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EARTH WEEK

This year will be filled with great events and speakers. Please visit the Students for Sustainable Campus website for more information and to sign up.

https://sites.google.com/site/msuearthweek/

April 04, 2012

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STUDENT GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER

Students for a Sustainable Campus (SSC) is asking Starkville residents to donate their unwanted possessions Fridays, March 23 and March 30 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Boardtown Garden Center located at 404 MLK Drive. The items donated by the community will be used in a Garage Sale fundraiser for Earth Week events on campus.

The SSC Garage Sale, to be held on March 31, 2012, will feature various items donated from the community. Some examples of items the students are asking for are clothing, books, furniture, appliances, electronics, games, musical instruments, bicycles, and any other unwanted items you may find while doing your spring time cleaning. Examples of items that should stay home are undergarments, swimming suits, clothing with holes, and unrepairable broken appliances or furniture.

Hailey Hawkins, senior communication major and core leader of SSC said about the event, ?Recyling encompases more than just paper and plastic, we also need to reuse items such as clothes and furniture. By taking these steps we can do our part to reduce our waste and ultimately help our environment.? Furthermore, all unsold items from the Garage Sale will be donated to the Palmer Home Thrift Store.

The SSC Garage Sale is a fundraiser for the various activities surrounding Earth Week. These activities include a ?Sustainable Bike Tour,? a speaker from the Gulf Restoration Network, and an Earth Day fair on Old Main Plaza. While the students are in charge of planning these events, other campus and communities figures are also involved such as the MSU Office of Sustainability and Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi.

For More Information:
Liz Kazal
Eak69@msstate.edu
228-209-4564

March 23, 2012

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E-Waste Recycling

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

On Thursday, March 22, Ecovery LLC and Gulf States Manufacturers will host an Electronics Recycling event from 9:00 a.m. ? 2:00 p.m. in the Gulf States Manufacturers parking lot at 101 Airport Road in Starkville Mississippi at the corner of Pollard Road and Airport Road. If you have old electronics/computers that you no longer need, please recycle them.

?Due to the rapid advancements in electronic technology, cell phones, computer monitors, hard drives, televisions and other similar devices are often obsolete in a matter of years and, in some cases, just a matter of months. The rapid increase in the amount of discarded electronic equipment poses a serious environmental problem for our nation's landfills. Some electronic components are made with toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, or cadmium? according to Denise Heubach Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

?During the recycling process, plastic and metal components such as, aluminum, copper and steel, as well as gold and silver, can be recovered and used to make new products. By collecting, sorting, and processing the various components of discarded electronic equipment, electronic waste recycling facilities reduce the amount of discarded electronics that may end up in local landfills?, she says.

By taking advantage of the Ecovery LLC convenient drive thru and drop off day at Gulf States Manufacturers March 22, 2012, the community can make a big impact on keeping Starkville "clean and green". Adult volunteers (high school and up) will be needed to help unload discarded items. Those interested in volunteering can contact Amy Counterman at 324-8737.

This recycling event is co-sponsored by E-Covery of Loxley, Alabama and Gulf States Manufacturers.

WHAT TO BRING: Computers, copiers, radios, cell phones, VCR?s, monitors, printers, computer components, fax machines, televisions, telephones, electronic games and laptops.
*$5 charge per monitor & $10 charge per television

WHAT NOT TO BRING: Appliances, air conditioners, gas powered equipment, vacuum cleaners, smoke detectors or any hazardous materials.

WHO? E-Covery and Gulf States Manufacturers
WHAT? Electronics/Computer Recycling
WHERE? Gulf States Manufacturers Parking lot
Corner of Pollard Road and Airport Rd
WHEN? Thursday, March 22, 9:00 a.m. ? 2:00 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed. To help, call Gulf States Manufacturers at 323-8021

March 19, 2012

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NOTICE OF CHANGES TO CAMPUS WIDE RECYCLING

The Mississippi State University single-stream recycling program has now been in place for over a year. This program fundamentally changed the way that we collect recycling and waste on the campus and we are still evaluating and reviewing our procedures in order to see how effective this program is and how we can make it more efficient at reducing our waste stream into our local landfill. In addition to monitoring the current system, a few changes have happened related to the contractor and their ability to collect material.

