MCC Sustainability Efforts for September 2017

The Sustainability Committee welcomes everyone back for a new year and new opportunities for MCC to make its mark as a sustainable campus.  The definition of sustainability as prepared by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 is as follows:  “Sustainability is development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  Our goal is to promote this at McLennan and throughout our community.

If you would like to join the Sustainability Committee and/or have ideas on how to promote sustainability on our campus, contact Sid Ross at sross@mclennan.edu or Elaine Fagner at efagner@mclennan.edu.  We are looking for new members and welcome all to our joint work.

I.    Did You Know?  The college has switched recycle vendors and we now use the City of Waco.  The 90-gallon blue totes in your building will be emptied on Thursdays if they are more than 50% full.  We now have blue dumpsters located in the childcare parking lot, Highlands parking lot, and behind the MAC and LTC.  If you bring recycling from home, please use one of these dumpsters.  As usual, we do not accept glass, used motor oil, or metal other than aluminum cans.  This system is easier for the maintenance crew and requires less handling of materials to be recycled.

II.    Sustainability Activities on Campus this Fall: 
MCC’s Bi-annual Shred and Recycle Day this fall semester is on October 13, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the back of the MAC parking lot.   We are working out the details and will have a firm date by next month’s newsletter.  Bring your items from home and work.  For more information, go to America Recycles Day at http://americarecyclesday.org/. 

Campus bicycle rental program is alive and well.  The program is available to students, faculty, and staff.  Contact Janice Kasner at the physical plant 299-8863 if you are interested in renting a bicycle for the fall semester.  Bike rental fee is $10 per semester.

Aluminum Can Recycling: A student aluminum can recycling program has been implemented for all Geoscience courses starting this semester.  Students recycle 25 pounds of aluminum cans for extra credit and provide a recycling receipt showing the amount of recycled cans.  In turn, students donate 100 percent of the profits from their recycling efforts directly to the Geology Field Course fund.  This project teaches students about the importance of recycling, encourages environmental stewardship, and promotes philanthropy on campus.  Contact Elaine Fagner with questions at 299-8442 or efagner@mclennan.edu.

Community Garden has moved:  The community garden has moved from the Mockingbird/N19th site to the Highlander Ranch at 223 Cobbs Lane. The rainwater harvest system has been moved and installed at the ranch to help reduce the cost of watering the vegetable garden. Contact Ron Chmielewski for more information.  Ron and his agriculture students are spearheading this project.

Glass Recycling: Cobbs Convenience Center accepts plastic, aluminum, and other metal, cardboard, paper, and corrugated box material from anyone, including those living outside the Waco area.  Glass is accepted only from Waco residents.  Cobbs Convenience Center is located at 2021 North 44th Street, and is open Tuesday through Saturday (8 am - 5 pm) to drop off your materials free of charge.  For a map to the site and more details go to: http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-solidwaste/page.aspx?id=257.

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

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

The MCC Sustainability Committee

MCC Sustainability Efforts For May 2017

I.  Did You Know?  There are a number of locations that welcome usable items for charity:
a.  Computers can go to:

• Goodwill - http://www.goodwill.org/

• Best Buy - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/recycling/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025

• Cobbs Recycling Center - http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-solidwaste/page.aspx?id=252.  Cobbs Recycling Center accepts electronics such as TVs and computers with proof of Waco residency (a current student ID will work if you do not have a utility bill). Please call (254) 299-2612 to learn more.

b.  Household items for resale can be donated to:

• The Family Abuse Center (http://www.familyabusecenter.org/ ) 2nd Chance Thrift Store, 1412 Sunset Blvd.  If you need to reach the store, please call 254.753.6469.

• Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmytexas.org/waco/ways-you-can-help/family-stores/

• Mission Waco (missionwaco.org) at 1315 North 15th Street, Waco, Texas 76707;

• Caritas (http://www.caritas-waco.org/current_needs.aspx). Donations can be dropped off at the central receiving warehouse at 620 Robinson Drive, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm or at one of the resale stores.

II.  Sustainability Activities on Campus this Spring:  
a.  Keep America Beautiful Road Clean Up Effort:  Thanks to the volunteers who showed up on Friday morning, April 28, 2017, to participate in our campus, street clean-up, for Keep America Beautiful month.

b.  “Green” Computing Tips:  Help us conserve our computer resources. Please shut down office and lab computers, monitors, and printers on weekends 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.  If you will not be on campus this summer, please also consider shutting down your computer and other office electronics until fall for further energy savings. Lastly, Instructors, please help us to conserve energy and extend equipment life by shutting down the document camera and projector in your classroom before you leave.

