Issue 5
April 2013
In This Issue: Zero Waste Earth Day Festivities…………..........................03 Green Tech….………….……………............04 Sustainable Organizations………… ………..06 Living Tips…............................... ..........................08 Local Attractions...................................................09 Ecohouse Community Garden…….................11 International Perspectives.……………..……13
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Where Are They Now?......................................14 Opportunities...……...........................................15 Expressions……..……........................................17
Learn about some easy ways to reduce waste with tips from EcoReps.
Around Campus…...............................................19 Personal Sustainability.........................................21 DIY…............................................ .........................22 Move Out…………………… ……………..23
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On The Cover Cover Photo: One of the first buds of spring found on a geocache hike at The Ridges. Photographer: Megan Graver
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From the Director Trash. It’s everywhere. It blows in front of pedestrians on the bike path, it lines the streets after a weekend of parties and it gets kicked across my office floor. When we think about the word, “trash,” it is clear that the word has devolved into a catch-all for any items that we consider unwanted or no longer of use to us as individuals. Collectively, though, I would argue that we are able to redefine our understanding of this word to allow for a more responsible approach to resource use and reallocation in our community. In this “Zero Waste” issue of Routes, our student, faculty, staff and community leaders take us on a personal and communal journey to redefining how we approach the waste in our lives. The options for resource allocation, donation, repurposing, recycling and avoiding are plentiful. We’re here to go on this journey with you. Zero Waste is, after all, a concept that can only be truly successful if we are to embrace it as an entire community. So, Office of Sustainability will jump into the Zero Waste movement with both feet. We are committing to proactively approach our budget, staffing and programming in a way that significantly reduces our office’s footprint. Additionally, we are currently in conversations with a variety of student and staff leaders at OHIO to build an educational program on Zero Waste/Sustainable events. If your student organization can help us commit to Zero Waste events at OHIO, we’re here to help you succeed. Beginning Fall 2013, Office of Sustainability will offer interactive and informative workshops about how to create a Zero Waste event of your very own.
Routes Magazine Editors Megan Graver / Reporting and Outreach Jaymie Tighe / Lead Communications
Contributors Katie Lasco / Writer Jennifer Jarvis / Writer Alex Slaymaker /Writer Austin Stahl / Writer Liz Emley / Writer Bekky Hobson / Writer Markie Miller / Writer
Director Annie Laurie Cadmus
Original Layout Created by: Neal Patten
Keep In Touch:
Thank you for being such an integral part of our community. Each time a new commitment is made to sustainability, our future gets a little bit brighter. If this issue of Routes excites you, we’d love to have you join our staff of volunteers. Send me an email at sustainability@ohio.edu and we’ll find the perfect position for your talents!
Annie Laurie Cadmus Director of Sustainability Ohio University
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Also on Earth Day...Move-Out Collection Begins! Check out pages 23 & 24 for more information about this year’s move-out program: Move-Out Matters. There are many responsible move-out practices that can make your move-out easier while helping Athens area residents. Thank you for contributing to the quality of life in this region by participating in these efforts.
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Green Tech
Jaymie Tighe
Cut through the dirty work of geocaching with the app Geocaching Toolkit iGCT. This free app can simplify difficult GPS calculations while converting degrees, minutes, seconds, geographical coordinates, and more. It also helps you decrypt hint text to plain text, pointing you in the right direction to your next hidden treasure.
Reduce your e-waste and compute green. It’s easy to configure your laptop’s power-saving settings to cut your energy consumption. Use your sleep, hibernation, or dimmer display modes when you step away from your computer. These easy changes can be accessed through your settings or control panel and will end up saving the life of your battery and allow you to avoid endless charging. Of course, the best way to save energy used by your computer is to shut down and unplug when not in use!
Reduce your carbon footprint by sharing a ride from the OHIO campus to your hometown. The Ohio University Ride Board can be accessed through the Ride Board database where students, faculty and staff can arrange shared transportation. If you’re not comfortable sharing rides with strangers, the GO BUS is a public transportation option many students utilize, conveniently routing Athens to Columbus, Marietta, and Cincinnati. Tickets typically cost $5-$10 one-way. Safe travels!
What is your carbon footprint? Find out at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/
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Sustainable Organizations Planning for a Zero Waste Future in Appalachia Ohio For anyone planning on attending the Nelsonville Music Festival this summer on May 30-June 2, be on the lookout for reusable beverage cups, a portable conveyor belt for sorting recycled materials, and over 150 trash-monitoring volunteers. If these waste -reducing tactics are successful, the event may accomplish its goal of achieving “zero waste” for 2013. Over the past few years, organizers of this popular event have been working to decrease the amount of waste generated at the festival, progressing from 35% recycled materials in 2011 to 72% in 2012. In fact, the project is actually part of a larger movement in the region called the “Zero Waste Initiative.”
