The purpose of the Environmental Issues Committee is to promote awareness of and create opportunities for addressing environmental issues as an important civic responsibility. Such issues will include as a primary goal the operation of M.J.C. as an environmentally sustainable model of energy and materials use. Presently, our emphasis is to create a consciousness among our community of the positive effects of individual and organizational activities in promoting the reduction, reuse and recycling of our waste flow.

Specific goals and activities could be carried out through one main component: We propose that the college and district promote a "Green Initiative" ("Our Campus, Our World") much like the Beyond Tolerance campaigns of several years ago. In this new effort our goal will be to educate and activate our college through training, educational and social activities, and a campus environment that recognizes the importance of civic responsibility in treating the community and physical environment. We hope that the scale of such an initiative would reach the level attained in the successful Beyond Tolerance effort that included all levels of our staff, faculty, administration and students. We've determined three main goals with related activities listed below:

A. Prepare and establish a comprehensive recycling program. The recycled effort will start out quickly with all paper, and then move to establish successful recycling of plastic and aluminum, such as beverage containers.

• Install recycle bins/cans that are convenient and effective for use, such as at all entrances to buildings and at gathering areas outside and inside. If necessary, reevaluate our present bin locations to increase effectiveness through location, signage and type of containers.
• For staff and faculty offices, have recycle stickers made for our regular waste baskets and use small add-on containers that can be attached to present ones for our other waste (non-recyclable) materials. (Illustration of this method is attached).
• Create a district and/or MJC recycle policy for staff meetings where refreshments in CA Refund and other beverage or food containers are served. Last fall's Institute Day when food service provided beverage in bottles and cans without providing bins for recycling is an example of missed opportunities to recycle and to make all staff / faculty aware of conscientious efforts to recycle. We recommend a policy for meetings of more than 10 people should provide recycle containers when not available otherwise.
• Organize a Fall Institute Day break-out session with flex credit. We will get prizes, including the separator waste bin (on Davis handout), for all attendees. California Department of Conservation is a good source for materials and recycled products for prizes. We hope to hold two sessions of 20-25 people each
• Explore a system for collecting recyclables on campus that will include students: campus clubs help collect from all recycle bins each month and they receive the money for the recyclables. Clubs can volunteer for 1 or more months during each year. Preferred: students collect the containers and have the college recycle the materials and add the money to their club accounts.

B. Create a staff position, a "Recycle Czar" or "Dean of the Green," which would be responsible for and actively promote recycling and "green" efforts including all aspects of our college operations. Specific activities and responsibilities are listed below:

• Locate and promote the purchase "green" (recycled and /or environmentally friendly) products for sustainable operation of the college. We realize there are obstacles such as fiscal and product availability that must be taken into account. Solutions must be explored we've included a few ideas below.
• Create partnerships with other colleges to attract recycle contractors who will enhance our ability to carry out our recycling program. We have already contacted other colleges about this possibility. U.C. Davis is a great model.
• Related to above: Review our waste management program; if necessary, our current waste-management contract allows us to contract elsewhere for recycling pick-ups. How can we improve and get more help from our contractor?
• Create partnerships with other colleges to attract manufacturers of recycled products for duplication, office, book store, food service and even transportation.
  • Explore and write grants for public and private funding to promote our environmental sustainability.
• Public relations including promotion of new programs and publicizing past "green" achievements of MJC such as the use of fluorescent lighting, passive solar architecture, and auto controlled lighting and temperature controls in buildings.
• Explore using alternative energy systems for Measure E and other building efforts. Solar applications such as photo-voltaic and water heating methods should be considered important not only for efficiency but also as models for the future of our community.
• Assist in energy analysis regarding cooling and heating buildings. (The Committee recognizes that this has largely been done).
• Coordinate with Modesto's bus system to make commuting by bus to MJC more efficient, and convenient (such as adding a shelter at the northbound bus stop at Coldwell and College for protection from rain).
• Attend annual conferences such as the National and California Recycle Association Conference and workshops. We're told that this is where the important information and contacts are found.

C. Create and enhance academic programs and opportunities to carry out our environmental goals. Many of the plans listed above are related to these academic programs but important specific programs should include:

• The overall "Green Initiative will include campus-wide emphasis involving speakers open to students, staff, and the public, campus-wide promotions to encourage faculty to address the initiative in class assignments as many subjects as possible.
• Environmental art exhibits, concerts, film series, and author/lecture events can be sponsored by various departments with support from the college and district.
• Faculty, staff and student training; including both in-house and field trips to visit environmental activist campuses such as Davis and Stanford. We have tentatively scheduled one workshop to U.C. Davis in September, 2006. Flex, community ed, and regular credit classes could be given for this training.
• Establish a student program where either a group study class (197, 198) or internship is made available. Students would be able to work on existing campus programs or create a new one if approved. Both practical and administrative experience could be gained. One or two instructors would direct the class or program and rotate with other faculty each semester. U.C. Davis has a similar non-credit program where a transcript notation is given which helps students' resumes. Work-study opportunities can also be explored.
• Encourage Student Club activities involving environmental awareness and action such as recycle collection and fund-raising mentioned earlier in this document.
  • Attend annual conferences such as the California Recycle Association Conference and workshops. Staff, faculty, and students can benefit through attendance.
• Create MJC recycle web-site with links to other environmental issues and efforts.University of California at Davis Recycle web-site is an excellent example.
• Promote involvement of staff and faculty through increased membership on the Environmental Sub-committee. Possibly allow for release-time if appropriate for carrying out the organization of events and other activities of the committee and college.