Wellesley College has devoted considerable attention to becoming more environmentally sustainable. Patrick Willoughby, Associate Director of the Physical Plant, and Kate Salop Executive Assistant to the President, co-chair the Sustainability Advisory Committee on campus and have been working with Bob Bossange, Director of Auxiliary Services, and other members the Sustainability Advisory Committee, on several initiatives. The below outlines their work.
Recycling
Wellesley College has made significant progress in the reduction of solid waste disposal. Wellesley College recycling occurs in two forms: the College-run program facilitates recycling in academic buildings and the campus center, and the student-run program facilitates recycling in dorms with custodial assistance.
The table below shows statistics for 2006-7 on recycling in academic buildings, the campus center, and residence halls. In the past year, the College as significantly increased the amount it recycles from these places, and has earned nearly $10,000 in credits from its waste hauling vendor to support and expand the program. Financial credits have also been obtained through its recycling vendor.
Total annual tonnage solid waste produced
1,839
Total tonnage recycled, 2005
18
% recycled, 2005
1%
Total tonnage recycled, 2006
180.5
% recycled, 2006
10%
Source: Patrick Willoughby, Solid Waste Totals
The College-run program has also helped increase recycling in dorms during the “gap period” between the end of classes and students’ departure from campus. In the past, student-run recycling stopped at the end of classes. In 2007, the College instructed custodians to collect recycling during this “gap period,” reducing May solid waste disposal by 9,240 pounds and increasing dorm recycling by 40%.
To increase recycling in dorms, the College also oversees Recycle-mania programs, where resident halls compete on percentage of waste recycled. Students have assisted in advertising the program.See the Sustainability Advisory Committee webpage for more information on College-led recycling.
Energy Consumption
The College has actually decreased energy consumption over the past five years even with the addition of the Wang Campus Center. Several features have made this possible. Maintenance Services closely monitors and controls building temperatures through an energy management program. Repair and some replacement of windows in Stone Davis and Pendleton East have reduced outside air intrusion. Energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFL) are available in resident halls for students and custodians to replace incandescent light bulbs.
In October 2006, the college headed Sustainability Month, which involved a competition between residential halls to reduce energy use, as well as educational initiatives and a light-bulb exchange to replace incandescent bulbs by CFLs.
Sustainable Landscape Practices on Campus
In the past ten years the College has reduced paved areas on campus, planted additional greenery, and altered its storm water management. Paved or parking areas such as the Green Hall Courtyard and the Alumnae Valley Tennis Courts have been returned to landscape, decreasing the amount of paved areas on campus by 5.7 acres. Between 1997 and 2002, the College planted over 2,500 trees, 7,000 shrubs, and 17,000 ground cover and herbaceous plants. The campus also now treats most rain water collected, preventing the release of harmful pollutants into the water supply and Lake Waban. See the Sustainability Advisory Committee webpage for more information on Wellesley’s landscape practices.
Dining Services
In the food service department, the College has moved toward consumption of local and more environmentally-friendly products. The College now buys milk from High Lawn Farms, a local Jersey farm that avoid artificial hormones in milk production. Food services now purchase fruit and some vegetables from local farms via an intermediary. This reduces both delivery time and delivery-related emissions. All dining facilities are equipped with low flow devices in sinks to reduce water consumption. Composting is available in limited dining halls year round and occasionally in all dining halls during sustainability weeks.
Other Programs
Some other important programs that the college has been making progress on are water conservation, purchasing efforts that encourage sustainable practices, and a junk mail reduction program.