In 2010, the Zero Waste Initiative was established by the community organization Rural Action in collaboration with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. The Nelsonville Music Festival is just one of numerous projects the initiative has completed over the last few years to further their goal of building a zero waste economy in Appalachian Ohio, ranging from private business consulting to hosting a national Waste to Wealth Summit. By definition, zero waste requires achieving at least a 90% diversion rate of discarded materials. Currently, our economy uses resources in a linear
Katie Lasco
system, by producing, using, and then disposing. But according to Erin Sykes, Administrative Assistant for the initiative, “When you’re thinking about zero waste, you’re thinking about the entire cycle. It’s a loop, not linear.” Achieving zero waste would transform this into a closed system, where materials are reused, composted, or recycled at the end of their life cycle. When the Zero Waste Initiative began, recycling rates in the Athens-Hocking county waste district were at a mere 8.9%. By conducting a comprehensive feasibility study that included surveys of residents, community forums, and case study analyses, it was determined that the two driving causes were lack of access to recycling and lack of education. In some areas of the district, the only window of time for residents to recycle was a four hour period once each month when a truck stopped at a curb, said initiative Director Kyle O’Keefe. Since then, improvements have been made by placing permanent recycling bins in these locations. Furthermore, staff members are currently using results from the study to create a 10 year Zero Waste Action Plan with the ultimate goal to achieve zero waste in the Athens-Hocking County Waste District. The plan will be finalized in December of 2013, and will address the challenges outlined by the feasibility study by developing strategies for education and outreach, infrastructure improvements, local and institutional policies, economic development, and natural resource preservation. Goals for the 10 year mark will also align with those outlined for waste reduction in Ohio University’s Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan.
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Lastly, behavior change is a key component of the success of this effort. At the basic level, “everything around you is considered waste at some point,” said O’Keefe. “Waste is either a liability or an asset, and people can make actions to change that by recycling.” All of the projects the Zero Waste Initiative is undertaking seek to provide infrastructure and resources so that recycling can become the social norm in place of
waste disposal. At the Nelsonville Music Festival this year, attendees will be encouraged to bring food in reusable containers and to recycle materials they generate at the event. These actions will be reinforced by visible educational materials and the presence of volunteers. Each person is responsible for their own waste, but every individual action will contribute to building a zero-waste event.
ATRIUM CAFÉ RECIEVES NATIONAL GREEN AWARD Jaymie Tighe Congratulations to the Grover Center Atrium Café for becoming certified by the national Green Restaurant Association for its environmentally friendly operations! To read more about the national recognition the Atrium Café has received, click on the links below to be directed to news sources in the Athens community. ATHENS OHIO TODAY
COMPASS
WOUB
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For Rent: OHIO Ecohouse
8133 Dairy Lane, Athens: This rustic, fully-furnished 3-bedroom house is the ideal setting for any undergraduate or graduate student interested in learning about sustainable living. Residents of the house enroll in a one-credit Ecohouse Seminar each semester to enhance the experience and support students in their interest with sustainable projects. Residents are encouraged to participate in professional and personal development activities during their time in the house. Residents develop strong leadership & communication skills, explore professional development opportunities, become better prepared for a job search and gain valuable skills.
No ap w ac c pli cat epti ng 20 i 14 ons -20 fo 15 r !
House Features: Solar Panels Solar Thermal Large yard Fire pit Storage shed Fully-furnished Front porch Access to hiking trails Compost bin and vermi-composter Rain barrel and grey water systems Free Community Garden plot for each resident Large kitchen (appliances and utensils provided!)
To apply, send an email to: sustainability@ohio.edu
ohio.edu/ecohouse 7
Living Tips
(Liz Emley)
ZERO WASTE 1. Only take/purchase as much food as you can eat to reduce waste. Don’t let your eyes be bigger than your stomach. 2. Buy biodegradable utensils, cups, etc. at the markets instead of Styrofoam and plastic. 3. Be pragmatic with your expiration dates! If something is about to expire, consume it first before things will a longer shelf-life. 4. Compost and recycle whenever possible. These are basic habits that can really help reduce the amount of waste that reaches the landfill.
Employees at the Office of Sustainability demonstrate how to reduce waste; Megan (above) utilizes a re-usable coffee mug and Katie (top right) recycles her beverage containers.
5. Utilize your own reusable items: Reusable shopping bags are trendy, hold a more groceries, and reduce the amount of plastic bags you need when clothes or grocery shopping. Take a reusable coffee mug to the local coffee shop with you to save single-use cups and also to save money.
6. Donate any unwanted items before you move out this spring. Instead of throwing away perfectly good furniture you don't need anymore or don't want to take with you, donate it to someone from the local community who may need it. 7. Before throwing away items you don't want, ask your friends if they want it first. Even things as simple as a shower caddy or a book you didn't like; one person's trash is another's treasure!
