Tuesday, November 12, 2002

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Frist Center, Multipurpose Room C

Committee Attendees:  Michael McKay, Chair; Jenn Brudno, Janet Gruschow,  Kelsey Jack, Bill Jordan, Tom Nyquist, Leila Shahbender, Don Weston

Committee Members Absent:   Andy Dobson, Robin Izzo, Emmanual Kreike

Other Attendees:  Jon Baer, Mary Banfield, Kai Chan, Rick Curtis, Chad Klaus, Stu Orefice

Guest Speaker:   Herb Simmens, Executive Director, NJHEPS (New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability) 

The following items were discussed:

2002-03 Campaign of the NJHEPS Sustainable Campus Initiative  

Michael McKay introduced Herb Simmens, Executive Director of NJHEPS.  Herb is seeking to confirm Princeton University’s willingness to be designated as a Lead Institution in the Campaign of the NJHEPS  Sustainable Campus Initiative 2002-03.  The program includes energy efficiency and green design initiatives consistent with Princeton’s commitment to the New Jersey Greenhouse Gas Action Plan. 

NJHEPS will host a kickoff meeting on Friday, November 22^nd, at Middlesex County College, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Janet will forward to Mary a copy of the invitation, along with the directions, for the Environmental Committee.  Janet is on the NJHEPS Board, and she will participate in the workshop.  Janet mentioned Ted Borer, Engineering Department, will also attend.  Kelsey Jack will approach student groups to see if there is a student available to attend the session. 

Janet encourages Princeton’s participation in this program since Princeton University already is involved in several of the projects mentioned.   Mike asked for a vote from the Committee on the University’s participation as a Lead Institution.  The Committee unanimously voted yes.  Mike McKay will meet with Charles Kalmbach for his approval. 

Purchasing Intern’s Final Report

Lili Shek’04, Summer 02 Purchasing Intern, gave a summary of her final report to the Committee.  Lili researched products the University currently buys, i.e., paper, cartridges, disks, etc.  She also looked for environmentally friendly products for the Princeton University “Green Catalog”.  Approximately 280 new products have been added to the catalog.  Mike McKay asked Don Weston to prepare for the Committee a summary of products ordered from the “Green Catalog” by the end of the year.   

In addition, Lili looked at other universities and colleges to learn more about their practices and policies.  The report will be posted on the Environmental Oversight Committee website.  Don Weston commented Lili did a fantastic job this summer on this project. 

Recycling on Campus

Bill Jordan and Jenn Brudno met with Jon Baer, Director of Building Services, in mid October to discuss recycling issues on campus.  Training, education, and enforcement of student violations, a delicate issue between janitors and students, were also discussed. 

An FTE Recycling Coordinator has been requested by the Facilities Department through the PriCom process.  Kai Chan recommended “persuading” the PriCom Committee to seriously consider this request.  Bill Jordan volunteered to prepare a draft recommendation for the Recycling Coordinator to be submitted to the PriCom Committee.  The Environmental Committee will finalize the document.   Mike McKay will send it to Charles Kalmbach with the Committee’s endorsement.

Other recycling issues discussed:

• We discussed the benefits of having uniform recycling bins on campus. The 3-way bins are not installed throughout the entire campus due to cost.  Don Weston will research less expensive recycling bins. 
• Jon Baer, Director of Building Services, will mandate all building supervisors to have the right recycling cans in the right locations by the end of November.  All recycling bins throughout the campus are to be properly labeled. 
• Jon recommended refining the list of what is recyclable and posting it in the dormitories and on the Environmental Committee Web Page.
• Kai Chan offered to continue to look at ways to improve recycling on campus.

Other Items

Lili Shek reported the Tailloires Declaration, a statement made by university administrators committed to environmental sustainability in higher education, has been signed by over 300 university and college presidents worldwide.   The web site will be forwarded to the Committee for their consideration.

Bill Jordan reported there will be a Wind Power Seminar at 5:30 p.m. on November 19^th at the Carnegie Center.  Bill will send the information about the seminar to Tom Nyquist, Director of Engineering.  (NOTE.  The Wind Power Seminar scheduled to be presented by Jim Caldwell from the American Wind Energy Association has been changed to Tuesday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m., Carnegie Center, Carnegie Boulevard, Building 510, Third Floor, Room 03P1.) 

Directions: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcnjpes/images/map.raytheon.gif

Don Weston, will schedule a “paper presentation” for Academic Managers.  This presentation will be an educational opportunity for managers to learn about the different types of recycling paper available on campus.  Leila Shahbender offered to help Don Weston  with the presentation.

Stu Orefice, Director of Dining Services, will give an update to the Committee on what recycling projects the Dining Services Department is currently doing at the next Environmental Committee meeting.

A draft of the October 1^st Meeting Minutes was sent to the Committee; changes/ corrections to the minutes are due by Friday, November 15^th.   The minutes will then be posted on the Environmental Committee Website.

The Committee agreed to meet again in December.