED Platinum LEED Silver Minimum Standard From this… …to this – Penn Park

The Green Fund is a competitively awarded grant that finances innovative ideas by students, faculty, and staff to help Penn meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan. Projects selected in 2010:  Annenberg Public Policy Center Worm Composting  Addams Hall Retrofit  College House Energy Conservation Competition  Sigma Chi Fraternity Window Restoration  Energy Efficiency Plan for University City District  School of Medicine Lighting Analysis and Implementation  Quad Heating/Cooling Occupancy Sensors  PEG Green Acorn Certification Program  Penn Garden 9

The Climate Action Plan:  Establishes a comprehensive campus-wide policy for waste reduction and recycling  Enables proper practices through communication, events, and improved transparency of the collection system  Champions green purchasing practices, composting efforts, local food investments, and source reduction initiatives 10

11 In 2008 –  Disjointed recycling program  Little understanding of zero waste ideas  Distrust of process Today –  Broad recycling initiatives  Participation by schools and centers  Student initiatives

12 Environment matters  City of Philadelphia emphasis on recycling  Recycle Bank  Blue Mountain Recycling now accepts 1-7 plastics  Bon Appetit, dining partner, corporate sustainability mission  Wilmington Organics Recycling Center opened

13 Current waste reduction and recycling initiatives  Batteries  Toner cartridges  Pens  CFL Collection  Multiple locations- offices, stores, residences

Current waste reduction and recycling initiatives at Penn:  BigBelly Solar Compactors  Outdoor Bin Consolidation  Trayless Dining  Reusable bags and mugs discounts  Leaf Composting  PennMOVES 14

15 New approaches  Green IT –  over 122,000 lbs of old electronics last year  Food Waste  over 4 tons per week  Green Event Guides  Drawn up by events planners  Desk side recycling  Central trash disposal

16 New approaches  Vermicomposting-  composting with worms  Annenberg Public Policy Center  Office floor kitchens  Education, understanding

17 Penn Moves  over 85,000 pounds of donated goods  Sale to local community  $$$ donated to United Way

18 Challenges  Bottled Water  Retail locations  Post Consumer products  Student residence recycling  Making it automatic  Making it standard

19 No longer relying on the kindness of strangers Attacking supply chain- contract language  Requiring café operators to follow recycling and composting requirements  Requiring use of only compostable or recyclable to go containers  Requiring green cleaning supplies  Including LEED Building & Operations Standards  NEXT: Purchasing standards

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“This is a defining issue of the 21st century, and I am proud to promote higher education as a leader in addressing global climate change through research, education, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” Amy Gutmann Penn President 21