Eco Reps is a student organization devoted to educating students about ways to “go green.” They put on residence hall programs, help the Office of Sustainability with RecycleMania and Energy Challenge, and participate in various Earth Month events. To Learn More, Contact: Liz Emley - President ee244409@ohio.edu 8
Local Attractions
Megan Graver
go for as long or as a little as they like. Unsure? Why not test the waters? The Athens bike trail is just one of many of the area’s best kept secrets. Don't leave it unIt seems that spring has finally sprung here in Athens. Walking around campus on the first warm day of the year tapped. Get in touch with your greener side. Explore." is always a delight. Students seem to have awakened from their winter hibernation. Runners, walkers, bikers, -Jennifer Jarvis and groups of students toting Frisbees, footballs and baseballs are all common appearances on campus with everyone anxious to be out in the sunshine. For students and Athens locals alike who are searching for new ways to get outside and enjoy nature, there are plenty of options that are no more than a few minutes away. For those who have yet to experience the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway that sweeps along the edge of campus and along the Hocking River, there are miles of trails to be explored. Here is what Jennifer Jarvis, a first year student at Ohio University, had to say about it:
Day Trips in the Athens Community
" s an amateur runner I usually wait until darkness falls A to hit the streets of Athens. Asthma doesn't make for an appealing jogging partner so I prefer not to mingle with the heavy foot traffic of bustling campus life. The Athens bike trail is a scenic escape that can be easily overlooked by seasonal residents. The 19 mile trail spans from Athens to Nelsonville twisting alongside the Hocking River. For those who aren't attracted to the down and dirty implications of hiking, the smoothly paved path is a happy medium for nature lovers and urban weeds alike. Asphalt also makes the path accessible to The Groundspeak Geocaching walkers, runners, bikers, and Logo is a registered trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. Used with rollerbladers. The trail wraps campus so that an individual can permission.
For those veterans of the bike path who are looking for a new outdoor hobby or an innovative twist to their favorite Athens spots, consider geocaching. Geocaching (pronounced ‘geo-cashing’) is essentially a worldwide treasure hunt that is based on coordinates from a GPS. With over 4 million participants, the ever-changing and expanding hobby is catching on in many cities around the US. Here in Athens, there are an abundance of ‘caches’ waiting to be found. Caches refer to containers of various sizes and forms that individuals hide at a certain coordinate. The coordinates are posted online for others to find. Inside the geocache is a logbook to record your find and oftentimes various trinkets left behind by the owner of the cache or other visitors. When you find a cache, you are allowed to take an item as long as you leave something in return. To find a geocache location, all you need to do is log
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onto www.geocaching.com and create a free account. Geocaches are hidden all over the place; some are in very busy, urban locations that require stealth to avoid detection while locating the geocache and others are out along local hiking trails or the bike path. For my first geocache adventure, I chose a set of coordinates that took me to The Ridges hiking trails. After a leisurely 25 minute hike, I found myself close to the location of the geocache. Once at the coordinates, it takes a bit of investigating to find the geocache, as the coordinates don’t give away the exact location of the item and is often hidden from plain sight. After about 10 minutes of searching, I found the geocache and recorded my find. When I got back from my quest, I documented the find on the geocaching website. Geocaching is a unique and family-friendly activity that promotes personal sustainability through exercise (be it hiking, biking or walking to the geocache) and also motivates individuals to explore the natural beauty of our outdoor resources. My trip took me to a pleasant hiking trail that, prior to geocaching, I had not known was just minutes from my apartment. Since
then, I have frequented the trail and it is now one of my favorite hiking routes. An important part of geocaching is CITO; Cache In Trash Out. This environmental initiative was started in 2002 and continues annually one weekend a year at local geocaching sites. Tasks completed by volunteers include litter clean-up, removal of invasive species, revegetation efforts and building trails, according to the geocaching website. CITO doesn’t just happen once a year, however. Geocachers are encouraged to bring a trash bag with them and pick up litter that they see on the way to their geocache As an almost inexhaustibly entertaining hobby, geocaching will take you to places in the community that are familiar and, most likely, some places that you have yet to experience. Once skill is acquired, geocachers can hide and monitor their own caches at their favorite places around the community. With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to try out a new hobby and explore the community.
Local Economics Perspective on Geocaching
“Geocaching is beneficial for many reasons, one being its low initial startup cost. In my recent work for the city of Buckley, Washington, citizens expressed the desire for geocaching in an abandoned teaching farm site. They feel that it will draw visitors from neighboring communities through the city center, creating the opportunity for economic activity in establishments such as bars, restaurants, and coffee shops while they are in town. It seems to be a good option for municipalities that do not have much money to invest in recreation opportunities. In addition to the low initial investment, geocaching does not require the installation of permanent structures. Therefore, if the site is better suited for a different use in the future, required changes to the site are less intensive.” -Kelly Adams, Urban Planning Graduate Student at University of Washington 10
Ecohouse Community Garden
The Office of Sustainability offers Ohio University students an opportunity to grow their own food. The Ecohouse community garden is an area designated for students to engage in organic gardening practices. Located on Dairy Lane, the OHIO Ecohouse is university owned, off-campus housing available to three students every academic year. A permaculture garden, designed by students in the spring of 2012, is located near the front of the house. Residents can live off the land with a variety of herbs incorporated into the landscape design. The community gardening area is a fenced-in property containing eleven student-built raised beds. The Ecohouse community garden allows participants an opportunity to get outside and active this summer, eat locally grown healthy foods and lend a helping hand in ensuring food security for the community.
