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Click
here to view the EPTF Annual Report (PDF).
The EPTF was established as a collaborative effort of faculty,
staff, and students from different departments to work on ways to
make campus operations more environmentally friendly.
Founding members came from the Campus Activities Complex, Copy
Technology Centers, Publishing Services Bureau, Department of Facilities,
and the Executive Vice-President's Office (to name just a few departments),
as well as SAVE (Share a Vital Earth) and Prof. Jeff Steinfeld's
Freshman Seminar.
One of the EPTF's early accomplishments was the expansion of the
campus recycling program. This began with just white paper and a
limited collection of other recyclables. Now it includes all types
of paper, cardboard, magazines and newspapers, glass bottles, aluminum
cans, and plastics 1 - 7. Over the past several years MIT has increased
its recycling rate, from 5% of total waste to 30%.
The EPTF also initiated a food composting program that now composts
nearly 20 tons of food per month. It also started a yard waste recycling
program and a construction debris recycling program. The recent
demolition of Buildings E-10 and E-20 achieved a 96% recycling rate.
4,519 tons of material were recycled and only 193 tons were trashed.
EPTF's "green goods" procurement program increased the use of recycled
paper from less than 5% of total campus paper to 64% in 2000.
EPTF also helped the Procurement Department and Copy Technology
Centers convert to high-recycled content paper. In just 11 months,
copiers went from using less than 1% recycled paper to 100%.
The EPTF was also instrumental in creating the Green Building Task
Force (GBTF), which studies methods for improved new building environmental
performance and developed sustainable building design requirements.
It also produced a set of long-term goals for campus sustainability
that guide campus activities.
MIT's campus sustainability efforts are currently being led by
Steven Lanou, the Deputy Director for environmental sustainability
in the Environmental Programs / EHS Headquarters Office
.
Please contact Steven Lanou (slanou@mit.edu)
if you are interested in getting involved with campus sustainability
initiatives.
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