The single stream program was developed around the capabilities of the contractor who was awarded the contract. Blubox was the selected contractor because of their ability to collect and sort all cardboards, papers, plastics, metals, and glass. During the course of the last year, Blubox was purchased by Mississippi Industrial Waste Management (MIWD) and just a few months ago, MIWD was purchased by Waste Pro. Waste Pro is now the recycling and waste contractor for the campus and the only change resulting from this change is that Waste Pro does not collect glass; therefore we cannot collect that as part of our recycling stream.

The materials that we can now collect as part of our single-stream recycling program are as follows:

All Paper
All Plastic
Cardboard
Metals and Aluminum

Thanks for your effort and support with this program and if you have specific questions, please email Jeremiah Dumas at jpd1@msstate.edu.

January 09, 2012

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Recycling on campus easier than ever

Mississippi State's campuswide recycling program is underway, and most of the university's facilities are now participating.

Extensive research and planning went into the design of the university's recycling program, along with valuable experience gained during a 3-month trial held on campus last fall, according to assistant research professor and campus sustainability coordinator Jeremiah Dumas.

"We are excited that everyone on campus is now a part of our recycling effort," he said.

During the recycling trial, officials realized that an overwhelming majority of office waste is recyclable. Students, faculty and staff can now recycle all plastics, glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard and metal.

"It is our goal to capture as much of this material as possible in an efficient manner. Food and personal hygiene waste cannot be recycled, and on average, we produce very little of that within office settings," Dumas explained.

Because of these details and Mississippi State's goal to increase recycling activity campuswide, the university has designed a system that makes it easiest to recycle the overwhelming majority of waste.

How it works

Here are the details about how recycling on the Starkville campus works:

Your existing desk-side office container is now your personal recycling container. As mentioned, all plastics (including styrofoam), glass, aluminum, all paper, cardboard and metal are recyclable. Basically, the only material that is not recyclable is food waste and personal hygiene items, and these items should be disposed of in the closest waste container, which can be found in common areas (kitchens, break rooms, bathrooms, etc.)

Blue recycling containers are also being distributed in common areas so that you can have the opportunity to recycle in those areas as well.

So, please remember:

* Paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, metal, plastic --> desk-side and other recycling containers marked with stickers or recycling symbols.

* Food and personal hygiene waste --> in common area containers.

A poster detailing the specifics of the program is available for download at http://www.eco.msstate.edu

If you have any questions about the recycling program, please contact Dumas at jpd1@msstate.edu, the Facilities Management Service Desk at 662.325.2005, or your building representative.

August 18, 2011

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Campus-Wide Recycling Program Underway

Mississippi State's campus-wide recycling program is underway. Your existing desk-side office container is now your personal recycling container and we can recycle all plastics (including styrofoam), glass, aluminum, all paper, cardboard and metal. The only material that is not recyclable is food waste and personal hygiene items, and we ask that you throw these items away in the closest waste container. Recycling containers are designated by a recycling symbol or by being blue in color. Please use and distribute this poster as needed to help educate everyone on the specifics of our MSU recycling program.

Download Poster

February 11, 2011

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Comprehensive recycling rolls out on campus

Mississippi State University's new recycling program is underway, and members of the campus community are excited about the additional opportunity to go green, according to the director of the MSU Environmental Collaborative Office.

"The recycling response has exceeded expectations," said Jeremiah Dumas, whose office coordinates sustainability initiatives at the land-grant institution. "Comprehensive, single-stream recycling provides an easy-to-use and cost-effective complement to MSU's existing waste management program."

