Blueprint for a Green Campus (2002 Update) 

Table of Contents | Introduction | Climate-Friendly Campus | Growing Without Increasing Traffic | Safe/Healthy Campus | Consumption and Disposal Habits | Greening Building Design and Construction | 2001 Blueprint Update | Original Blueprint  

Greening Campus Consumption and Disposal Habits

Part I: Purchasing Environmentally-Responsible Products

The Vision

CU adopts an environmentally-preferable purchasing policy which will institute standards for environmentally responsible purchasing.

Progress During 2001-2002

There has been significant progress by a number of campus departments, but not institutional progress on the goal of establishing an environmentally preferable purchasing policy for the CUBoulder campus.

Recycled Paper Purchasing

The largest progress in this arena was made by the student union, UCSU. On December 8, 2001, the UCSU Legislative Council passed a bill regarding paper use by UCSU Cost Centers. The bill requires the use of 100% post-consumer copy paper for all printing and copying. This does not include copies on colored paper, bound print jobs or the use of letterhead. Letterhead, colored fliers and any major print job must utilize paper with at least 30% post-consumer content.

The UCSU Executive branch strongly supports this policy. Research into the feasibility of this change was extensive. The basis for the bill came from the 2000-2001 Cost Center Paper Product Consumption Reports. The information collected from these reports shows the feasibility of implementing this bill. Establishing a copy paper policy enables UCSU to exemplify responsible consumption to other departments and organizations on the Boulder campus. The bill is attached as an appendix to this section.

The UCSU executive staff prepared estimates of the budgetary impact of this requirement. The Cultural Events Board, Environmental Center, Recreation Center, UCSU Proper, Wardenburg Health Center, Women’s Resource Center, Volunteer Clearinghouse and Legal Services already use 100% post-consumer paper for copy paper. For the other cost centers, the annual cost increases are minimal: Off Campus Student Services, $3.32; UMC Total Increase, $79.97; SOFO, $27.20.

There are several brands of 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper that are high quality and cost competitive products. The most commonly used within UCSU is Eureka 100 and Eureka 30 (for colored paper). Additionally, the "office pak" recycled on the CU Boulder campus is used in the manufacture of Eureka 100. Therefore, by following this new policy, cost centers are “ closing the loop.”

UCSU also passed a resolution asking that the campus establish a policy requiring the use of copier papers containing at least 30% post consumer content, and higher recycled content when the price, quality and availability is comparable. The Blueprint Committee reviewed this recommendation at the March 2002 meeting and asked for additional research. The resolution is attached as an appendix to this section.

The issue of cost is important. Under current market conditions, 30% post consumer paper is available at a cost below that of much of the virgin paper used on campus. The cost of 100% post consumer paper is currently significantly higher - up to 60% higher than the lowest cost papers. However, this difference is a much smaller percentage of the overall cost of copies, because the cost of paper is a small fraction of the total cost of a copy. The maximum cost difference comes to about a third of a cent per copy, which is 3-5% of the cost of a copy - this is the actual cost differential of making a copy with100% post consumer paper compared to making a copy with the lowest cost virgin paper.

Another area where there is significant potential is the use of paper in public computer labs. Information Technology Services, which runs the labs, has agreed to test the use of 30% recycled content paper in the labs, given that current market prices are actually lower than for the virgin paper they have been buying. In addition, the Housing department has expressed interest in converting to recycled paper in computer labs and other printing.

There is also an active investigation into converting from free printing to pay for printing in public computer labs on campus, in order to reduce costs and reduce the use of paper. One proposal made by the Environmental Center is to switch to high post consumer content recycled paper at the same time as any switch to paid printing. This would reinforce the environmental benefits of the switch, and would allow any cost impact to be absorbed in the price charged to users.

For context, another large institution in the area, the city of Boulder, is currently revising its environmentally preferable purchasing policy. The current policy as it affects paper requires the use of 30% post consumer paper. The revisions under consideration would require the use of 100% post consumer paper by city departments.

Recycled Content Office Furniture

One interesting development on the purchasing front occurred this spring. UCSU authorized the Environmental Center to purchase high recycled content furniture for its offices in the new wing of the UMC. This furniture is not available through the existing state contract, and has not been previously purchased on campus. However, for the furniture needs of the Environmental Center, the recycled content bid was actually lower cost than buying conventional furniture from the state contract.

