In the spirit of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Peace will be having an end of semester used supply drive. We will focus our efforts on collecting used school supplies, gently used clothing and hygienic items such as shampoos, etc. All items collected will be sorted and donated to neighboring after school programs and womens shelters. To participate place any usable items from these categories in one of the collection boxes located inside the residence halls. The drive begins Friday and ends May 8th.
(Examples- half empty bottles of shampoo/ conditioner/ lotion, used folders/ pens/ notebooks, clothing, etc.)
Contact Jessica Baxter with questions x2469
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
What Can One Person Do?
Evidently a great deal according to Rhiannon Pittman a junior at Peace College.
“My client is the Peace College Wellness Center. I created a promotional campaign called "What can one person do?" The goal of my project is to educate the viewers on how to help create a healthier world. I also wanted to inspire people to do something to contribute to a healthier world, even if it’s small.”
“I felt like the best way to achieve my goal was to create a display of things that are bad for our world and offer alternatives that will make our world healthier. By using massive amounts of certain objects, I am hoping to catch the viewer’s attention and shock them with reality of the facts that I have provided along with the objects. The facts that I provided will also educate the viewers and hopefully will inspire them to do something to promote a healthier world.”
Rhiannon Pittman
Click Items below to see how you can make a difference.
Incandescent Bulbs
Styrofoam
Plastic Bottles
Phone Books
Plastic Bags
Friday, April 24, 2009
Encouraging Recycling Through Art
Ashley Prince a junior at Peace College in Raleigh, N.C. discusses her art project in this video recorded in the Wellness Center during Student Showcase at Peace College.
"After seeing the amount of plastic bottle and cans that are used on a daily basis at Peace College, I decided to design a piece that would show this large number. Rather than simply putting a recycling symbol on a piece of paper, I wanted to actually use the recyclable items to deliver the message. The goals of this project were to encourage recycling through art, promote sustainable behavior and provoke thought by turning a common, recognizable symbol into a piece of art. With the help of the campus community, as well as family and friends at home, I collected all the bottle tops and can tabs over a period of a month. The final piece is created with 783 bottle tops and 467 can tabs."
Ashley Prince
Monday, April 20, 2009
The RecycleMania Results
From Jessica Baxter
The RecycleMania results have been announced and we can say that we beat Meredith College. In addition to competing against Meredith, we competed in 3 categories, Grand Champion, Per Capita Classic and Waste Minimization. In Per Capita Classic, we competed to see which school could collect the greatest amount of recyclable material on average per person. We came in 86th out of 293 schools! Our final total was about 15.03 pounds per person over the entire 15-week competition. The winning school was McNeese State University with an average of 76.19 pounds per person over the course of the competition.
The second category we competed in was Waste Minimization. In this category we tried to create the least amount of waste per person. We came in 102nd out of 148 schools in this category. On average we created 64.06 pounds of trash person (over the course of 15 weeks).
The final category was Grand Champion. This is the percentage of your total waste that you recycle. We came in 119th out of 206 with a 23.47% recycling rate. We are well on our way to our 50% goal. We estimated our rate at about 10% during the trash audit held in the fall.
The RecycleMania results have been announced and we can say that we beat Meredith College. In addition to competing against Meredith, we competed in 3 categories, Grand Champion, Per Capita Classic and Waste Minimization. In Per Capita Classic, we competed to see which school could collect the greatest amount of recyclable material on average per person. We came in 86th out of 293 schools! Our final total was about 15.03 pounds per person over the entire 15-week competition. The winning school was McNeese State University with an average of 76.19 pounds per person over the course of the competition.
The second category we competed in was Waste Minimization. In this category we tried to create the least amount of waste per person. We came in 102nd out of 148 schools in this category. On average we created 64.06 pounds of trash person (over the course of 15 weeks).