Markie Miller
Healthy Land, Healthy Life The community garden applies organic gardening methods. Synthetic fertilizers and chemical herbicides and pesticides are strictly prohibited. University-generated compost amendment and woodchips are located on-site. While organic gardening is often considered to be labor intensive, the Ecohouse allots small raised beds for individuals to care for. Weed control is easily carried out on this low scale. No experience gardening? No problem! Students from all disciplines, backgrounds and experience levels are invited to learn a new set of skills with us! Community Adopt a plot with friends, roommates, student organizations, sororities, fraternities or on your own! Grow food to host your own local, organic meal or donate your harvest to someone in need.
Food Security Food security is a growing concern on a global scale. Solving global problems is no easy task. Many reflect on the common motto ‘think global, act local’ when faced with such large-scale challenges. 11
With permission of the plot owners, the Office of Sustainability will collect extra food grown in the community garden for a local food bank in Nelsonville, Ohio. For more information on local initiatives towards food security, check out Community Food Initiatives (CFI). This Athens-based non-profit works to promote whole foods, healthy eating, food security and eating local.
Get Involved! ‘The Garden Shed’ is a blog updated by Markie Miller, graduate assistant at the Office of Sustainability. Read about a variety of gardening issues, as well as our ongoing quest for sustainability. Students, instructors and community members in Athens can find an array of information on natural and sustainable gardening, area events, and environmental values being discussed today. The blog can be found at http:// ecohousegarden.blogspot.com/ Volunteer at the Ecohouse garden with Markie Miller, Ecohouse Garden Manager. Find out ways you can help: mm633111@ohio.edu Grow your own food! To apply for an Ecohouse Community Garden plot: submit your information on our website: Garden Plot Request Form. For more information contact us at sustainability@ohio.edu! The OU Ecohouse Community Garden has raised beds available to students, faculty, departments or student organizations. Learn about food security, organic gardening and going local in Athens! Get healthy, get involved and get gardening!
The mission of the OHIO Ecohouse is to demonstrate affordable green technology and sustainable living in order to inform, engage and inspire both residents and visitors. The OHIO Ecohouse is not just a place – it is a dynamic education experience which promotes critical thinking and tangible actions toward sustainability.
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International Perspectives Is ‘Peace’ Coming to OU? Todd Walters is a man with vision, passion, and intelligence. He traveled to Ohio University in February of 2013 with a clear vision; to give OHIO students a unique and exciting opportunity to help change the world. Walters founded International Peace Park Expeditions (IPPE) in 2010 with another dream; to help craft transboundary conservation areas with collaborative and effective management in historically conflict-prone areas to help build peace. Rather than ineffectively attempting to confine peace building and environmental efforts within political boundaries (mere lines on a map), Transboundary Parks reflect the fluidity of ecology, fauna, and culture. As communities across borders, cultures, and ideologies come together to manage their connected natural resources, new opportunities become possible for even greater peace and collaboration.
Alex Slaymaker
create opportunities for rewarding interactions between students and the local people. As students hike some of the tallest mountains, Cirripo and Volcan Baru, they appreciate the brilliance of ecotourism and learn about environmental conservation.
