MCC Sustainability Efforts for February 2016

I.    Did You Know?  MCC is now using sustainable organic fertilizer on the main campus.  The organic fertilizer provides natural nutrients to the soil and creates a beautiful lawn.  The grounds department applies this fertilizer during spring break to minimize the odor impact.

II.    Sustainability Activities on Campus this Spring: 
a.    RecycleMania begins February 1st.  RecycleMania is an eight-week competition to promote recycling on campus, and MCC is again enrolled in the Competition Division against other universities and colleges across the U.S. and Canada for the Gorilla Prize (overall tonnage recycled) and the Per Capita Classic.  We’ll record how much we recycle weekly from February 1 through March 29. For more on RecycleMania, visit http://recyclemaniacs.org/

How can you get involved? Use the blue recycling containers in common areas and select classrooms throughout campus.  Some buildings have dedicated recycling stations (ex. Science Building, 1st floor).  If your building or floor does not have recycling bins, contact the Physical Plant at 299-8843.  The large yellow dumpsters across campus (LTC, MAC, etc.) are designated for recyclables as well.  The MCC Library has also put together a GREEN display, highlighting books on sustainability and recycling, as well as displaying the many types of materials suitable for recycling. 

What can you recycle?  Paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and cardboard can all go into any of the blue recycling containers.

b.    Our next Reuse-Recycle-Shred Day is scheduled for March 18 in the MAC parking lot from 8:00AM until 12:00 PM).  Details to follow next month.

e.    Green Week (March 17). MCC will host its Fourth Annual Green Week, a week-long promotion of sustainable lifestyles and current environmental efforts on campus.  Activities for the week will include tree video watching, student produced sustainability video, tree planting, student volunteering, and campus learning plus a campus tree tour.  We will also announce our RecycleMania and CCN results during the final event.  Events include a talk on water conversation efforts in Texas and our Green Week Capstone and Arbor Day Observance.

f.    Tree Campus USA Arbor Day Observance (March 17, 1:00-3:30 PM)  Since 2011, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized MCC as a Tree Campus USA college.  To earn this designation, schools must establish an advisory committee, a campus tree care plan and program, an Arbor Day Observance, and a service-learning project. Each spring, MCC hosts a special Arbor Day program, which includes invited speakers, a tree-planting ceremony in recognition of faculty or staff, and a student volunteer opportunity to help care for trees on campus. 

III.    What are your thoughts on our sustainability efforts?  Check out our website and blog at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen/ and http://mccgogreen.blogspot.com/ and see us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SustainabilityMCC.

Thanks for your support.  It takes all of us to make sustainability work!

The MCC Sustainability Committee