In April, university officials signed an agreement with Columbus-based Triangle Maintenance Service, LLC, for the company's BluBox Recycling division to service the Starkville campus. Over the past few weeks, BluBox personnel have started delivering recycling bins to campus locations, and students, faculty, staff and visitors are encouraged to toss paper of all types, plastics (Nos. 1-7), aluminum, metal, glass and cardboard into the blue boxes.

As the program expands, more buildings will see the bins, but recycling is also growing office by office. According to Dumas, the new program allows for most waste to be recycled. "Our goal is to make recycling as easy as possible by turning people's current wastebaskets into individual recycling bins so that they can recycle right at their desks and don't have to use a central recycling bin."

Dumas offers this simple reminder: blue bags and blue bins mean recycling. "Within an office environment, basically the only thing we can't recycle are food waste items, and we are centralizing the collection of that waste thus streamlining the process by allowing custodial staff to remove blue bags with recycling from desk-side containers and food-contaminated waste from the containers in the common areas."

For additional information about recycling, please contact Dumas at jdumas@finadmin.msstate.edu or (662) 325-0216. The MSU Environmental Collaborative Office is online at http://www.eco.msstate.edu.

June 16, 2010

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Environmental Collaborative Office launches ECO Paw

The Mississippi State University Environmental Collaborative Office (ECO) is building on the momentum of April's successful Earth Day and ECO Week activities with the launch of ECO Paw. The innovative program for faculty and staff is designed to enhance environmental stewardship, maximize resources and contribute to a healthier campus community.

ECO Paw gives every employee an opportunity to make a difference and help the university achieve the goals of the American College and Universities Presidents' Climate Commitment, according to Jeremiah Dumas, MSU ECO director.

"We have been fielding questions from departments interested in cutting energy consumption, recycling and going greener, and now ECO Paw will provide the framework and tools for departments to become more efficient and effective in using resources," Dumas said.

ECO Paw consists of four tiers covering operations, transportation, materials, community and quality of life that take participants from an introductory phase with easily obtainable goals to the highest level consisting of more complex standards to meet. There is no cost to participate.

Dumas encourages anyone interested in participating to check out ECO Paw online at http://www.eco.msstate.edu or contact him directly at jdumas@finadmin.msstate.edu or (662) 325-0216.

June 01, 2010

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Biological Sciences sharing Earth Day message with students

Mississippi State University's Department of Biological Sciences is marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day today by handing out reusable grocery bags to nearly 1,000 undergraduate majors in biological sciences (BIO), medical technology (MDT) and microbiology (MIC). The bags are made of 85% recycled cotton, and designed to encourage reduced use of plastic bags, re-use of the bags at least once per week and recycling.

Students from Alpha Epsilon Delta, Beta Beta Beta and the American Medical Student Association will hand out these reusable grocery bags to BIO, MDT and MIC undergraduate majors today on the Drill Field in front of Allen Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students must present their student ID and be on the departmental list of majors.

April 22, 2010

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Free MSU ice cream! (Oh, and a bike tour, too)

Hit the road on a Bully Bike and check out a few of the sustainability initiatives underway at Mississippi State University during the ECO Week bike tour April 21 from 10:30 a.m.-noon.

The group ride starts at Colvard Student Union and includes a stop at Landscape Architecture, tours of efficient structure projects and the campus steam plant, and FREE ice cream.

MSU Parking Services will provide 20 bikes and helmets for riders, and participants are welcome to ride their own bicycles. Helmets are required. MSU Recreational Sports will provide a short bike safety presentation in front of the Union before riders depart, and MSU Police Department bike patrol officers will accompany the bike tour.

At the conclusion of the ride, free MSU ice cream will be served.

April 14, 2010

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Campus gearing up for ECO Week, Earth Day

Exhibits, information, speakers, music and more are on the agenda for Mississippi State University's ECO Week and Earth Day celebration April 19-23. All of the events on the Starkville campus are free and open to the local community.

