Recycling at Hollins

In the fall of 2006, Hollins University partnered with Roanoke County to establish the first county recycling site. Prior to this partnership, Hollins collected only mixed paper for recycling and the county had no recycling program. The partnership allowed Hollins to begin to recycle aluminum, newspaper, and #1 and #2 plastic in addition to the mixed paper program. Residents of Roanoke County are encouraged to bring their recycling to the collection bins on the Hollins campus for disposal.

To highlight recycling on campus, Hollins holds an annual "Battle of the Bins" contest at the beginning of every academic year. Students, staff, faculty, and others join together to paint the recycling bins with their own imaginative designs. Bins are judged and the top three designs win small cash prizes. The Battle of the Bins has promoted recycling on campus, created a sense of community around recycling, and the campus declares itself a recycling community with individually designed and painted recycling bins in every building.

E-Waste Recycling

Electronic waste is becoming a mounting global problem. In the United States alone there are over 500 million obsolete computers, 130 million cell phones which are thrown away each year, as well as millions of other unwanted electronic devices (TV's, printers, faxes, etc…). When thrown away, these electronic devices can leak toxic chemicals (e.g. lead, cadmium) into the environment. Eighty percent of the e-waste that is recycled is sent overseas to developing countries where impoverished workers, including children, work in unsafe conditions smashing leaded glass tubes, breathing lead solder fumes and melting plastics with toxic flame retardants. Many of these toxic compounds are then dumped into rivers or piled into mountains of e-waste scrap.

In order to address this growing problem, Hollins hosted and carried out three-day statewide recycling events in 2007 and 2008 to encourage Virginians to properly recycle their old electronic devices. That effort resulted in the collection of 831,579 pounds of e-waste at the Hollins University campus and three other Virginia universities (University of Richmond, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion University). On its own, Hollins far surpassed its original goal of collecting 200,000 pounds of e-waste by collecting 367,259 pounds (44% of the total). The e-waste that was collected was sent to MeTech Corporation in Massachusetts where the valuable materials were harvested and recycled in safe conditions.

Hollins provided businesses, schools, and households in western Virginia the opportunity to recycle their old computers, televisions, cell phones, and other electronic devices at no cost during the second annual Hollins E-Waste Recycling Event.

Green Cleaning Products

On the recommendation of the Environmental Advisory Board, Hollins University instituted a policy of purchasing only Green Seal Certified Cleaning Products® whenever possible. Green Seal evaluates products based on a "life-cycle approach to ensure that all significant environmental impacts of a product are considered, from raw materials extraction through manufacturing to use and disposal." Use of certified products thereby reduces toxic pollution, conserves resources and habitats, and protects the health of service staff. Since the fall of 2007, all cleaning products with the exception of our bathroom disinfectants are green seal certified. We see this purchasing policy as a direct outcome of our institutional commitment to promote sustainable practices.

Reference: http://www.greenseal.org/certification/standards.cfm

Cleaning products used on campus:

Cleaning Activity	Product Name	Company
General cleanser	Stride Citrus HC Neutral Cleaner** Alpha HP Multi-Surface Cleaner**	Johnson Wax Professional
Washroom care	Crew: Bathroom cleaner and scale remover**	Johnson Wax Professional
Glass cleaner	Glance: Non-ammoniated glass cleaner**	Johnson Wax Professional
Floor care	Stride Citrus Neutral Cleaner** Freedom SC floor stripper for waxing**	Johnson Wax Professional
Bathroom handsoaps	Reliable GM Green Choice Luxury Handwash**	Reliable Brand Co.
Disinfectant	Alpha HP Bathroom Disinfectant and Cleaner**	Johnson Wax Professional
** Green Seal Certification

 

Sustainable Initiatives / Practices / Accomplishments

Campus Sustainability Efforts (by category)

Dining Services

1. Purchasing approximately 20% local products with a focus on seasonal fare (as of 2011)
2. Initiated 'trayless' dining in the cafeteria (fall 2009)
3. Adapted the dishwasher in Moody dining hall so that we save several thousands of gallons of water annually from entering the sewer system (summer 2009)
4. Incorporated biodegradable/recyclable dishes into catering practices and dining room take-out (2010)
5. Contracting with local vendor for composting from cafeteria (2010)
6. Composting food waste (2011)

Buildings & Grounds

1. Replaced incandescent bulbs with compact florescent (ongoing since 1990’s)
2. Replaced toilets and showers with low flow options (ongoing since 1990’s)
3. Started incorporating recycled paper products (2000), and replacing custodial chemical products with green seal approved products (2003)
4. Incorporated golf carts into university fleet for use by maintenance, information technology, etc. (2002)
5. Installed front-loading washing machines (2005)
6. Installed an energy efficient summer boiler system and upgraded controls and burners on existing boilers to more efficient models (February 2007)
7. Replaced old window air conditioners with energy efficient units (July 2008)
8. Established policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Standard or equivalent (May 2007)
9. Adopted an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such rating exist (May 2007)
10. Completed energy audit on Dana, Tinker, West (fall 2009)
11. Installed daylight sensors in classrooms of and first floor hallways of Dana Science Building using student 'green fee' funds matched by money from the university (2010)
12. Renovations to Alumnae Cottage include geo-thermal wells and other sustainable processes in an effort to qualify for LEED certification (fall 2010)
13. Installed energy meters in 13 academic buildings and residence halls to monitor energy use (summer 2010). You can view usage month by month here.
    