Walters’ passion pushed him to pursue the inclusion of even more students on these experiential voyages. Ohio University joined forces as an institutional alliance after the arrival of Dr. Geoff Dabelko in Fall 2012. Dr. Dabelko worked in Washington D.C. for decades researching the connections between the environment, population, and health with a focus on the links between climate change and national security. He now holds a position on the IPPE board, teaches an undergraduate course on Climate Change, works closely with the Voinovich School, and directs OU’s Environmental Studies Master’s Program. Dr. Dabelko’s experience in the field provided him the insight to realize the great potential and importance of an IPPE study abroad program at OHIO. He Hundreds of protected areas transcending country facilitated Todd Walters’ arrival and coordinated a boundaries have been created, and there are currently series of meetings with administrators and professors many more projects in developmental stages to determine the level of interest on campus and worldwide. IPPE works with the Balkans protected program implementation feasibility. area which includes Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo, an area high in biodiversity and previously During Walters’ short trip he spoke to multiple uprooted by Soviet rule. Creative solutions for classes about Peace Parks and presented an intriguing environmental and cultural conservation are crafted lecture highlighting some of IPPE’s efforts. If through collaborative discussions and community Walters successfully establishes a study abroad inclusion from all three countries. These massive, program at Ohio University, students will have the complex projects require the dedication of many unique opportunity to earn college credit by traveling volunteers and research fellows working together to these Peace Parks and gaining field-based towards the goal of increased global peace and experiential knowledge and ‘real world’ experience. environmental conservation. Students will enter this emerging and evolving field of study which uses environmental assets as a tool for Walters created the experiential study abroad building peace and adapting to, and mitigating, program with the goal of expanding IPPE services to climate change. OU’s program would accept students offer more than analytical research skills to students from all majors due to the multi-disciplinary nature of interested in these issues. The University of Maryland this work and global importance. There is currently already partners with IPPE and offers a very no study abroad program available at OHIO which successful study abroad program in the Panama/ offers such a wide variety of educational Costa Rica Park. University of Maryland students are opportunities, hands-on learning, and outdoor exposed to the fair trade system, gaining knowledge recreational activities. about responsible economic growth through sustainable agriculture. Cross cultural activities, entertainment, and community improvement projects 13
While on a study abroad trip through IPPE, students learn about the park creation process, interact with community members impacted by the Park, work with locals to develop sustainable infrastructure, and become immersed in other cultures. IPPE only considers assisting park development if the communities involved volunteer to participate in the process. IPPE’s bottom-up, inclusive and voluntary approach helps dispute resolution processes because all the parties involved are willing to cooperate for mutual joint gains. Prior to serious involvement, IPPE analyzes the situation through intensive research and
Where Are They Now?
personal interviews with impacted individuals. Researchers organize information gathered in a series of conflict matrices to best identify conflict drivers (actions perpetuating conflict), mitigating factors (actors mobilizing resilience), and other important aspects of the dispute. If interested in applying for a fellowship with the organization, and to learn more about IPPE’s efforts in the Balkans, Panama/ Costa Rica, Waterton-Glacier and more visit their website: http://peaceparkexpeditions.org/.
Jaymie Tighe
OU graduates and former Office of Sustainability staff members share their stories and tips for success.
Jessica Bilecki Former Office of Sustainability Graduate Assistant Current Position: Education and Outreach Coordinator – Elon University Office of Sustainability Did you consider sustainability while job searching? “Working in the Office of Sustainability helped me more effectively articulate my definition of sustainability. In terms of professional development the opportunity was essential, as any job working in sustainability in higher education requires years of experience. Sustainability has been and always will be my guiding framework.” How did the Office of Sustainability prepare you for your current position? “The Office of Sustainability gave me experience in institutional sustainability, particularly the communications component of it. Through regular interaction with all Office of Sustainability staff I was able to formulate a better idea of what offices of sustainability actually do. This supported my professional development through encouraging a professional online presence, various staff training sessions and always being open to discuss future job prospects.”
Michelle Schechter Former Office of Sustainability Presentations Intern Current Position: Business Development Assistant at Vorys How did the Office of Sustainability help you prepare for your future? “The Office of Sustainability introduced to me to many great people who wanted to help me and see me succeed. My internship offered me more than just the job description and I got to become involved in things just because I wanted too. My position educated me on deadlines, time management, working with a team and planning events. I got more experience and education than I expected and am very thankful for it.” What are some of your favorite memories of working in the Office of Sustainability at Ohio University? “Some of my favorite memories about working with Office of Sustainability were the events I got to be apart of. I got to help with lectures from speakers about ‘fracking’ and spread the news about Earth Month. I loved helping people get involved with their community and become more interested in sustainability. I also got to do more than I expected I would during my internship, which made the experience more enjoyable and educational.” 14
Opportunities
Megan Graver & Jaymie Tighe
"Trashed" movie screening, April 25 (hosted by College Green Magazine): April 25, 7pm, Athena Cinema This event is FREE and open to the public! Free refreshments will also be provided during the screening. Following the screening, there will be an interactive discussion panel concerning local waste issues featuring: - Roger Bail, Operations Coordinator for the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District - Kyle O'Keefe, head of Rural Action's Zero-Waste Initiative - Andrew Ladd, Ohio University's Recycling and Refuse Manager - Dr. Geoff Buckley, a Professor in the Department of Geography - Dr. Michele Morrone, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science Check out the event page on Facebook for more information.
Are You A Graduating Senior? Take Our Sustainability Literacy Survey Benchmark 8 of the OU Sustainability Plan is to “improve sustainability literacy of students, faculty, and staff”, with a target of a “5% increase in literacy among students, faculty and staff per year” (and a baseline by June 2012). For students, I believe the first baseline data was collected last year. This year, we will be sending out a five – question survey, to assess the current levels of sustainability literacy among students. Click Here to take the survey now.
