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Environmental Studies Department |
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Campus Environmental Issues CommitteeSeptember 27, 2005
Attendance Brett Smith(Co-chair), Mark Dickinson, (Co-chair), Claire Briguglio (ES student worker), Maggi Hughes, Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, Badger Johnson (Macalester Wolves), Claudia Leung (CEIC & others), Miki Palchick (MULCH), Erin Foster West (CSO), Ruth Janisch Lake (CSO), Elise Pagel, Claire Stoscheck 2. Brief Announcements Timothy:
Erin: An information session with Community Service Office on Tuesday, October 4, about volunteer work in the environment (time and place will be announced). Claudia: Thursday, September 29, at noon, is community service organization leaders meeting that will communicate collaborations between organizations. During meeting is the Eat Local Challenge (Bon Appetit serving food procured from within 150 miles) to promote local food. Brett: On Tuesday, October 4, at 7pm, there is a panel presentation by Monterey Bay Sea Aquarium Seafood Watch, who collaborates with Bon Appetit to provide approved seafood. Miki: Harvesting of the MULCH garden for the Eat Local Challenge (Thursday) will occur Wednesday, September 28 during the afternoon. 2. Saint Paul Environmental Roundtables Brett explains: Eureka Recycling holds roundtables to discuss environmental actions and recommend ways in which Saint Paul can be more environmentally responsible. The first meeting is on “Zero Waste” and will be held in Macalester’s Weyerhaeuser Chapel from 7-9pm. This gives the CEIC, and Macalester as a whole, ability to comment on waste reduction/recycling as a part of the “Zero Waste” effort. If anyone would like to form a subcommittee for heading “Zero Waste,” they can contact Brett (smithb@macalester.edu). The 2nd “Zero Waste” roundtable meeting is on October 17th, 7-9 pm at the Mounds Theatre (1029 Hudson Rd, Saint Paul) for community discussion of recommendations for action. The roundtable meetings are a great way for the CEIC to reach the community. [A roundtable schedule is available at www.eurekarecycling.org/environmentalroundtable] In response to promoting “Zero Waste,” Mark announces a grant that Macalester has received to re-bid the trash contract, which expires March 31, 2006. The school is looking at ways to work with the trash haulers to do more recycling and possibly getting one hauler, instead of several, to recycle all possible wastes (glass, plastic, paper…). Badger asks whether we have the ability to do composting. Brett and others respond that the challenge of on-campus composting is mostly space. Claire Stoscheck suggests the idea of making available composting space in the coming green building athletic center. Claudia talks about composting nearby which is limited as there is only one facility close by; however, Eureka recycling does provide a recycling and compost program for large events, but no long term facilities. 3. Paper at Macalester Claudia did research during the Spring Semester of 2005 and created a business memo on Macalester’s paper use and recycling (anyone may contact Claudia for a copy of this memo at cleung@macalester.edu). Recommendations include increasing purchasing of recycled/chlorine-free paper, increase purchasing of more energy efficient copiers, increasing recycling and other environmentally conscious ideas. Claudia asks if the CEIC could look at the recommendations and suggest which recommendations should be addressed and seem plausible for implementation. (Claudia will be meeting with Kathy Johnson from purchasing to find out what paper options the CEIC can move on with) In response to purchasing, clothing purchasing is brought up. Badger announces an event that is going to draw attention to the purchasing policies and propose 25% sweat-free clothing. Claudia suggests that these issues seem in need of a work-study job in social response purchasing for the future to solidify the connection between Macalester’s different purchasing actions (Brett suggests putting this on the agenda for the next meeting as a future action implemented by the CEIC) Claudia returns to the paper assessment generalizing purchasing, problems with recycled copy paper, better copiers, computing changes, a campus wide paper quota, etc. Timothy announces action that will be implemented by MacCARES to get Macalester’s Legislative Body to create environmental groups within the dorms, make the students environmentally conscious, and increase dorm efficiency. 4. Next Meetings Brett suggests a trip to St. Olaf or having a representative come to Macalester. Mark has a counterpart at St. Olaf who he could connect with. Timothy responds that MacCARES is considering a trip to Carleton and perhaps these trips could work in conjunction. Brett thinks that having representatives from the colleges come here will be the most efficient, beginning with St. Olaf. Claire explains that students are putting together an environmental forum using Katrina as an entry topic into social and political issues. The first meeting is Wednesday September 28 on the second floor of the campus center. Mark suggests having INTEP come to Macalester to present their information on the actions they will be taking with the green building. Some of INTEP’s findings will be done in early November, so a meeting could be held after then. It is suggested however, that a meeting be held earlier to inform students about the buildings status. Meeting is ended with agreement that a meeting will try to be scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, to meet with INTEP.
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