WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.”

~ Bruntland report for the World Commission

on Environment and Development (1992)

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,

we borrow it from our children."

~Native American Proverb

WHY SHOULD I TRY TO LIVE

MORE SUSTAINABLY?

  • environmental

responsibility – only sustainable living can

can maintain a natural world which can support humanity

  • social responsibility– wasting or degradingnatural resourcesmeans

stealing those resources from everyone else,especiallyfrom future generations

  • economic responsibility – sustainable living is ultimately cheaper for you and everyone else

WHATCAN I DO TO

USE LESS ENERGY?

  • turn off the lightswhen you leave a room
  • replace incandescentlight bulbs with fluorescents or LEDs
  • set your thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer
  • plan trips for efficiency and share rides whenever possible

HOW CAN I MINIMIZE

THERMAL ENERGY LOSS?

  • do not prop open windows and doors
  • make sure that windows and doors seal completely
  • report any suspected energy leaks to the Physical Plant

WHAT CAN I DO TO

CONSERVE WATER?

  • use low-flow fixtures; do not substitute your own fixtures
  • turn off all taps whenthey are not in use
  • take shorter showers
  • promptly report water leaks and drips
  • use biodegradable soaps, shampoos, detergents, and cleaners
  • wash full loads in cold water
  • do notpour chemicals down the drain; contact Physical Plant for proper disposal

WHAT AND WHERE

CAN I RECYCLE?

  • cardboard – fold flat,place next to a paper recycling bin
  • mixed paper – uselabeled bins
  • plastic containers (#1 & #2) and metal cans – rinse, remove labels, andplace inlabeled bins
  • other trash – KEEP OUT OF RECYCLING BINS!

HOW CAN I REDUCE

PRINTER WASTE?

  • use recycled paper
  • use lighter weight paper (20# not 24#)
  • print on both sides ofeach sheet of paper
  • reuse printed sheets as scratch paper, then recycle them
  • print only what you need to – just think before you ink

HOW CAN I REDUCE OTHER

WASTE SENTTO LANDFILLS ?

  • buy and reuse cloth shopping bags
  • buy products in bulk, orin minimal packaging
  • reuse packing andpackaging materials
  • reuse or recycle everything thatyoucan
  • resell or donate unwanted books, clothes, and furnishings

WHAT IS “U-WASTE” AND HOW SHOULD I DISPOSE OF IT?

  • Universal Waste contains toxic metals
  • Physical Plant willsafely dispose of fluorescent bulbs
  • Computer Services willcollect computers andother electronic devices
  • turn in batteries and aerosol cans to collection bins

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN

MAKING COMPOSTING WORK?

  • campus composting may begin as early asSpring of 2014
  • watch for composting collection containers in the dining hall and at campus events
  • follow the instructions over the containers to keep compostableand non-compostablewaste streams separate

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO

PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY?

  • Listen – attend

sustainability convos and other events

  • Learn – check out

WISe and theEnvironmental Studies Program

  • Explore – take a walk in the Arboretum
  • Communicate – talk to your family and friends about sustainability issues
  • Commit – follow the suggestions in this

Sustainability Guide

  • Collaborate – join the Student Environmental Concerns Committee
  • Grow – take over a plot in Wesleyan’s CommunityGarden
  • Shop – visit the monthly Wesleyan Market andother outlets for local produce and products
  • Sweat–join in campus and arboretum work days or volunteer at the compost bins
  • Share – offer your ideas for new sustainability initiatives at Wesleyan
  • Lead – organize your own sustainability events

Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore!

WHAT RESOURCES ARE THERE

TO HELP ME LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY?

Where can I get

a specific guide to what I can/can’t recycle, a

list of eco-friendly products, orsustainability information for non-resident students?

Student Affairs Office or Student Handbook

local produce and products

Wesleyan Market (2nd & 4th Saturday monthly)

Macon Farmers Market 2055 Eisenhower Pkwy

low-energy light bulbs

any store – use low-watt fluorescents or LEDs

Arboretum guide/maps/events/information

Drs. Ferrari, Pritchard, Rhoades

Creatures of Habit t-shirts & shopping bags

Wesleyan Market (2nd & 4th Saturday monthly)Dr. Rhoades – MSC 106

Whom do I tell about

residence hall heating/cooling/insulation

problems,full or unsanitary recycling bins, or

leaky plumbing fixtures?

Physical Plant – place a work order via the portal

my ideas for events and initiatives?

Student Affairs Office – Huckabee Hall

Student Environmental Concerns Committee

Drs. Ferrari, Pritchard, Rhoades

Whom do I ask about

picking up recyclables or U-waste?

yourhall RA (Resident Assistant)

your hallITA

the Environmental Concerns Committee?

Jennifer Lee, Katy Trietsch

the Environmental Studies Program?

Dr. Jim Ferrari – MSC112

sponsoring a sustainability event/mtg/convo?

Student Affairs Office – Huckabee Hall

reselling/donating used items?

Campus Store – OSP ground floor

any other sustainability questions?

Student Affairs Office – Huckabee Hall

THE
WESLEYANCOLLEGE SUSTAINABILITYGUIDE

FOR STUDENTS

August 10, 2013

WesleyanCollege

printed on 100% recycled paper