Energy Efficiency for the Home, April 30 April 30th, 12pm-1pm Baker 240 Bring your lunch and join us for an educational session outlining cost effective home upgrades and simple habit changes that can help lower utility bills. Participants will also learn about OHIO’s current energy efficiency projects. This session will be facilitated by Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) and OHIO’s Executive Director of Facilities Management. Office of Sustainability will feature a video explaining home energy audits and affordable efficiency tips. This event is free for all OHIO employees & students. Please RSVP by emailing sustainability@ohio.edu. All interested participants will be entered into a raffle for a free home energy audit ($500 value). This event is sponsored by Ecology and Energy Conservation Committee, Office of Sustainability and Human Resources.
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Are you a COMS student? Good Works, Inc., a local organization that provides services for people struggling with issues of poverty and homelessness, is seeking interns for fall and spring semester to assist with event planning and promotion for their annual Good Works Walk event. Interns will work approximately 10 hours/week (unpaid) on promoting the Walk on the campus of Ohio University, in local schools with local businesses, and/or in and around Athens County. Strong public communication skills and the ability to self-motivate are required. If you meet the prerequisites, you will also be able to receive credit for this internship through either COMS 4910 or COMS 4911/4912/4913. To apply: Applicants should first look over the Good Works Walk website at www.goodworkswalk.net to
learn more about this unique event. Applicants should then send a resume and request to fill out a Good Works volunteer application to Emily Axe at goodworks@good-works.net. Please put Walk Internship Project in the subject line of the email. If you need more information or have questions on how to apply for this internship you may also call Emily at 740-594-3339. Applications should be sent in as soon as possible but by May 2013 at the latest.
Interested in contributing to Routes? We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help write, design and photograph for the next publication of Routes. Tap into your creative abilities and get involved with the Office of Sustainability by contacting editors Megan Graver at mg378107@ohio.edu . If your area of interest lies elsewhere, there are a variety of different volunteer and internship positions available to students. Develop valuable skills for your future career and help the Office of Sustainability achieve its mission. To learn more, email sustainability@ohio.edu with a description of your area(s) of interest.
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Expressions
Spotlight on Zero Waste
Every issue of Routes features the creative work of an artist whose work expresses some form of sustainability. This issue features the work of Ohio University Campus Recycling student employees Cayle Adams, Sarah Maj and Jimmy Webster. On March 25th, a temporary sculpture was created from #1 and #2 bottles that were recycled on campus. The purpose of the sculpture was to illustrate that “It All Adds Up�. In the first four weeks of RecycleMania, which is a friendly competition between college and university recycling programs, Ohio University recycled thousands of plastic bottles.
If you are a student, faculty or staff member and are interested in having your work featured, send a biography, and jpgs or word documents featuring your work to sustainability@ohio.edu 17
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Food Waste Reduction Week During Week Two of spring semester, the Office of Sustainability sponsored, through a Sustainability Mini Grant, a “Food Waste Reduction Week” in an effort to raise student awareness about post-consumer food waste. The project also assisted in collecting survey data for the Office of Recycling and Refuse. The project involved multiple components: designing tri-folds and a poster to place in the dining hall; making a poster board to set up in the dining hall; creating a survey to collect data from students; obtaining a scale to weigh post-consumer waste; and, recruiting volunteers from the Office of Sustainability and EcoReps to collect the surveys. Each student that completed a survey was entered into a drawing to win one of two $25 gift cards to Baker Center. A total of 301 surveys were completed. The survey data shows that OHIO students appear to be mostly committed to sustainable behaviors, especially when convenient. A high percentage (86%) of students “strongly agree” or “agree” that they recycle when it is made convenient, but only 52% say they recycle when they have to go out of their way to do so. A solution to this could be to include a recycling and compost bin next to every trash can, as is becoming common practice at many universities working to reduce their solid waste. Another potential option is to significantly reduce the number of public trash cans and replace them with recycling and compost bins.
Austin Stahl
riod, the per-capita post -consumer food waste generated during the surveying period was close to the .22 pound per person per meal average generated by Americans. Through research and basic observation, survey conductors suggested that the university may benefit from another trayless dining pilot program. Office of Sustainability and Culinary Services conducted such a pilot program a number of years ago and results suggested that the dining facilities and diners may not benefit from trayless dining at the time. Though, facilities have changed significantly and the general dining population has turnedover since that program. Volunteers assisting with the project observed that diners tend to select food from multiple stations before they sit down to enjoy a meal. Often times, these diners do not eat all of the food they selected. Removing the tray would encourage the diners to only take what they can carry, which would likely deter wasted food.