The final category was Grand Champion. This is the percentage of your total waste that you recycle. We came in 119th out of 206 with a 23.47% recycling rate. We are well on our way to our 50% goal. We estimated our rate at about 10% during the trash audit held in the fall.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Story of Stuff
Anyone concerned about over consumption and waste should visit a very provoking web site, storyofstuff.com. Watch the video which is about 20 minutes long. I am sure you will have a somewhat different perspective on the life cycle of consumer products and the way you buy.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Falling Into Place
Have you ever felt that things are finally falling into place? I am feeling that way today. Over the last two semesters at Peace College many positive accomplishments have occurred due to the combined efforts of several individuals and departments. Each has played positive a role in educating and inspiring the campus community to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Some Noted Individuals and Groups
- Lauren Gerber in the Development office was instrumental in Peace College winning a grant from Coke for 60 recycle containers.
- Melanie Bissinger with Aramark provided alternatives to Styrofoam to-go trays.
- Jessica Baxter our Vista Representative recruited, encouraged and inspired our Green Team to action.
- Our Green Team led by Imogene Miles is passionate about changing the way we think about waste and has motivated others to join her campaign.
- Our Administration has recognized and supported the efforts of the Green Team, including the trash audit and the Green March on Peace.
- Our Faculty continues to include sustainability in curricular. I have been approached by students from Art, Biology and English creating projects related to sustainability.
- Housekeeping and Grounds Keeping energetically embraced all of our sustainability efforts. Including the rethinking of traditional cleaning and the conversion to green cleaning.
- The Campus Community has warmly embraced our somewhat unorthodox methods of educating, informing and inspiring everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Accomplishments
- Installed low flow shower heads and sink aerators and energy star compliant washing machines. Estimated savings of 760,000 gallons per school year. Reduced our water and sewer rate by an estimated $4,752 per school year.
- Replaced 400 incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. EPA estimates a savings of $63 in energy costs over the life of each bulb. That is a savings of over $25,000 in energy costs, $18,000 in labor costs and we throw away one bulb versus 10.
- Replaced older washers and dryers with Energy Star rated washer and dryers that use 67% less water, 50% less energy, and 75% less detergent
- We have converted from traditional cleaning materials to Green Seal certified products. Switching to green cleaners can significantly improve indoor air quality; reduce cleaning-related health problems and absenteeism and increases performance of students and staff alike.
- Our Student led Green Team performed a trash audit that was informative and inspired many within the campus community to recycle. As a result the event was featured on two local news stations and also one in Charlotte.
- Our Student led Green Team has “marched” on campus certifying offices and classrooms that are meeting Green Team sustainability requirements.
- Our Student led Green Team presented at the NC Campus Compact Student Conference on "The Green Revolution: How to Get Your Campus Onboard".
- Helped facilitate Peace going Styrofoam Free
- Participated in RecycleMania in the categories of Waste Minimization and Per Capita Classic. As part of RecycleMania we have noticed significant increases in the amount we are recycling and decrease in our total waste.
- Won a grant from Coke for 60 recycle bins that will be placed throughout campus. We hope to place a recycle container everywhere a trash can is located.
- Created a Green Team Blog (http://peacecollegegreenteam.blogspot.com/ ) that helps to keep our campus community informed and involved with campus, local and national sustainability related issues.
- Joined the world wide Vote Earth initiative (http://www.voteearth2009.org/home/ )
- Taking an active role in sustainability organizations such as Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
We are developing some exciting programs for the fall semester! Follow the blog for additional information.
Some Noted Individuals and Groups
- Lauren Gerber in the Development office was instrumental in Peace College winning a grant from Coke for 60 recycle containers.
- Melanie Bissinger with Aramark provided alternatives to Styrofoam to-go trays.
- Jessica Baxter our Vista Representative recruited, encouraged and inspired our Green Team to action.
- Our Green Team led by Imogene Miles is passionate about changing the way we think about waste and has motivated others to join her campaign.
- Our Administration has recognized and supported the efforts of the Green Team, including the trash audit and the Green March on Peace.
- Our Faculty continues to include sustainability in curricular. I have been approached by students from Art, Biology and English creating projects related to sustainability.
- Housekeeping and Grounds Keeping energetically embraced all of our sustainability efforts. Including the rethinking of traditional cleaning and the conversion to green cleaning.
- The Campus Community has warmly embraced our somewhat unorthodox methods of educating, informing and inspiring everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Accomplishments
- Installed low flow shower heads and sink aerators and energy star compliant washing machines. Estimated savings of 760,000 gallons per school year. Reduced our water and sewer rate by an estimated $4,752 per school year.
