News Releases
News from Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
Contact: Mike Sims, Recycling and Surplus Property Coordinator, (541) 463-5569, simsm@lanecc.edu
Lane receives its fifth sustainability award
EUGENE - Lane Community College has received its fifth award for sustainability in the last 18 months, the Nonprofit Trashbuster Award from Lane County Public Works, presented Nov. 7 by the Lane County Board of Commissioners. Mike Sims, recycling and surplus property coordinator at Lane, accepted on behalf of the college.
Lane recycles more than 60 percent of its waste, contributing to an associated cost savings of $60,000.
The college recycles paper, plastic, wood, metals, food waste, cardboard, electronic material, construction and demolition waste, and beverage containers. Since March, 35 tons of food waste was composted into soil amendments. The college buys only paper with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content, and buys computers only from vendors who use recyclable packaging-no more Styrofoam. Last year the college reused 7.1 tons of office supplies and furnishings, and donated 14.8 more tons to small nonprofits such as Goodwill. Lane uses remanufactured print cartridges, refillable cleaning product containers, and switched to reusable dishes in food services to reduce disposable waste.
Sustainability awards to Lane Community College:
- Recycler of the Year Award for an Organization from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, July 2005
- Community Sustainability Award from City of Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, January 2006
- Campus Sustainability Leadership Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, October 2006
- National Recycling Coalition Award for Outstanding Recycling Program for a College or University from the National Recycling Coalition, October 2006
- Trashbuster Award for Nonprofits from Lane County Public Works, November 2006
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