The furniture purchased includes:

• Desktops made from compressed agricultural waste
• A conference table top made of compressed agricultural waste with a wood veneer from a certified sustainably harvested forest
• Table legs made from cardboard carpet tubes
• Office dividers made from compressed newsprint and old tires
• Benches and chairs made from old plastic milk-jugs
• Chairs with upholstery made from 100% recycled polyester

The pictures show the appearance of the furniture. It can be viewed in person by visiting the Environmental Center in Room 355 of the UMC. There may be opportunities for other offices on campus to purchase similar furniture, and to consider a modification to the state contract to get such furniture offered.

Fair Trade Coffee

Another development on the purchasing front is an effort by students from the Developing Areas Research and Training group to modify coffee purchasing decisions on campus. Based on their research, the UMC has agreed to begin offering “fair trade” coffee in addition to their existing coffee choices.

Progress by Housing

• Recycled plastic picnic tables were used at Athens Park, a Family Housing area.
• Recycled carpeting was used in the entryway of the new Family Housing main office, and in the elevator at Marine Court. The product, made by Collins-Aikman, contains recycled content, and can itself be recycled at the end of its lifetime.

Flat Screen Computer Monitors

The Campus Resource Conservation Committee issued a policy regarding the purchase of computer monitors. It is now mandated that Facilities Management purchase flat screen displays rather than CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. This can reduce energy use by up to 70%. The committee recommends this energy-saving purchasing practice for other campus departments.

Outreach to Campus Departments

The student outreach staff at CU Recycling have been conducting visits to campus offices to share information and make recommendations on a variety of environmental issues, particularly recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly purchasing options. The Green Products Guide and updated recycled paper price, quality and availability information are distributed as part of a “green” folder containing a variety of campus environmental information. Staff have already visited and shared information with over 50 offices in 10 buildings.

Food Service Disposables

The increase in “Grab ‘n Go” dining will increase the amount of disposables used by campus food customers in the residence halls and the University Memorial Center. Housing Dining Services is testing plant-based, biodegradable plates which are manufactured by EarthShell. Students and Housing staff have conducted some research into the price, quality and availability of recycled-content disposables and styrofoam alternatives. This information will be shared with food service managers later this spring.

Next Steps

The purchasing session at the Campus Earth Summit on April 17th will provide an opportunity to learn more about procurement strategies and to discuss the appropriate next steps with representatives from all four campuses and system-level administrators. Findings from this session will be shared with the Blueprint for a Green Campus committee.

Discussion Topics

• How can Procurement Services assist in tracking the amount of green products being purchased and in determining the price, quality and availability of the more environmentally friendly products?
• What would be an appropriate green procurement policy for CU-Boulder and/or the University of Colorado system?
• Which vendor contracts could be revised to include environmentally-preferable alternatives?

References

• Center for a New American Dream
• EPA guide to state and local green purchasing

Bill mandating 100% post consumer paper use by UCSU cost centers

 

November 29, 2001   56 Legislative Council Bill #1   University of Colorado Student Union   Sponsored by: Vanessa Luxen
Zach Colbert
  Rep-at-Large
Senator
    Authored by: Carina Bernard-Walker UCSU Environmental Director  

A BILL

BILL HISTORY

The University of Colorado at Boulder and UCSU lead the nation in implementing many important environmental programs. UCSU has expressed support for continuing to exemplify environmental standards for other universities and departments within CU Boulder. One important role of UCSU is the promotion and practice of responsible use of resources. In the past, the actions of UCSU have shown support for increasing their use of recycled products. Recycled paper products in the market now have similar quality and price of other products that contain less post-consumer recycled content. The 200-2001 Consumption Report results show the feasibility of requiring all Cost Centers to use only 100% post-consumer copy paper for all standard printing and copying. Currently, six of the UCSU Cost Centers use 100% post-consumer copy paper for all standard copying and printing. The estimated increased costs for the remaining Cost Centers is very minimal. Establishing a copy paper policy would enable UCSU to exemplify responsible consumption to other departments and organizations on the Boulder campus.

BILL SUMMARY

Whereas: the University of Colorado at Boulder has been, and continues to be an environmental
leader.   Whereas: buying recycled products saves natural resources, energy, clean air and water, landfill
space, money and creates jobs.   Whereas: high-quality and low cost brands of 100% post-consumer copy paper are readily
available for purchase.   Whereas: six of the UCSU Cost Centers are currently using only 100% post-consumer copy paper.   Whereas: the cost of replacing current paper use with complete use of 100% post-consumer copy paper is minimal   Whereas: UCSU’s support of a copy paper policy would encourage other departments and
organizations within the University to reevaluate their paper use.  

BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT:

Section 1: All UCSU Cost Centers must use 100% post-consumer copy paper for all standard printing and copying on white paper. Standard jobs do not include copies on colored paper, bound print jobs or the use of letterhead.   Section 2: Letterhead paper must contain at least 30% post-consumer content.   Section 3: Major print jobs, including colored fliers and any bound job, must utilize paper with at least 30% post-consumer content.   Section 4: This policy takes effect at the beginning of the 2002-2003 budget cycle.   Section 5: This bill shall take effect upon passage.     November 29, 2001 1st Reading   December 8, 2001 2nd Reading

 

 

Resolution asking the campus to adopt a 30% standard

 

March 14, 2002   52 Legislative Council Resolution   University of Colorado Student Union   Sponsored by: Zach Colbert
  Senator
    Authored by: Carina Bernard-Walker UCSU Environmental Director  

A RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION HISTORY

In 2000 the Environmental Center authored the Blueprint for a Green Campus, or an environmental action plan for the University of Colorado at Boulder. One important section of the Blueprint is Greening Campus Consumption and Disposal Habits. The first part of this section calls for the purchasing of environmentally–responsible products. One step towards achieving this objective is the purchasing and use of high post-consumer content copying and printing paper. UCSU passed a bill in December 2001 requiring all UCSU Cost Centers to use only 100% post-consumer content paper for all standard printing and copying. This UCSU policy expresses the feasibility of reducing the use of virgin paper on the CU Boulder campus. Currently, no campus wide policies concerning the use of high post-consumer content paper have been pursued.

RESOLUTION SUMMARY

Whereas: The Blueprint for a Green Campus commits to expanding the purchasing of environmentally responsible products for the campus as a whole.   Whereas: UCSU exemplified the feasibility of purchasing higher post-consumer content paper with the passage of 56 Legislative Council Bill #1.   Whereas: All Federal Agencies have been required to buy 30% post-consumer content copy paper
since January 1, 1999.   Whereas: A study conducted by the Government Printing Office showed that paper with 30% post-
consumer content performs just as well as virgin paper and paper with a lower recycled
content.   Whereas: The price of 30% post-consumer content copy paper is currently less than or equal to
high quality virgin paper and is available through current distributors on contract.  

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT:

Section 1: UCSU recognizes the importance of expanding CU Boulder’s purchasing of
environmentally responsible products.   Section 2: UCSU urges the adoption of a campus wide policy requiring all campus departments to
use a minimum of 30% post-consumer content paper for all standard copying and
printing.   Section 3: In addition to the 30% post-consumer content standard, the highest recycled content paper should be purchased when price, quality and availability of products are equal.  

Part II: Capping Solid Waste Going to the Landfill at Year 2000 Levels

The Vision

As CU grows, we will cap the amount of solid waste going to the landfill at year 2000 volumes by increasing recycling and composting efforts and by using market incentives, new technologies, and purchasing policies to reduce waste generation on campus.

Progress During 2001-2002

CU Recycling posted another record year of activity both in terms of tons collected and services offered. Student demand for additional recycling continued to drive CU Recycling's progress- aided by the second year of a four-year capital expansion campaign. The program continued to develop new approaches to meeting the Blueprint’s goal with funding from Boulder County, the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The program was challenged however, with declining revenues from the sale of recyclables and with the need to identify a site and begin plans for relocating the recycling facility.

Student-Administrative Partnership

• The Housing Department, Facilities Management and the Environmental Center successfully began collections of “Office Pak” from Family Housing courts.
• Residence halls and family housing courts now have automated collections of cardboard. Plans are in place to expand program further with additional funding from UCSU and Housing.
• The partnership continued to expand main campus collections of magazines and catalogs.
• The Grounds Department and the Environmental Center established collection of recyclables from outdoor recycling stations.
• Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste recycling and reuse efforts were expanded with the pilots of the UMC expansion and renovation project and the Hunter demolition. The Environmental Center and Facilities Management worked to determine potential for C&D recovery in the Grandview area.
• The partnership began development of a measurement system that applies an industry-wide formula for tracking and reporting waste diversion through recycling.