- Replaced 400 incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. EPA estimates a savings of $63 in energy costs over the life of each bulb. That is a savings of over $25,000 in energy costs, $18,000 in labor costs and we throw away one bulb versus 10.
- Replaced older washers and dryers with Energy Star rated washer and dryers that use 67% less water, 50% less energy, and 75% less detergent
- We have converted from traditional cleaning materials to Green Seal certified products. Switching to green cleaners can significantly improve indoor air quality; reduce cleaning-related health problems and absenteeism and increases performance of students and staff alike.
- Our Student led Green Team performed a trash audit that was informative and inspired many within the campus community to recycle. As a result the event was featured on two local news stations and also one in Charlotte.
- Our Student led Green Team has “marched” on campus certifying offices and classrooms that are meeting Green Team sustainability requirements.
- Our Student led Green Team presented at the NC Campus Compact Student Conference on "The Green Revolution: How to Get Your Campus Onboard".
- Helped facilitate Peace going Styrofoam Free
- Participated in RecycleMania in the categories of Waste Minimization and Per Capita Classic. As part of RecycleMania we have noticed significant increases in the amount we are recycling and decrease in our total waste.
- Won a grant from Coke for 60 recycle bins that will be placed throughout campus. We hope to place a recycle container everywhere a trash can is located.
- Created a Green Team Blog (http://peacecollegegreenteam.blogspot.com/ ) that helps to keep our campus community informed and involved with campus, local and national sustainability related issues.
- Joined the world wide Vote Earth initiative (http://www.voteearth2009.org/home/ )
- Taking an active role in sustainability organizations such as Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
We are developing some exciting programs for the fall semester! Follow the blog for additional information.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Roadside Trash
Litter seems to be out of control! It’s everywhere! I have noticed more on our roads, in parking lots (including Peace College lots) and in parks. Is it because it’s spring and everyone is outside more? Can we blame it on the economy? It’s a mystery to me why anyone would throw anything out of a car window. Or take in the beauty of a park and leave behind a fast food cup and bag. Who are these people that litter?
According to WakeGov.com the most persistent, deliberate litterers tend to be between the ages of 11 and 24 years old. The primary reasons people litter include:
· No sense of ownership or stewardship – just don’t care
· Believe that someone else will pick up after them
· Unaware of the link between the environment and their littering behavior
· Believe it is acceptable because litter has already accumulated in a location
· Convenience
· Willful littering to make a statement
· Unintentional
People who think it is acceptable to litter in certain circumstances gave the following reasons for doing so:
o The waste was organic
o No bins were available
o At sporting event where waste is collected
What is litter? Keep America Beautiful, Inc. claims 33% of it is fast food waste.
How do we prevent littering?
1. Set an example by not littering.
2. Pick up one piece of litter every day.
3. Every week, pick up all the litter in front of your house or on our campus, including the street
5. Make sure that your trash cans have lids that can be securely attached. If you have curbside trash service, don’t put out unopened containers or boxes filled with trash.
6. Carry a litter bag in your car.
7. Ask your co-workers, neighbors and or friends to join you in cleaning up an area of campus or one public area where litter has accumulated.
According to WakeGov.com the most persistent, deliberate litterers tend to be between the ages of 11 and 24 years old. The primary reasons people litter include:
· No sense of ownership or stewardship – just don’t care
· Believe that someone else will pick up after them
· Unaware of the link between the environment and their littering behavior
· Believe it is acceptable because litter has already accumulated in a location
· Convenience
· Willful littering to make a statement
· Unintentional
People who think it is acceptable to litter in certain circumstances gave the following reasons for doing so:
o The waste was organic
o No bins were available
o At sporting event where waste is collected
What is litter? Keep America Beautiful, Inc. claims 33% of it is fast food waste.
How do we prevent littering?
1. Set an example by not littering.
2. Pick up one piece of litter every day.
3. Every week, pick up all the litter in front of your house or on our campus, including the street
5. Make sure that your trash cans have lids that can be securely attached. If you have curbside trash service, don’t put out unopened containers or boxes filled with trash.
6. Carry a litter bag in your car.
7. Ask your co-workers, neighbors and or friends to join you in cleaning up an area of campus or one public area where litter has accumulated.
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