"We are looking forward to an outstanding lineup of great speakers and activities throughout the week," said Jeremiah Dumas, the director of the MSU Environmental Collaborative Office. "We also plan on making several exciting announcements about the university's sustainability efforts during the Earth Day Fair April 22."

The Earth Day Fair on Old Main Plaza between Colvard Student Union and Perry Cafeteria will feature a wide range of exhibitors, including student organizations, local nonprofits and businesses, sharing information about their environmental programs, responsible stewardship of natural resources and emerging "green" trends. MSU President Mark Keenum will give a keynote address in front of the State Fountain (Bakery) at noon during the fair.

Exploring the positive economic impact that sound sustainability practices provide will be a key theme of this year?s MSU ECO Week. "Recycling and energy efficiency are two ways that consumers and companies can save money and make a difference at the same time, and we plan on showcasing the university's leadership in those areas," Dumas said.

For more information, please visit http://www.eco.msstate.edu or contact Dumas at jdumas@finadmin.msstate.edu or Nisreen Cain at nisreen.cain@greenstarkville.org.

April 14, 2010

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'Super Size Me' screening April 15

Join the MSU Environmental Collaborative Office and the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi for a screening of "Super Size Me" Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. The free event takes place in Thompson Hall Tully Auditorium.

"Super Size Me" is a 2004 documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. The film follows a 30-day time period from February to March 2003 during which time Spurlock eats only McDonald's food. The film documents this lifestyle's drastic effects on Spurlock's physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry's corporate influence.

April 12, 2010

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Volunteers needed for recycling, trash pickup

Do you have a couple of hours to spare and the desire to make a difference? Green Starkville needs volunteers to empty recycling and trash bins, load garbage bags and help with clean up during the Cotton District Arts Festival April 17.

Shifts are available throughout the day and gloves, water and sunscreen will be provided.

Please contact Nisreen Cain at nisreen.cain@greenstarkville.org or visit http://www.greenstarkville.org/volunteer-opportunities/cotton-art-festival

April 08, 2010

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Earth Day Fair centerpiece of MSU ECO Week

MSU ECO director Jeremiah Dumas (right) accepts the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment from Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum (left), who signed the document during a special Earth Day ceremony on the Starkville campus April 22, 2009.

Keenum will keynote the Earth Day Fair at noon Thursday, April 22 during this year's ECO Week at MSU, an event showcasing the university's commitment to sustainability and innovation and fostering awareness of campus and community environmentally-friendly practices. Daily themes through the week are stormwater, energy, transportation, the Earth Day Fair, and recycling and waste.

For more information or to register for an event, please visit http://www.eco.msstate.edu/earthday or contact Dumas at jdumas@finadmin.msstate.edu or Nisreen Cain at nga1@msstate.edu.

April 01, 2010

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Trees, green spaces focus of May workshop

The Mississippi Urban Forest Council will hold Trees In Our Community: A Northwest Mississippi Community Forestry Workshop and Urban Forest Master Training program May 6, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Starkville Sportsplex.

The program targets anyone with an interest in trees and green spaces, including community leaders, home owners, business owners, developers, foresters, arborists, city workers, nurserymen, city leaders, and others managing land and trees.

The workshop is funded by an Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the Mississippi Forestry Commission in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the Southern Group of State Foresters. Co-hosted by the City of Starkville.

For additional information or to register, please contact Donna Yowell at dyowell@aol.com or call (601) 672-0755.

April 01, 2010

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Flip the switch for Earth Hour Saturday night

Flip the switch. Power down that PC and printer. Shut off your office power strip. And make a difference during Earth Hour this Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Mississippi State University students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the global Earth Hour event by turning off non-essential lights for an hour Saturday night, and also shutting down unused computers, lights, radios and other power-consuming devices over the weekend -- simple steps that save resources, reduce costs and make sense.

