The University of Maine is a virtual small town. With students, faculty, staff, and visitors, some 10,000 people pass through each day. The resources required to support these daily routines, and the byproducts of everything taking place, have a significant impact on the campus and its surroundings. The ecology, economy and communities inside and outside the UMaine campus will experience impacts from the waste produced at UMaine. The Green Campus Initiative hopes to foster practices at UMaine that will minimize negative impacts to these areas and allow positive impacts to flourish.
Mission Statement:
…to develop a broad based, student lead effort towards environmental awareness and stewardship, by promoting sustainable relationships between in Ecological, Economical and Societal systems on campus in the local communities.
Together Students Can Make a Difference
The Green Campus Initiative believes students have the power to improve their community at The University of Maine, and have the responsibility to do so. We hope to harness the energy and creativity of UMaine Students in stimulating a grass roots effort towards an enjoyable, sustainable Campus.
Projects:
- Residence Hall Recycling – Each Residence Hall has space for collection of paper, aluminum, cardboard (including pizza boxes), glass, #2 plastic, and redeemable cans and bottles. Expansion and improvement of this program is an on-going project.
- Biodiesel – The use of biodiesel on campus is currently being investigated (the university has at least 20 vehicles and 7 emergency generators that run on diesel). Using B20 instead of plain diesel would result in a substantial reduction in UMaine GHG emissions.
- Compost – Plans to expand the composting facility at JF Witter Teaching and Research Center are underway. Starting in Fall 2006, all pre and post-consumer waste from the dining commons will be composted at the Center.
- Information – One of the main goals of the green Campus Initiative is to spread information to the University of Maine students, faculty, and staff. Various methods are being utilized: GCI calendar and newsletter, audits of campus buildings, the Green Lecture Series, and more. New ideas are always being formulated and being put into practice!
- More projects are in the works!
If you have any questions or comments, contact the GCI Coordinator at 207.581.3322 or joshua.parda at umit.maine.edu