UCSU Environmental Center

• The Environmental Center negotiated with the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division and Eco-Cycle for premium pricing of CU’s pre-sorted materials. This project resulted in prices that, while lower than fiscal year projections, are significantly higher than other Boulder County recyclers are being paid.
• Continued Capital Expansion Plan. $83,500 of capital funds was approved by UCSU in fiscal year 2000-01 to fund new recycling locations, distribute new outreach materials, and implement an automated cardboard recycling system. A second year of capital expansion was approved for 2001-02 which has or will soon result in additional containers, improved visibility and collections in the Housing department and classroom areas, more magazine & catalog containers, and textbook recycling.
  Facilities Management:
• Facilities Management boosted central collection locations to 765 (from 650 in May 2001).
• Over 10,000 desk-side bins are now regularly serviced.
• Reusable office supplies/paper are back-hauled to campus departments as part of routine collection routes.

Housing

• During the Farrand kitchen renovation, roughly 10 tons of construction materials were recycled or reused. These materials included doors, dimensional lumber, decorative wood, metal, light fixtures, and flagstone.
• In February 2001, Housing adopted a pay-for-printing policy in all of its computer labs. The program is estimated to be saving 1,800 reams of paper per year.
• The Cheyenne-Arapaho and Darley Commons dock areas were improved to allow for easier access to recycling containers.
• Housekeeping is converting to a new toilet paper roll design without cores. Additionally, this product is packaged in a plastic bag, rather than a cardboard box, saving transportation fuel costs. The bag may then be used by Housekeeping as a trash liner. This product conversion is estimated to save almost $10,000 per year.
• In the fall of 2001, Housing began chipping its organic waste on-site for use on its grounds. It is estimated that about 200 cubic yards of organic material has been diverted from the landfill.
• Pallets are reused by a pallet recycler; the broken ones are chipped up by Housing and used for mulch.
• All scrap metal generated by Housing Services is recycled.
• Refrigerators were donated to the CU Community Closet, for use by the Special Education Departments at CU, Broomfield and Niwot High Schools, and Superior Elementary.
• Old smoke detectors (those under 2 years old and still in good condition) were donated to Longs Peak Energy Conservation, a weatherization agency that assists low-income families.
• About 250 old beds and desks were given to Salvation Army and the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless when furniture was replaced in Sewall Hall last summer.

Next Steps

There are several exciting issues relating to capping solid waste.

Food Waste Composting

The Environmental Center, Facilities Management, and Housing are working to determine the feasibility of collecting food waste from all food service locations including the UMC, the residence halls, the University Club and the College Inn, for a total of 3-5 tons per day of waste. This is a major recyclable component of the waste stream that is not currently being collected. The partnership has applied for grant funding to purchase equipment for composting food waste on campus. If this is not funded, the backup plan is to collect the materials and haul them to a composting facility near Golden.

The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation recently funded CU Recycling to analyze the possibilities of institutional food waste composting and publish a planning guide to share the results with the state. Student researchers have been compiling the technical and financial information for institutions like universities, hospitals, and correctional facilities to convert this waste to a value-added fertilizer. A state-wide composting summit was held on campus in March to discuss CU's findings and recommendations.

New Recycling Facility

:The Athletics Department is planning to build a new field house and parking structure East of the Stadium, on the site of the current recycling facility. While the timing of this project is uncertain, as Athletics has not yet raised all of the funds needed to build the new structure, eventually this will require the facility to relocate. This presents the challenge of identifying a site and designing and building a new facility, but also may present the opportunity for an improved recycling center, with the space and capability to recover additional materials. The Athletics micro master plan sets four principles — that Athletics will pay the costs to relocate the facility; that there will be no interruption in recycling service; that the new site will be located to allow student access; and, that the new site will have room for planned expansion. A site selection process is currently underway to identify and prioritize locations.

Outdoor Recycling Locations

The partnership is currently exploring the possibility of revising Grounds’ trash collection program to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and include recycling at selected outdoor trash locations.

Capital Expansion

The UCSU capital expansion plan reflects considerable long-term planning to determine how best to cap the amount of solid waste entering landfills. The criteria which guide the expansion are:

• amount of recyclables diverted from the waste stream
• visibility and convenience
• ease of implementation
• cost-effectiveness

It is important to note that Facilities Management and Housing departments are interested in seeing recycling improve but are unable to fund these improvements alone. Continued capital funding assistance from UCSU therefore, will continue to lever increased involvement from these departments.