The MSU Environmental Collaborative Office, MSU Student Association, Starkville Multi-Culture Lions Club and Green Starkville are sponsoring Earth Hour locally this year. In 2009, nearly one billion people from 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents participated in Earth Hour events.

Additional information about energy conservation at MSU is online at http://www.energy.msstate.edu

March 26, 2010

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Federal grant funds MSU, Choctaw youth partnership

Mississippi State and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are working together to help improve the education of youth now under supervision of the tribal juvenile justice system.

Supported by a four-year, $700,000 U.S. Justice Department grant, the project titled "Getting Healing from That Little Garden" is designed to help the young people learn more about traditionally harvested plants and foods.

The university's Environmental Collaborative Office is working with the Neshoba County-based tribe's Youth Justice Center to provide education and training opportunities by building greenhouse gardens and developing an ethno-botanical landscaping component.

The collaboration's goal is the successful reintegration of the youths into the tribal community by:

- Increasing their knowledge of sustainable agriculture and "green" building,

- Enhancing their employment opportunities; and

- Helping develop a deeper appreciation of a long and proud culture that, according to historians, made 18th and 19th century Choctaws the preeminent agriculturists of all Southern Native American groups.

"We are excited about the possibilities," said ECO director Jeremiah Dumas. "Working with the Justice Department and the tribe on this project is the perfect example of Mississippi State's land-grant mission of learning, research and service in action, and making a difference."

For more information on the project, contact Dumas at (662) 325-0216 or jdumas@finadmin.msstate.edu.

PHOTO: MSU ECO director Jeremiah Dumas (left) and Miko Beasley Denson (right) of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

February 23, 2010

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With fans' help, MSU football gamedays to get 'greener'

Football gamedays at Mississippi State are getting greener this fall thanks to a new initiative developed by the athletic department and the university's Environmental Collaborative Office.

Called "Keep It Clean: Green Gameday, Sustainable Season," the effort encourages Bulldog fans and visitors to reaffirm existing efforts to maintain a sportsmanlike atmosphere and to be responsible for picking up tailgating trash. For the first time, fans also are being invited to participate in recycling aluminum, plastic and glass.

"Our fans have shown over time that they're a big part of creating a great gameday experience at Mississippi State," said athletic director Greg Byrne. "We're excited about this new collaboration that heightens our commitment to stewardship when thousands of people are on our campus for home games."

Byrne said "'Keep It Clean' reinforces our commitment to providing the best college football experience possible throughout the season."

While many universities charge tailgating fees to defray the costs of extensive post-game cleanups, MSU does not, Byrne observed. The school depends on fans to do their part by bagging tailgate trash and recycling whenever possible, he added.

Typically, maroon and white trash receptacles are located throughout campus on game weekends. For the first time this year, green recycling boxes also will be provided by MSU's ECO and the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Waste Management.

"We've added more structure to our recycling effort, and we anticipate the additional planning and outreach to pay off," said ECO director Jeremiah Dumas. "The MSU family is committed to being a good steward of resources, and recycling is one way to do that. We want recycling to be a simple part of everyone's gameday routine."

Columbus-based Triangle Maintenance Service provides football gameday recycling for the university.

More additional information about campus recycling or "Keep It Clean" is available at www.eco.msstate.edu.

Up-to-date gameday information may be obtained at www.mstateathletics.com/gameday/

August 31, 2009

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Procurement, ECO remind buyers to consider green options

The MSU Environmental Collaborative Office recently partnered with the Office of Procurement and Contracts to produce a Buy Green brochure, which will be distributed during the university's first Excellence in Administrative Support Conference May 19.

The one-page, two-sided resource is designed to help administrative support staffers think greener when they are making purchasing decisions. It offers product suggestions along with details and contact information for MSU's sustainability and recycling programs, including the new e-waste recycling initiative launched by Receiving & Property Control.

For more information about environmental purchasing at MSU, download Procurement's complete reference guide at http://www.procurement.msstate.edu/referenceguide.pdf/.

May 18, 2009

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