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

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

The MCC Sustainability Committee

MCC Recognizes Arbor Day on March 30

 

Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 2:15pm

Between the Administration Building and the Performing Arts Center

Ceremony Program

1.      Dr. Bill Matta, Division Chair of English, Speech, & Foreign Languages – welcome and opening comments

2.      Bradley Turner, Associate Professor Environmental Science – Arbor Day comments

3.   Dr. Bill Matta, Division Chair of English, Speech, & Foreign Languages – Tree Campus USA designation and closing remarks

Other Arbor Day Observation activities include:

1:00- Volunteers register at the Science Building 

1:15- MCC student volunteer project begins outside Science Building

2:15- Arbor Day observance ceremony and tree planting

Following the Arbor Day Observance Ceremony:

Attendees are invited to participate in one of the following activities 

1. MCC campus tree tour with Janis Jackson, Botany Professor

2. Science Building sustainability tour with Sid Ross, Director – Facilities Planning and Construction, and Bradley Turner, Associate Professor Environmental Science

MCC Shred/Recycle Day

Semi-Annual Reuse-Recycle-Shred Day – Friday, March 31st - 8:00 a.m. to noon:
 
We will have our Bi-annual Recycle/Shred Day at the MAC parking lot from 8:00 a.m. until noon.  Bring your items from home and work. 

What if I need assistance with my materials?  For assistance with picking up recyclables before the event, call Sid Ross at 299-8849 or email Sid at sross@mclennan.edu by 12:00 pm on Wednesday, March 29th.     

What recyclables can I bring:  Bring paper goods, plastic, metals, cardboard, and corrugated boxes.  No need to remove staples or paperclips.  Plastic containers must be empty.

What recyclables are not accepted?  Please do not bring any electronics, glass, Styrofoam, batteries, tires, appliances, used oil or oil filters, antifreeze, hazardous waste, or carbon paper.

Will my items be shredded on campus?  Shredding does not take place at MCC, and we do not receive a formal document of destruction.  That service costs additional money.  We do receive confirmation that the paper items were shredded upon receipt by Shred-It (previously known as Certishred/Cintas).  

Freecycle/reuse table:De-clutter your space and help us keep good stuff out of a landfill at the same time! Drop off clean, working items that you no longer need.  If you see an item on the table that you want, take it.  It's free.  Any leftover items will be donated to Goodwill.  If you have items to donate, contact Elaine Fagner at efagner@mclennan.edu or 299-8442 to get those items to the Sustainability Committee.

Glass Recycling:Cobbs Convenience Center accepts plastic, aluminum and other metal, cardboard, paper, and corrugated box material from anyone, including those living outside the Waco area.  Glass is accepted only from Waco residents.  Cobbs Convenience Center is located at 2021 North 44th Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday (8 am - 5 pm) to drop off your materials free of charge.  For a map to the site and more details go to: http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-solidwaste/page.aspx?id=252

MCC Sustainability Efforts for March 2017

I.    Did You Know?  McLennan Community College (MCC) has been selected as a Tree Campus USA college for six consecutive years.  McLennan is one of the few community colleges in the nation with this designation.  All inner core campus trees have been inspected by a professional arborist with emphasis on type identification and condition.  Each tree has a tag that ties it to a map located in the physical plant.  Anyone seeking information about a tree can submit this tag number to the physical plant and get the information requested.  The campus has an independent Tree Campus USA committee that meets regularly.

MCC’s LEED buildings and other sustainable practices on campus the college has reduced electricity cost from $2.13 a square foot in 2008 to $1.29 a square foot in 2016 and natural gas cost from $0.57 a square foot to $0.11 a square foot in 2016.  The cost reductions are a result of energy efficient equipment, Heat pump chiller installation and a very good rate on our electrical purchases.

II.    Sustainability Activities on Campus this Spring: 
a.        RecycleMania Ongoing Across Campus.  RecycleMania, an eight-week competition to raise the campus and community’s awareness of sustainability and resource stewardship, is in full swing this month and will run through-March 31. For more on RecycleMania, visit https://connect.re-trac.com/.

How can you get involved? Use the blue recycling containers on campus! They are located in common areas and select classrooms or at 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 (ex. LTC, MAC, etc.) are for recyclables as well. 

What can you recycle? MCC students, faculty, and staff can recycle paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and cardboard in any of the designated receptacles.

b.        Our next Reuse-Recycle-Shred Day is scheduled for March 31 in the MAC parking lot from 8:00AM until noon). 

c.         Adopt-a-Street – MCC Clean-up:  MCC has adopted a segment of north 19th street from Powell Dr. to Lakeshore Dr.  Attached is a picture that shows the efforts of our first street cleanup on Saturday, February 18th @ 2:30pm.  The next cleanup is scheduled for April 28th. Keep Waco Beautiful will provide supplies needed for the cleanup.  Please contact Donna Wiley at 299-8330 or dwiley@mclennan.edu  if you are interested in helping with this effort or need more information.  Volunteers must fill out a release form before the cleanup begins.  Additionally, Brad Turner’s Environmental class will be doing a clean-up from 1:30-3:30 pm on Thursday, March 23rd.  Contact Brad at bturner@mclennan.edu if you’d like to help with this effort.

