"Practical Steps to Zero Waste"

Tuesday - July 15, 2008
12:00 pm Eastern/9:00 am Pacific
Approximate duration: 90 minutes

A Presentation of the CURC Webinar Series

While many colleges and universities across the nation work to build and expand recycling programs, a growing number of schools are looking to the next level at ways to reduce and perhaps one day eliminate all their trash.  Zero waste has become a common buzz word in recycling circles, but what does it mean? More importantly, how does it translate to the realities of a large institution managing its waste stream in the real world. This webinar from the College and University Recycling Council (CURC) will answer some of these basic questions about the zero waste concept as well as provide examples of schools that are working to implement policies and practices that move them closer to that ultimate goal.

NRC Members Register Here

Non-Members Register Here

Series Moderator

Christine von Kolnitz Cooley
Sustainability Manager
Medical University of South Carolina

Christine Cooley is the Sustainability Manager for the Medical University of South Carolina. She has overseen recycling at MUSC since 1995 and took on the sustainability position in 2006. The MUSC Recycling Program has received numerous awards since her arrival. MUSC has received over $300,000 in grants for recycling and sustainability projects.

Upon graduating with a BA degree from the College of Charleston in 1992, Christine worked as the Recycling Coordinator for the College. While working at the College, she was instrumental in establishing the SC DHEC Collegiate Grant Program. In 2004, Ms Cooley and Karyn Kaplan of the University of Oregon co-wrote a recycling book titled Recycling and Beyond: A College Campus Primer. Ms. Cooley is a Clemson Extension Master Waste Educator and a member of the National Recycling Coalition's College and University Recycling Council (CURC) steering committee. Ms Cooley was appointed to the City of Charleston Green Committee in 2007.

Presenters

Pete Pasterz
Carrabus County, North Carolina

Pete has been involved in recycling and waste reduction efforts for 25 years. He served for 15 years as the Manager of Recycling and Refuse Services at Michigan State University. Prior to that, he helped found and directed a non-profit community based waste reduction and recycling company (with his wife, Kathy, who now serves as recycling coordinator at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte).

As one of the founders of CURC, Pete went on to serve as its chair for 7 years. He also served on the boards of directors of the Michigan and National Recycling Coalitions, and helped to establish the Grassroots Recycling Network.

Pete is currently a member of the national Zero Waste Committee of the Sierra Club, and directs the waste elimination programs for Cabarrus County, NC. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) with a BS in Natural Resources/Environmental Education, and completed Master’s degree course work at Michigan State University.

Jack DeBell
Director
University of Colorado Recycling

Jack DeBell has directed the University of Colorado’s recycling program as a student, then since 1984, as one of the first state employees for campus recycling.

He was elected to the National Recycling Coalition’s Board of Directors in 1991 and continues to serve their College and University Recycling Council.  He remains active in a number of state, national, and international organizations.

With Mr. DeBell’s assistance, C.U. Recycling has been recognized by the White House, the EPA, National Recycling Coalition, Dell, and the AmericanForest and Paper Association.

His current focus is building international exchanges, connecting social justice, and preventing waste.  He sees a hopeful future through his daughter’s eyes.

Rob Gogan        
Recycling and Waste Manager                                 
Harvard University

Rob Gogan is Recycling and Waste Manager for Harvard University Operations Services.  He has overseen recycling at Harvard since 1990 and has promoted sustainability on campus since enrolling in the doctoral program at the School of Education in 1985.  Rob also runs Harvard’s Surplus Distribution program, which in 2007 donated over $2.5 million in furniture, clothing, books, computers, food, cosmetics and other reusables to non-profit groups, neighbors and the needy.  Rob helped start the Resource Efficiency Program, which saved Harvard over $125,000 in energy and waste disposal costs in undergraduate residences each year since FY 2003.  Over 10,000 readers get Rob’s monthly “Harvard Recycling Update,” which includes news of Harvard’s recycling and surplus programs plus the Campus Nature Watch, a compendium of flora and fauna sighted on Harvard’s grounds.  Rob’s immediate goals are to recover 60% of Harvard's waste for recycling by the end of 2010, reduce the University's waste stream to below 200 kilograms per capita at all campuses in 2008, and to beat Yale in the 2008 RecycleMania campus recycling contest. 

Rob lives with his wife Frann Addison and sons Josh and Zach (20 and 17) in Acton,MA.  He commutes to Harvard via bicycle, bus, commuter rail, walking, and snow permitting, cross-country skis.  He and his family sail Boston Harbor and Cape Cod bays in a zero-octane Micro cat yawl sailboat.