Overall, the survey results were encouraging. It is the hope of the Office of Sustainability and participating volunteers that this program will contribute to a future decrease in postconsumer food waste at Ohio University. Students interested in assisting in such efforts are encouraged to email us at sustainabilAt .23 pounds per diner over the three-day pe- ity@ohio.edu. 19
Survey Data Questions asked 1. Minimizing food waste is important to me when making a decision about how much food to take 2. I personally recycle when it is made convenient 3. I personally recycle even when I have to go out of my way to do so 4. I believe the recycling program in the residence halls is effective 5. Some U.S. colleges no longer sell bottled water in an effort to reduce waste. What level of support do you believe the student body would have toward reducing bottled water availability on campus? Answers received 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Strongly agree: 114 Agree: 142 Neutral: 33 Disagree: 10 Strongly Disagree: 2 Strongly agree: 167 Agree: 92 Neutral: 23 Disagree: 13 Strongly Disagree: 6 Strongly agree: 69 Agree: 89 Neutral: 78 Disagree: 50 Strongly Disagree: 15 Strongly agree: 64 Agree: 104 Neutral: 64 Disagree: 54 Strongly Disagree: 14 Very High Support: 55 High Support: 100 Neutral: 74 Low Support: 52 Very Low Support: 19
Total: 301 surveys Note: Questions 5 was left blank on one survey, Question 4 was left blank on another
Food waste-Nelson Dining Hall Tuesday 1270 diners 346 pounds of food waste (.272 pounds per person) Wednesday 1221 diners 234 pounds of food waste (.192 pounds per person) Thursday 1419 diners 306 pounds of food waste (.216 pounds per person)
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Personal Sustainability As a graduate student there is always a looming sense of chaos in trying to choose a thesis topic and put together a committee. Starting my second graduate semester I was still waiting for that aha moment; when it would all start to make sense. After many nights of seeking out my academic niche, I started to pay attention to what piqued my interest the most. I knew I wanted to relate my research to topics surrounding an urban environment and native plants.
Markie Miller
changes? Taking this trip to Baltimore helped me jumpstart my research and my mindset. Little by little, things are changing for me: my time management has been revamped, and my priorities rearranged. I felt like I had found a topic I could happily dive into and expand my knowledge on.
Finding something you’re passionate about is very important in maintaining personal sustainability. I have so often experienced that burned out feeling that As quickly as I had decided on my topic, I found my- zaps your energy, motivation and often the ability to self packing for an unexpected road trip to Baltimore, properly take care of oneself. Whenever I’m feeling Maryland- my future study site- the week following bogged down by the pressure of life and Academia, I spring break. Everything was suddenly coming totry to do something good for myself and find ways to gether, but as exciting as beginning my thesis reremind myself about what sparks my passion to learn. search was, classes and work continued on without me. It was difficult at times to not dwell on what I was missing. But it allowed me to appreciate and recognize an important moment in my academic career: this was the start of my transition from college student to graduate student. Markie Miller is a Masters student in I have been a graduate student for a full semester now, but only recently began to feel like one. Since being an undergraduate student I noticed a difference in assignments, in the amount of material we covered and the overall classroom dynamics of grad school, but what had really prepared me for these big
the Environmental Studies Program who currently works at the Office of Sustainability.
The Office of Sustainability challenges students, faculty and staff alike to find their passions and to always take some time for reflection and appreciation. 21
Do-It-Yourself
Jennifer Jarvis
This summer, make use of your right brained creative side and reuse things around the house to make something new for yourself, or somebody else. DIY projects are much more unique, and infinitely less expensive, than purchasing new! When reusing otherwise unadorned objects that can even be found at home (or dormitory) for projects you are not only doing good for the environment, you impress your friends with your ingenuity. Artistic pursuits are great destressors and healthy leisure activities that can be done independently or in a group. As opposed to making purchases on staples that stretch the already slim student budget, get crafty. Here are just a few ideas to start out with: Have an old baking sheet lying around the house? Reuse it to create a magnet board! Use contact paper or any other decorative covering you have on hand and use it to cover the baking surface. Then, simply add magnets and hang it on the wall! A magnet board can do more than hold notes; attach magnets to various makeup containers. A makeup wall unit saves space and is infinitely handy. No more searching for mascara, say goodbye to exploding eye shadow pallets. Everything is in one place.
room on the desk, mount it on the wall of choice.
As for necklaces, scrap wood and old knobs can make a chic and functional jewelry rack or place to hang your keys so you won't lose, or have to replace, your favorite accessories.
Athens is known for the luscious green of its rural campus, so let’s keep it that way and use our school color to inspire sustainable attitudes and subsequent actions. A small step for you is a big one for the environment. Reuse those water bottles! Go from plastic to permanent in terms of dishes and silverware! You’re decreasing waste by making small but conscious decisions. How about a way to reuse Not only is empty beverage bottles? it economBottles can be employed for a ically effinumber of non-traditional uses. cient it’s Peel off the sticky label and get also ecoready to recycle without the blue friendly. It bin. just makes ‘cents’. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Disguise the surface and make an economically friendly
vase to spruce up your living space using hemp string or paint. Caps can be magnetized as is or pasted with a personalized image for some custom décor without the special order. You’ve got the makeup covered, but how about the jewelry? Keep bracelets detangled and visible as a bottle is the perfect temporary placement for your go-to arm accessories. Have it stand alone, or for a more sophisticated look, attach a small base so that it can be transported without your items falling to the floor. If you don’t have
Use old picture frames and decorative paper to create a dry-erase marker calendar (above) or earring storage space (right).
