MCC Sustainability Efforts for May 2012

1. Did You Know? "Americans generate more trash than anyone else on the planet: more than 7 pounds per person each day" (http://m.npr.org/news/Science/150735732.) Some 70% of it, mostly containers & packaging, goes directly into landfills, and nearly all of it could be recycled. Moreover, our trash has a wider impact than our local area. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a composite of plastics and other trash that has floated into a region between Hawaii and California within the North Pacific Subtropical High (http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html). Some of this massive floating trash patch is visible, but much consists of miniscule floating plastic debris, none of it immediately biodegradable. Part of this Garbage Patch floats in the Subtropical Convergence Zone, just north of the Hawaiian archipelago, where it threatens the abundant marine life, including the not-so-abundant endangered Monk Seal.

How can you help from Waco, Texas? Recycle your plastic containers right here on the MCC campus in our single-stream recycling containers! Many Waco communities also offer curbside recycling. For more information, see http://www.waco-texas.com/solid-waste-curbside.asp.

2. MCC’s Sustainability Activities Impacting our Community in 2011-12:
a. The 2012 Recycle Mania competition was a huge success. MCC recycled over 27,705 pounds of single-stream recyclables this year. That is over 13.85 tons of waste that would have gone to the landfill. In 2010, MCC recycled just over 20,000 pounds. In 2011, MCC launched a major campaign and recycled over 38,500 pounds of single-stream recyclables. Without the same large promotion this year, MCC steadily improved monthly recycling across campus and still recycled a significant amount. Next year, MCC is aiming for 40,000 pounds, a goal we can reach through the competitive and cooperative spirit of students, faculty, and staff. Look for reminders next year!

b. MCC was honored with its first Tree Campus USA designation in March. A tree survey was done to determine the health and status of trees on campus, and over 30 student volunteers helped spread mulch around our beautiful trees on our tree day.

c. MCC also held two Recycle/Shred Day events on campus this year (November and March). Continue to save your paper for our November shred day and bring us all your other recyclables too!

d. Get free mulch for your yard & garden! Contact the Physical Plant at 299-8863 to load up.

e. The MCC Community Garden has grown to 19 plots, all of them now rented to faculty and staff. In fall 2012 a community plot will be ready to harvest. The fresh vegetables will go to the MCC Food Pantry and to MCC students and employees.

3. Computer Tips:
Please consider shutting down office and lab computers, monitors, and printers when away this summer to save energy and to reduce vulnerability to hackers and other malicious activities. For daily energy savings, consider turning off the monitor when not using your PC for more than 20 minutes and turning off both CPU and monitor if not using them for more than 2 hours.

4. Our Newest Addition to the Committee - Ruben Salazar: Ruben brings a passion for sustainability and works hard to engage MCC students in the process. His contribution to this newsletter is to please do your part and save water this summer in selecting native plants, watering in the early morning and/or late evening, and trying drip irrigation. He will have more in future Notes.

5. How are we doing? Check out our website at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen/.

Thanks for your support. It takes the entire College to make sustainability work!

The MCC Sustainability Committee