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OSU recognized as a Top Performer in 2023 Sustainable Campus Index
Get involved in the design of the Monroe Ave. transit corridor
Teaming Up to Promote Reusables on Campus
Materials Management’s Waste Watchers Club Hosts the Annual Repair Fair

 

OSU recognized as a Top Performer in 2023 Sustainable Campus Index

 

Thanks to ongoing work by the Sustainability Office (a part of UFIO), OSU has been recognized as a Top Performer in the 2023 Sustainable Campus Index, ranking fifth for Coordination and Planning with a score of 100%. OSU was also recognized for having one of the highest STARS data accuracy rates during the recent reporting period, with a score of 97.56%. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).

This is impressive work! The UFIO team has been continually recognized for excellence in the sustainability field for more than a decade. The Sustainability Office coordinates and tracks work distributed across the university’s departments and colleges.

Get involved in the design of the Monroe Ave. transit corridor

 

Monroe Avenue at 14th near OSU

University Land Use Planning is actively collaborating with the City of Corvallis, stakeholders from multiple OSU departments and the broader community to develop concepts for enhancing walking, biking and transit travel on Monroe Avenue. Concepts also aim to strengthen the connections between the university and businesses, organizations and neighborhoods to the north, while enhancing the area’s overall appeal.

As part of the planning process, a survey was conducted to gather feedback from OSU community members and the public regarding their experiences in the corridor. The insights collected will inform the creation of two concepts, which will be presented during a public open house scheduled tentatively for March. To stay updated, interested individuals are encouraged to follow OSU Today or visit https://beav.es/q9J.

Teaming Up to Promote Reusables on Campus


Materials Management and the Sustainability Office partnered with University Housing and Dining Services on a campaign to promote reusable containers across the Corvallis campus. During fall term, the Eco-Reps, a team of 12 campus residents co-led by Kaylee Smith, Materials Management program specialist, and Leticia Cavazos, Sustainability program specialist, were able to reach 72% of 4,500 resident students as they promoted the Eco2Go program and bringing reusable cups to campus cafes.

The Materials Management Outreach Team helped initiate and assess the introduction of a $0.25 fee for single-use cups last winter, which has led to a significant increase in reusable cup usage across all campus cafes. In spring 2023 alone, UHDS saw an increase of an average increase of 378 cups on campus per week. The West Dining Center manager and Eco2Go Program Lead Chris Anderson said, “The Eco2Go program has also seen massive improvements in return rates and return quality across all dining centers.” He credits the Eco-Reps and their peer-to-peer outreach tactics.

Additionally, a recycling training on the Canvas platform, developed and managed by the Materials Management Outreach Team, goes to all on-campus residents. It now includes modules on how to use the Eco2Go program properly as well as expectations for using a reusable cup at cafes. In tandem, Surplus Property continues to supply the Adopt-A-Bottle Program, a CEL-run program that sanitizes and gives away unclaimed lost and found water bottles for free at stations across campus, in order to remove the financial barrier of participating in the reusables culture at OSU.

Materials Management’s Waste Watchers Club Hosts the Annual Repair Fair

The Property Services Building Warehouse was abuzz in November with over 35 students and community members who attended the Fall Repair Fair. Guests brought clothing, appliances, household items, and bikes to be repaired for free by community and student volunteers who not only fixed their items but sent them home with the knowledge to make the next repair themselves.

Event guests also learned waste reduction crafts and tactics at demonstration tables hosted by OSU’s Waste Watchers Sustainability Club members. Historically, the Waste Watchers Club hosted its Repair Fairs at the warehouse, but due to COVID risks over the past few years, recent events were held outdoors in the SEC Plaza. This year’s attendees were ecstatic to have the event return to the indoors with the friendly Materials Management team, who have been volunteering at the event since 2012.

Student volunteers from the Waste Watchers Club and their advisor, Kaylee Smith of Materials Management, organized, marketed, and staffed the event. Students from the Community Engagement and Leadership program tabled for the Adopt-A-Bottle Program that supplies free water bottles sourced from Campus Lost and Found’s unclaimed items. The Craft Center also sent staff and supplies. More supplies were donated to the Craft Center through Surplus Property’s efforts to connect with departments across campus with its Free Office Supply Program. Stay tuned for details about the Spring Repair Fair!

Last Updated: 
02/19/2024