Current Campus Efforts

Operations

Aramark

Current efforts in place or being planned
  • Tray less dining
  • Recycling bins
  • Defrosting of meat in fridge instead of with running water
  • Regionally grown produce
  • Green seal chemicals
  • Recycled office paper
  • Natural or organic snacks in the convenience stores
  • Biodegradable to-go containers
  • Refillable cups
Possible first order efforts
  • Composting
  • Tray-less dining
  • Recycling
  • Biodegradable containers
  • Use of reusable materials
    • Napkins
    • Forks and knives
National Aramark initiatives:
  • Zero Waste practices (Florida set a Zero Waste goal for 2015)
  • Composting
  • Recycling
  • Reusable to-go containers
  • Minimize plastic bottles
  • Tray removal
  • College and University Recycling Council (CURC) RecycleMania
  • Dim the Lights day

Energy

Current efforts in place
  • FY06 energy baseline
  • 20% reduction in the past two years
  • Further development of an audit program for existing structures and energy systems
Possible first order efforts
  • Continue audit development
  • Develop policy and guidelines for new building design and planning
  • Continue retrofit activities for older buildings

Transportation

Current efforts in place or being planned
  • 1 bus is currently on biodiesel
  • Long-term goal of becoming regional transportation authority
  • Goal of parking garage
  • Reduction of on street parking for more bike lanes
  • Several parking lot paving and resurfacing activities are in the near future
  • Laundry has reusable items for rent. Sheets, napkins, etc.
  • Laundry is using eco-friendly chemicals from EcoLab
Possible first order efforts
  • Increase biodiesel holding capacity so that more buses can run on Biodiesel
  • Implement design policies for the new parking lots for better storm water control
  • Minimize over paving of parking surfaces
  • Encourage further development of parking garage
  • Research funding opportunities for increased transit system that serves Starkville and potentially the region
  • Encourage the use of reusable items from the laundry mat to minimize waste

Quality of Life

Student Association

Current efforts in place
  • Student recycling club and efforts
Possible first order efforts
  • Pass sustainability resolutions
  • Utilize the student chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers, American Institute of Architects, and the American Society of Landscape Architects
  • Initiate an education campaign

Grounds

Current efforts in place
  • Funds pledged for the preservation and enhancement of a natural wetland adjacent to landscape architecture

Community Relations

City of Starkville

Current efforts in place
  • LEED certified public building policy
  • Stormwater policy amendment
Possible first order efforts
  • Establish a community/university sustainability partnership

Materials

Procurement and Contracts

Current efforts in place
  • Purchasing of recycled paper
Possible first order efforts
  • Review of state contract with the highlighting of sustainable materials
  • Change chemical policy to include greener options available from EcoLab
  • Produce a buying guide for all departments displaying recommended sustainability items
  • Prepare policies that reduce paper use and maximize electronic delivery of invitations, socials, university functions and memos

Campus Recyling

Current efforts in place or being planned
  • Paper products are recycled from 75 different buildings on campus
  • Resident hall association has recyling programs to collect and transport plastics
  • The recycling of cans is being tested in Hurst Hall
  • Cardboard is currently being collected
  • The Reflector is recycling newsprint
  • Vet school bedding and campus landscape cuttings are composted
  • Some chemical recycling is currently occurring
  • Electronic waste is collected and recycled
  • Their exist a student recycling club
  • A proposal has been written and submitted asking for funds to help supplement recycling cost
  • Game day recycling occurred for the last three home ballgames
Possible first order efforts
  • Build upon the existing infrastructure
  • Leverage our increasing recyling efforts with the City of Starkville and Starkville Recycling