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Move Out
Megan Graver
With the semester drawing to a close, Ohio University students are preparing to take their final exams and head home for the summer. During all of this mayhem, a question that might not cross a student’s mind is what to do with his or her furniture when it comes time to move out. OHIO students have the opportunity to give back to their community by offering their used furniture and other quality reusable items that they don’t need anymore to others in the surrounding areas. Through the combined efforts of several local organizations working with Ohio University and the City of Athens, it is convenient during finals week for students to donate their items to benefit local families in need and save these items from ending up in a landfill. For students with items to donate who are looking to reduce OU’s waste during finals week, here is a rundown of both oncampus and off-campus systems for donating items this finals week.
On-campus
348,413
A site to drop off items for donation is located at each residence hall. The site will be located near the dumpster and permanent recycling location for that building. New South buildings will have their sites located inside. Scott Quad’s site is located on the East Wall inside the courtyard. Food donation will be located in residence hall lobbies, ground floor of New South buildings, and 2nd floor stairwells of Scott Quad.
100,000
Number of pounds of food and goods collected by 7 organizations during the 3.5 weeks surrounding move out in 2012
Off-campus There are separate neighborhood collection points indicated for used items. Starts May 1st: 10 AMevenings.
High & W. State Streets (across from the Middle School) N. Court & State Sts. NEXT to big dumpster N. Congress & Washington Streets Mill St. in-between Coss and Mill St. Near the end of Mill and McKinley Drive Train Depot, Union St. Next to Dirty Deeds Laundromat Other locations to be announced
What sort of materials are accepted at these drop off locations?
Appliances Aquariums / Terrariums Banners Bed Frames / Lofts Books/CDs Clean Mattress / Pads Computers Coolers Curtains/Linens/Clean Clothing Cosmetics and Toiletries Dishes / Silverware Electric Components Folders, Notebooks/ Binders Hangers / Organizers Luggage / Backpacks Intact Furniture Magazines Pens / Pencils Posters / Pictures or Frames School, Office, or Art Supplies Science Equipment Shelving Toner Cartridges / Ink Jets Sports Equipment, Dart boards Unopened Food Unused Detergent & Soap Wood & Building Supplies 23
Click on the picture to the left for a video with more information on Campus Recycling efforts to keep recyclable or reusable items out of the trash!
$6,090 Amount of money that Ohio University saved in 2012 by not disposing of reusable/ recyclable items as trash during move out.
Make Move Out Matter ReUse Industries has teamed up with a variety of
Off-campus Pick-Ups If you have items that are very large or don’t have time to drop off your items, there are several organizations that will pick up your donations from May
1st-5th
New To You – 740-592-1842 Good Will – 740-592-4105 Re-Use – Make move out matter – 740-594-5103 Nelsonville Community Center – 740-331-2526 Athens County Fair Board – 740-591-1816 Golden Gaits 4-H Club – 740-541-0457 Athens County Food Pantry– 740-590-7051 Friends and Neighbors – 740-667-0684 Friends of Animals Thrift Store – 740-856-2800 Habitat for Humanity, Restore – 740-589-5865 Community Food Initiatives – 740-593-5971
1,220 Number of people in need from the Athens area that got food or goods from Ohio University students
Athens-area non-profit organizations to turn student donations into benefits for the Athens community. When students donate items to ReUse, they can designate a participating organization to receive a portion of the revenue collected by selling their donated items. Check out their
website for participating organizations and what items are accepted. Call to schedule a free pick-up 740-594-5103
When returning to campus in the fall, check out the ReUse Industries thrift store and other area thrift stores when furnishing your house. These second-hand stores are full of unique items at student-friendly prices!
April 22 Both the celebration of
Earth Day
ReUse Industries as well as Campus Recycling, Athens County Fair Board and Golden Gaits 4H Club are currently accepting volunteers and students doing community service.
and the day that collection of items begins on and off campus this year. Get ready to donate!
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Will you be my SOULmate? Sustainable Ohio University Leaders Do you have a passion for preserving the environment? Want to make a positive impact in your campus, community, and world? Here’s your chance to make a difference:
SOUL
Sustainable OU Leaders is a new group on campus comprised of faculty, staff, and students who are working to implement the university’s Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan. We are looking for passionate individuals to help us take action and spread sustainability.
Benefits of Participation:
Improve skills in leadership, communication, networking, and policy development Potential for regional and national marketing of efforts Gain professional development experience in sustainability and how it applies to a variety of disciplines Contribute to leading efforts in furthering sustainability at Ohio University
All-Member SOUL Meeting April 24 @3:30-5pm Bingham House (Log Cabin off Richland Ave)
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“I Want To Change The World... But I Don’t Know How.” Join the Ohio University Office of Sustainability! Visit Our Website
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