Recognition is a terrific acknowledgement of success and a powerful motivator as well. On April 13 Amy Kadrie, our University recycling coordinator (a Facilities employee, too) received an award on behalf of the University given by the Rochester Business Journal for our efforts in recycling. While Amy is the point person for many of our sustainability initiatives, it was truly a University award. Here is just a sampling of the University-wide initiatives that enabled all of us to share in this Award for Environmental Excellence: Due to the efforts of students, faculty, healthcare workers and staff we increased our recycling from 12.7 percent to 28.3 percent over a two-year period, we are regular participants in the national student-driven competition, Recyclemania, students with the help of faculty and staff converted a campus bus to run on biodiesel, all staff are encouraged to participate in our annual household e-waste round-up (we collected over 26,000 pounds of electronics in 2009!), end-of-the-year clean-up allowed students to donate to people in need over 4,000 pounds of items that otherwise would have been discarded, the dedication of healthcare staff enabled the University to divert over 338,514 pounds of plastic with a reusable sharps container program,dining services donates over 5,000 pounds of pre-consumer organic waste each month for composting and they replaced Styrofoam with recyclable materials.
Yup, recognition is wonderful. We continute to set the bar higher and higher. We are all motivated to improve. This true University-community effort is celebrated with pride and the realization that we can do better. Thanks to all.