___ l7 April 2OO3 58 Legislative Council Resolution #9

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

STUDENT UNION

Sponsored by: Sergio Gonzales Legislative President

Author: Jack DeBell CU Recycling

Will Toor Director Environmental Center

Jen Marson UCSU Environmental Director

A Resolution

Resolution History

UCSU and its constituency have reaffirmed their deep concern for the environment in many forms over the years. One of the most important ways by which UCSU supports its environmental conscience is by supporting recycling on campus. Time and again the need for recycling on campus has been re-affirmed by this legislative body and by the students as a whole. CU-Boulder's Vice Chancellor for Administration has commissioned a report to recommend the most cost-effective scenarios for the campus recycling program's future. The report is to be released this semester, and is expected to analyze options ranging from expanding the recycling program to privatizing the program, or even eliminating it. The importance of maintaining a recycling facility on campus is not just environmental but also economical. To date, the first two sections of the report show that the recycling program is saving the campus approximately $550,198 in avoided costs for the FY02 from avoided tipping fees, taxes, and other solid waste disposal costs. This savings occurs while diverting close to 30% from the campus waste stream. We are asking for a UCSU resolution to re-affirm support for campus recycling, encouraging adherence the points outlined in the Campus Master Plan. Those points include: 1) the Athletic Department should fund full replacement costs associated with relocating the IPF, 2) that there should be no interruption in service while moving the IPF, and 3) the selection of a suitable location with convenient access by student employees. By confirming UCSU's support of a campus recycling facility, we are not only helping to preserve environmental awareness on campus but also the economic incentives that recycling provides to individuals and departments at CU.

Resolution Summary

Whereas the CU Recycling program is a partnership between UCSU, the Department of Housing, and the Department of Facilities Management; and

Whereas UCSU is a major financial and operational stakeholder in the CU

__ recycling program; and

Whereas the CU-Boulder Campus Master Plan includes the goal of reducing the waste for which the campus must pay waste removal costs; and

Whereas the Blueprint for A Green Campus, which was adopted by UCSU in spring of 2000, sets a goal of increasing recycling and composting in order to cap the amount of solid waste being landfilled at year 2000 levels; and

Whereas there are other universities which are recycling and composting over 50% of their solid waste; and

Whereas composting food waste from the dining halls could boost the recycling and composting rate to 45%; and

Whereas CU has already obtained a $55,000 grant commitment from the US EPA for food waste composting, but the campus must first allocate a space for in-vessel composting activities; and

Whereas a Business Review of the solid waste disposal and recycling program, conducted for the Vice Chancellor's for Administration and Student Affairs has demonstrated that campus recycling is saving the campus over $100,000 per year in net solid waste disposal costs;

and

Whereas the Business Review will examine options for the future of the -

recycling program; and

Whereas the next phase of the stadium and field house expansion will displace the campus recycling facility; and

Whereas a demonstrated need exists for intermediate processing of recyclables in order to meet the Campus Master Plan goal and achieve trash disposal savings; and

Whereas the Facilities Micro-Master Plan, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, calls on the Athletic Department's to relocate CU's recycling facility and meet the following tenets:

* The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will replace CU recycling's IPF

"in-kind" with no financial impact to CU recycling;

* The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will ensure through the

Fieldhouse/Parking Structure Program Plan that the IPF building site will have

ample capacity for anticipated recycling volumes for the

foreseeable future;

* The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will provide facilities and

phasing to ensure no interruption in services provided by CU recycling;

* Minimize the impact to material transport, student labor, and educational

access.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT:

Section 1: UCSU requests the ability to comment on the Business Review, and to participate as an equal partner with Facilities Management and Housing in decision making on any program changes in response to the Business Review. In this process UCSU shall be represented by the Environmental Board co-chairs and the director of the Environmental

Center.

Section 2: UCSU requests that the campus administration allocate a main campus site for the new recycling center, in order to minimize the impact to material transport, student labor, and educational access.

Section 3: UCSU encourages the campus administration to begin the process of site selection and facility design, incorporating the members of the recycling partnership in the planning process.

Section 4: UCSU requests that the campus administration re-invigorate its commitment to waste reduction through compliance with the Boulder Campus Master Plan.

Section 5: UCSU urges the campus administration to allocate a temporary site for food waste composting, for the next two years, until long-term facilities needs can be resolved.

Section 6: This resolution takes effect upon passage.

4-17-03 Passed 14-0-0

Passed 11-0-1

Sergio Gonzales, Leg. Council President Latifah Al-Attas, Tri Executive

Michael Donnelly, Tri-Executive Kevin Boyer, Tri Executive