History & Timeline

1970 Eco-Center founded, later becomes the Environmental Center

1973 Students vote to fund the Eco-Center with student fees

1976 CU Recycling founded as UCSU allocates student fees to support recycling

1980's Steve Smith, the first full-time, non-student director of the E-Center hired. Student involvement increases by 400 percent.

1985 UCSU allocates funds for a full-time, permanent recycling director

1989 E-Center conference on global issues draws 1000

1991 Bus Pass Program begins 1991 The Memorandum of Understanding between the Boulder Campus Administration and UCSU is singed creating the Student-Administration Partnership for Recycling

1992 Intermediate Processing Facility (IPF) opens

1992 Will Toor hired as director of the Environmental Center 1994 First annual Campus Earth Summit

1994 CU buys more recycled paper than virgin paper for the first time

1995 CU Recycling surpasses 1,000 tons recycled in one year

2000 Blueprint for a Green Campus issued

2000 Recycling four-year capital expansion begins

2000 UCSU wind power purchase via referendum

2001 Campus Master Plan revised. First formal guidelines for recycling are included

2001 Generation Green energy education campaign begins

2001 Energy use decreases for first time in over 10 years

2001 Clean energy conference

2002 CU receives $55,000 from the EPA and $32,000 from UCSU to site a composting operation on campus

2002 Environmental Center moves into a new office, UMC expansion complete with green building features

2002 CU Biodiesel formed

2003 Vice Chancellors release internal business review confirming recycling provides net annual savings of $235,000.

2003 Recycling business plan review, Recycling Financial Advisory Board created

2003 First annual Bioneers in Boulder event

2004 UCSU wind purchase increases to 100%

2004 Consultant waste composition study finds 1,300 tons of recyclables unrecovered annually

2004 Chancellor Byyny issues UCB Campus Environmental Policy

2004 First solar panels installed on the UMC

2004 UCSU Energy efficiency fund established

2004 Bike station opens, new bicycle programs initiated

2004 Next bus displays installed

2005 Permanent Bike Station installed

2005 Sustainable CU Referendum passes

See also CU Recycling History & Timeline