14. Completing an inventory of all lighting, appliances and technology in buildings on campus to better understand electricity usage (fall 2010)
15. Placed 108 acres in conservation easement (2006)
16. Planted new trees on Front Quad (summer 2009), and on Back Quad using inaugural student green fee (spring 2010)
17. Installed system to capture rainwater from the roof of Turner for the purposes of watering Beale Garden (2009)
18. Installed irrigation systems with rain sensors to eliminate unnecessary sprinkler use

Information Technology

1. Moved to default double-sided multi-function printers (October 2006)
2. Developed a Computer Power Savings Policy to reduce unnecessary power consumption (spring 2009)
3. Installed new energy efficient copiers (fall 2009)

Business Office/HR

• Implemented new processes in HR and Business Office in order to reduce use of paper and envelopes and mailing costs (March 2010)
• Began paperless billing system for students (2010)

Institutionally

1. Created Environmental Studies major (2005)
2. Created an Environmental Advisory Board at Hollins (June 2006)
3. Included environmental and cultural sustainability as a priorities in strategic plan (March 2006)
4. Completed Hollins’ carbon footprint for academic years 2006-07 (2007)
5. Developed a carbon model which will be used to evaluate carbon reduction initiatives (2007)
6. Developed and endorsed a Strategic Plan for Carbon Neutrality recommending a target date for carbon neutrality of 2040 and 15% reduction of greenhouse gases over the next five years with an annual goal of 3% (May 2009)
7. Revised campus policies (purchasing, travel and entertainment, and car rental) to include references to institutional commitment sustainability (spring 2009)
8. Hollins was named a winner of one of the inaugural "Cool Citizens Awards," presented by the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition. The awards recognize individuals, organizations, and companies that have had the greatest impact toward reducing the greenhouse gas emissions. (2009)
9. Hollins encourages the use of public and/or shared transportation for faculty, staff, and students. Carpooling opportunities for employees are available through RIDE Solutions, a regionally sponsored carpooling network. Students have access to a Ride Board Program and Weekend Shuttle Service through the office of Student Affairs.

Students

1. Produced directory of green businesses in Roanoke Valley (2006)
2. Initiated community garden (spring 2005)
3. Initiated Green Fee that will add $5 per semester for all students beginning fall 2009. Funds will be used to support efforts toward a more environmentally-friendly campus (spring 2009)
4. Kicked-off campus initiative to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Metal water bottle campaign coordinated in conjunction by SEA (Students for Environmental Action) (spring 2010)

Education

1. Developed energy conservation guidelines for the campus to demonstrate institutional commitment and encourage campus and individual participation in reductions (January 2006)
2. Created energy awareness with “Turn out the Light” signs placed above light switches around campus (2007)
3. Incorporated sustainability information and activities into first-year orientation events (2008, 2009)
4. Hosted Green Roundtable – monthly lunchtime discussions open to campus community (2009-2010)
5. Hosted environmental speakers including Nobel Prize winner Susan Solomon as part of women in science conference (March 2009); author Barbara Kingsolver in conjunction with RAIL Solution (May 2006); author/economist, Brian Czech, and author/professor of environmental studies at Oberlin College, David Orr as part of Sowell Lecture Series (September 2006); activist/author Vandana Shiva (April 2005)
6. Developed annual sustainability pledge for students and employees (2009)

Recycling

1. Hosted Ewaste community recycling events (2007, 2008). 400,000 lbs of Ewaste was collected from the Roanoke community at the Hollins site with a total of 800,000 lbs statewide in 2007.
2. Developed campus and neighborhood recycling program with Roanoke County (2005)
3. Created student supported recycling program on campus (2007)
4. Participated in Recyclemania, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities (spring 2009 and 2010)
5. Hosted regional glass recycling event resulting in institutional support of glass recycling (2010)
6. Initiated office supply recycling program for exchanging unused items. Leftovers are donated to Free Store for students to use (summer 2010)
7. Student Affairs led coordinated effort for recycling/donating materials when students move out for the summer (2009)
8. Provide cardboard and glass recycling options (2010)

 

Community GARDEN

Sprouting from a student thesis in 2005, the Hollins Community Garden continues to engage students and faculty in creating a unique place for education and inspiration. The production of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers brings a sense of accomplishment and responsibility that grows into environmental awareness and commitment to something larger. As a gathering place for study, poetry and music, or simply a solitary retreat in the hammock, the community garden is a creative space for growing food and cultivating minds. Video »