The following projects are currently under financial consideration and in planning phases for implementation in 2002-2003:

• Food Waste Composting: As described above.
• UMC Cardboard Compactor: An upgrade to the current cardboard baler is necessary given massive cardboard volumes which result from the University Memorial Center food services serving over 3 million meals annually. A dual-chamber compactor unit, which will handle corrugated cardboard as well as trash, is the solution for limited dock space, reducing disposal costs, and increasing convenience for food service employees.
• Williams Village floor cabinets: The Williams Village residence halls have a specialized recycling system which involves a container on each floor for co-mingled containers and twice weekly doorside pickup of newspapers. Despite aggressive outreach efforts, residents and housekeeping staff are still confused about the system. Containers for various recyclable materials on each floor would provide a much more convenient and common-sense approach to Williams Village recycling. It is proposed that these improvements be split with the Housing Department and phased in over 2 years.
• Central station backboard signs for indoor locations: This new project is proposed due to the ongoing problem with containers being removed and/or displaced from their approved locations as well as with instructional signage affixed to walls only temporarily. Permanent signage will serve to establish the designated area for recycling containers and the space for affixing grade sheets which describe acceptable materials. We have identified 40 locations needing this type of information.
• Additional automated cardboard collection bins: In the past two years, 23 containers were sited at residence halls and family housing courts for automated cardboard collections. Ten additional containers are needed to complete the cardboard recycling program. Containers will be placed for special events like football games and at additional residence hall and family housing areas.
• Additional indoor interchangable displays: We have identified 22 high-traffic locations to mount attractive posters in 10 academic building locations and 12 residence hall locations. 3 to 5 different messages will be produced so the posters could be switched around for a new look each semester.
• Marketing tools: Funding for student labor and supplies would go toward a project to make positive recycling and waste reduction messages available during previews of campus movies, on the loop TV in the renovated Farrand dining area, and on pre-lecture slideshows.
• Cardboard recycling stamp: To raise awareness that cardboard recycling is available, mail clerks can stamp “recycle this box” on incoming packages in the residence hall mailrooms and other high volume distribution areas. Capital funds will produce 20 refillable, reusable stamps.

E-waste

The emerging problem of “e-waste” is also being addressed. The Environmental Protection Agency has funded the Environmental Center to recommend reuse and recycling options for computers and electronics. Regulations now require businesses and institutions to change their disposal methods for this toxic part of the waste stream. CU’s President’s Office, the State Office of Economic Development, and the Corporation for National Service are assisting the project. While this is designed to provide recommendations to a broad cross-section of institutions, it should also provide useful guidance for the Boulder campus.

Economic Incentives to Reduce Paper Waste

As referenced in the introduction to this Blueprint Update, there is an active effort to reduce paper waste by eliminating “free” printing in public computer labs. Housing has already implemented this, and the rest of the campus is considering following suit. (The sentences in quotes are taken directly from the draft report of the Pay for Printing Taskforce of the campus Information Technology Council.)

“The demand for student printing has continued to rise each year. There are many likely reasons for the increase in printing volume in the computer labs. The Library estimates that paper use increased by 28% and toner cartridge use increased by 35% in FY 2001. Housing experienced similar increases prior to adopting a pay-for-print system in February 2001.” Last year, Housing eliminated free printing from computer labs in the residence halls, instead charging individual users. In the first year of implementation, Housing estimates a 55% reduction in paper use. However, some of this reduction may reflect residents switching and using free printing opportunities in other campus computer labs.

The Campus Information Technology Council is currently considering the issue of pay for printing in the public computer labs on campus. The IT council created a Pay-for-Printing Task Force “to determine appropriate printing solutions for the campus public and student-based printing. The goals of the ideal solution are to:

• Contain printing costs for the campus
• Provide fair and equitable access to print services for all campus constituents
• Reduce waste by providing a financial incentive to conserve resources”

Currently, ITS computer labs print approximately 15,000,000 pages per year, or 30,000 reams of paper. At a conservative estimate of 33% savings, a conversion to pay for printing could save 10,000 reams per year. If the reduction is as large as that within Housing, the reduction could be over 15,000 reams per year - all at a net financial savings to the university.

The Environmental Center has made a proposal to couple the implementation of paid printing with the use of 30% or 100% post-consumer recycled paper in the labs. This action would reinforce the environmental benefits of the switch and make it clear to the campus community that the pay-for-printing initiative is justified by environmental sustainability as well as cost recovery for the university.

Discussion Topics

• Should the Solid Waste Advisory Board, which effectively coordinated departmental involvement and communication with the Chancellor from 1990 until approximately 1998, be re-appointed?
• Since many of the improvements needed to reach the Blueprint goal for capping solid waste involve administrative support or assistance, how can this best be accomplished?
• Are there capital improvement needs that have not been adequately considered in CU Recycling prioritization process?
• With the eventual replacement of CU's recycling facility scheduled for the next 3-7 years, what are some of the design and processing elements that should be considered now?