Recycling Program

  1) What goes into Recycling (usually blue) bins: aluminum cans, cardboard, glass, paper, plastic (any kind), junk mail, catalogs.These co-mingled materials are then taken off campus to be separated. The College recycles roughly 30 cubic yards a month of these mixed materials.

2) What can not go into the Recycling bins: styrofoam, electronics (collected during E-waste days), fluorescent bulbs (collected by B&G),

batteries, toner or ink cartridges (take to Warehouse), food waste, CD's and DVD's.

3) New for 2007 and 2008: For all events, including BarBQ's & Parties, that generate recyclables: You can now request new well-identified recycle bins in racks of 2, on the same workorder as your table and chair set up request. For Parties of Less than 10: There is one rack with one recycle bin and one Trash bin. For Parties of 10 or More: Request one or more racks consisting of two recycle bins each. Trash bins will be the normal size trash cans you see at events.

4) Used batteries (except automotive, marine, and motorcycle) may be recycled in one of three locations: the Physical plant office, the Warehouse, and also the Rheem facility’s kitchen.  Acceptable battery types include Alkaline, NiCad, Carbon Zinc, Lithium, Nickel and metal hyd.

5) Special electronic waste pick-ups on campus collect pallets of  "e-waste" from the college community and local residents.

   4) A Recycling Contest began in Augustine Hall, March 27th, 2006.   A similar recycling program for the 7 central campus dorms began in February, 2007.

   5) "California Fresh Buffet":

   Fresh, organic foods were served in Oliver Hall from all around California in celebration of National Recycling Day, November 15th, 2005

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College offers discount for "green" limo service ______________________________

Saint Mary's recognized by the Flex Your Power organization for leadership in energy efficiency

The College was chosen as a finalist from nearly 600 candidates. This statewide campaign encourages the voluntary tracking and reporting of emissions and energy use.  Flex Your Power recognizes organizations, institutions, and individuals that have made exceptional contributions toward saving energy.

   Saint Marys' was featured on Sunday, November 6, 2005, in a Flex Your Power Congratulatory Ad.

  Click here to see a  PDF file of the advertisement that features Saint Mary's and its energy efficiency efforts.

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Saint Mary's joins the US Partnership for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

     The US Partnership consists of individuals, organizations and institutions in the United States dedicated to education for sustainable development (ESD). The partnership was formed as a response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

     The US Partnership is convening individuals and organizations from a broad spectrum of society in order to catalyze cross-sector communication that leverages the UN Decade to promote understanding of sustainable development.

     The primary goal of the US Partnership is to bring about a new cultural norm in which Americans are more "literate" about sustainability challenges and have both the skills and attitudes to participate in solutions.

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Saint Mary's joins the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is a membership-based association of colleges and universities working to advance sustainability in higher education in the US and Canada. AASHE works in partnership with businesses, NGO's and government agencies that support its mission. ______________________________________________

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE EARNS OVER $150,000 IN UTILITY REBATES AFTER INSTALLING ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION UPGRADES

   Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the East Bay Municipal Utility District  presented Saint Mary’s College with over $150,000 in rebates on April 21, 2005 as part of a utility conservation project. The project implemented energy and water conservation measures that will save the college more than $250,000 per year in utility bills.

   Saint Mary’s College partnered with Chevron Energy Solutions to develop a self-funding utility conservation project that will help the college reduce utility costs, replace old, inefficient equipment, and allow for future campus expansion. The project included high-efficiency lighting, plumbing retrofits, window film, vending machine controllers, sewage flow meters, ventilation improvements, and boiler controllers. 

   “Saint Mary's College is honored to be part of this program,” said Peter Michell, the college's vice president for finance. “Environmental conservation is consistent with the college's social justice mission and reducing utility costs is a necessity for all large institutions.”

   PG&E estimates the improvements will save Saint Mary’s over 1 million kilowatt hours in electricity use each year, reduce power demand by over 300 kilowatts, and save the college $242,000 on its annual PG&E bill.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District estimates Saint Mary’s will also save 4.3 million gallons of water each year from improvements made to toilets and urinals. The upgrades earn the college annual savings of over $14,000 on its water bill.

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Acting locally:

More than 50 student-athletes are volunteering with Moraga Beautiful, the annual community clean-up effort to upgrade playground equipment and facilities, remove invasive plants, pick up litter, and other projects.

"PEDAL FOR THE PLANET":

Saint Mary’s second annual Bike to School Day,April 18th, 2007.

Nearly 100 students, faculty members and Lamorinda community members bicycled to campus on April 18 in support of "Pedal for the Planet” and Earth Day. It was the second year that Saint Mary's sponsored the event to promote the bicycle as a healthy, fun and practical alternative to the automobile. “Pedal for the Planet” featured a free breakfast and T-shirts for the cyclists, an afternoon raffle for an iPod nano and a free barbecue for everyone who rode to campus. It was followed by an environmental fair featuring organizations including 511.org, the countywide transportation agency, and World Bicycle Relief.  

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The Habitat Garden

  Located on the east side of the School of Education building, the Habitat Garden serves to educate students and the community about wildlife habitats. It demonstrates how water can be conserved and urban runoff pollution reduced. The Garden has been re-vegetated with California native plants and non-native drought-tolerant plants chosen to attract birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Organic mulch has replaced pesticides to control weeds. The hillside is planted to stop soil erosion. A drip irrigation system prevents runoff and conserves water. Interpretive signs throughout the garden educate vistors about water conservation, urban runoff pollution, and wildlife habitats.

  The project was funded by the Contra Costa County Clearn Water Project.

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Campus wetlands

     On the Saint Mary’s campus, there is seasonal, freshwater wetland forest, which is a valuable research and educational resource. It is a unique environment in the East San Francisco Bay region with its extensive stand of red willow.