As a result of its annual campus-wide survey, the UCSB Associated Students Recycling Program (ASR) has given its first place Green Award to the Department of Geography. In its announcement, the ASR stated: “AS Recycling thanks all 27 departments for participating in the Green Awards. And as always great appreciation goes out to our retired departments Environmental Studies and Bren for their continued excellence in sustainability. In conclusion of the 2007 Green Awards, the winners are: 1st Geography; 2nd Computer Science; 3rd Office of Student Life. The Geography Department is part of the Ellison Hall Sustainability Committee. This year especially, they have made many improvements to their department from vermicomposting to switching to 50% recycled paper to sending all their peanuts and bubble wrap back to mail services. They continue to set defaults for double-sided copies, and are even working out a program to limit free student printing in labs so they are more conscious of how much they print. Not to mention implementing a system for reusable batteries and many more.”
To quote ASR: With over 20,000 students, UCSB generates as much waste as a small city. In response to this massive amount of waste, 79% of which has the potential of being recycled, students at UCSB voted on April 1994 to finance a comprehensive recycling program on campus. As a result of this student lock-in fee, students now pay $0.75 per quarter to aid AS Recycling in the collection of glass, newspaper, aluminum, and plastics numbered “1” and “2” around campus. The money from the student lock-in-fee is also used within the program to increase recycling awareness through outreach. Green "Witt" containers for recycling within the buildings have been purchased to increase the amounts of paper captured and recycled. Furthermore, AS Recycling staff members are working to educate departments on campus regarding ways to improve their recycling practices, while encouraging the purchase of recycled products (http://www.as.ucsb.edu/asr/). It is fitting that a department that aims to be the intellectual home of choice for studies of Earth as the home of humanity should win this award—Geography is proud to be distinguished for its efforts to make UCSB greener and Earth a bit more sustainable.
