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Sustainable Practices at Lane
Earth Day, 2004
- Recycling and trash compacting. In 1995 the Recycling Committee was formed by interested persons. In 1999 the college hired a person to coordinate recycling efforts. The college invested in a trash compactor in 2003; garbage costs will decrease by an estimated $15,000 in the first year of operation for the compactor.
- Electronics Recycling. Electronic equipment has a quick replacement cycle and has traditionally been a large waste stream at the college. Since July 2003, the college has made great strides in improving its electronic disposal program. The disposal hierarchy begins with reuse and ends with recycling. No electronic equipment that has made it’s way to surplus property has been landfilled since July 2003.
- Environmental specialist position to monitor indoor environmental quality. In 2001, environmental monitoring and waste control were added to the job of the Recycling Coordinator. This position was renamed “Environmental Specialist” to reflect the new duties.
- Energy efficient technology. The Energy Management Team was formed in 2002 and includes membership and participation by students in the instructional Energy Management program. Lane has participated in the state plan to sell tax credits to local businesses in order to finance technology to save energy. Over the last few years Lane has implemented technology that has saved the college approximately $600,000 annually in electricity bills.
- Addition of Energy Analyst position. This position will be posted in the spring of 2004. Built into the job are expectations of recurring energy savings over a two to five-year period.
- Use of “green” products in housekeeping activities. The Housekeeping staff has adopted the use of Sustainable Earth™ cleaning products manufactured by Coastwide Laboratories.
- Reduced use of chemicals in maintenance of grounds. The use of herbicides and pesticides has gone from 650 lbs. in 1999 to 9 lbs. in 2003.
- Native landscaping project (Science/Math building). Science students and faculty have collaborated with groundskeepers to develop and maintain native plant landscaping around the Science/Math building.
- Water Conservation with Campus Landscaping. Grounds selects plants that don’t need irrigation once they are established and when grass is planted native grasses are used.
- Animal support and control program. Over a decade ago, concerned employees formed a group to help control the feral cat population on campus using techniques of spaying/neutering the animals, adopting out cats where possible, and controlling feeding areas. Partnerships with local veterinarians and donations from employees have helped maintain the program.
- Commute reduction plan. Credit students on the main campus pay a transportation fee and receive a term bus pass as part of a cooperative plan with Lane Transit District.
- Composting project. A composting system manufactured by Green Mountain Technologies and purchased by the college produces compost from sawdust and food scraps; both are waste byproducts of operations on the main campus. In its first two weeks of operation in the spring of 2004, over 400 lbs. of materials previously going into a landfill were diverted to the composting system.
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