d.        Green Week (March 27-31). MCC will announce our RecycleMania results during the final event of our Annual Green Week and Arbor Day Observance.

e.         Library’s Sustainability Exhibit: Come by and view the library’s annual exhibit. The display highlights examples of everyday materials that can be recycled.

f.          Tree Campus USA Arbor Day Observance (Thursday, March 30, 2:15 PM)  Since 2011, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized MCC as a Tree Campus USA college six years in a row.  To win this designation, schools must establish an advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan and program, an Arbor Day Observance, and a service-learning project. MCC honors its Arbor Day Observance each spring by hosting a special event on the history and importance of Arbor Day, which includes a brief ceremony, a tree-planting ceremony in recognition of faculty or staff, and a student volunteer opportunity to help care for and maintain trees on campus.  We will hold this year’s event on the grass island between the Administration Building and the Performing Arts Center. Janis Jackson will give a tree tour of campus after the event.

h.         Campus bicycle rental program is alive and well.  This program is available to students, faculty, and staff.  Contact Janice Kasner at the physical plant 299-8863 if interested in renting a bicycle for the spring semester.  Bike rental fee is $10 a semester.

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 the entire College to make sustainability work!

The MCC Sustainability Committee

MCC Sustainability Efforts for January 2017

I. Did You Know?
 McLennan makes use of renewable energy options by purchasing 30% renewable energy from the energy provider and by generating renewable energy with photovoltaic solar arrays on the student services center, science and ESEC roofs.

Attached is a poster we will display at NACUBO conference, a national organization of campus business officers which we will host this year at MCC. The poster shows how our sustainability efforts have paid off over since we started our program in 2008.

Case International loaned MCC two tractors this spring to use on our grounds and the ranch. The loan runs for 6 months/300 hours. The two tractors have cut farm management and grounds maintenance times from days to hours, saving on fuel and personnel, and helping us cut back on our carbon footprint.

II. Sustainability Activities on Campus this Spring:

• RecycleMania begins on February 5th. MCC will once again participate in RecycleMania, an eight-week competition to raise the campus and community’s awareness of sustainability and resource stewardship. We again enrolled in the Competition Division. We will compete against other universities and colleges across the U.S. and Canada in the Gorilla Prize (overall tonnage recycled) and the Per Capita Classic. Our goal this year is to increase recycling on campus by 10% over last year’s collection. This year we are also adding a special event to promote sustainability at the February 15 basketball game. We will record how much we recycle weekly from Feb. 5-March 31. For more on RecycleMania, visit https://connect.re-trac.com/ .

• How can you get involved? Use the recycling containers on campus! We have 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 (ex. LTC, MAC, etc.) are designated for recyclables as well.

• What can you recycle? MCC students, faculty, and staff can recycle paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and cardboard in any of the designated receptacles.

• Our next Reuse-Recycle-Shred Day is scheduled for March 31 in the MAC parking lot from 8:00AM until 12:00 PM). Details to follow next month.

• Adopt-a-Street – MCC Clean-up: MCC has adopted a segment of north 19th street from Powell Dr. to Lakeshore Dr. The first scheduled street clean-up will be on Saturday, February 18th @ 2:30pm. All volunteers must sign a release form beforehand. Keep Texas Beautiful will provide supplies needed for the clean-up. Please contact Donna Wiley at 299-8330 if you are interested in helping with this effort or need more information. Volunteers please fill out the attached release form and email it to Donna at dwiley@mclennan.edu.

• Green Week (March 27-31). MCC will host its Second Annual Green Week, a weeklong observance promoting a sustainable lifestyle and highlighting current environmental efforts on campus. We will also announce our RecycleMania results during the final event. Events during the week include a talk on water conversation efforts in Texas by a state representative and our Green Week Capstone and Arbor Day Observance. Attached please find a flyer made by Janis Jackson describing our rich diversity of flora on campus. Ms. Jackson will again lead a tour this year during our Arbor day celebration.

• Tree Campus USA Arbor Day Observance (March 30, 1:00-3:30 PM) Since 2011, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized MCC as a Tree Campus USA college six years in a row. To win this designation, schools must establish an advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan and program, an Arbor Day Observance, and a service-learning project. MCC honors its Arbor Day Observance each spring by hosting a special event on the history and importance of Arbor Day, which includes invited speakers, a tree-planting ceremony in recognition of faculty or staff, and a student volunteer opportunity to help care for and maintain trees on campus.

• Campus bicycle rental program is alive and well. This program is available to students, faculty, and staff. Contact Janice Kasner at the physical plant 299-8863 if interested in renting a bicycle for the spring semester. Bike rental fee is $10 a semester.

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 the entire College to make sustainability work!

The MCC Sustainability Committee