Project GreenPath

Earth is our business too

Berkeley College Project Greenpath focuses on environmental issues and going green. 

2012 Recyclemania Tournament

Berkeley College students, staff, and faculty are joining together to reduce waste during the Recyclemania competition February 5 - March 31, 2012.

Berkeley College is joining more than 500 colleges across the country to reduce waste and increase recycling in the 12th annual Recyclemania Tournament. According to Recyclemania organizers, last year's efforts resulted in the recovery of "91 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials, which prevented the release of nearly 270 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E). This reduction in greenhouse gases is equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 52.8 million passenger cars; electricity use of more than 32.7 million homes; or the burning of nearly 1.5 million railcars’ worth of coal."

Berkeley's waste reduction and recycling measurements for each location will be combined and reported weekly to Recyclemania. Berkeley College is focusing efforts this year on reducing overall materials bought, used, or consumed. For example, instead of purchasing bottled water, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles, which can be filled at the filtered water stations found at each Berkeley location.

Recycling statistics for each location are posted below. Check out the Berkeley College Facebook page for "Recyclemaniac" photos.

Join the Berkeley College community in Recyclemania 2012 by recycling and reducing waste.

2012 Berkeley Recyclemania Statistics

The following statistics indicate estimated pounds of each item collected weekly at each location.

 

Newark 

Woodbridge

Brooklyn

NYC

Paramus

Woodland Park

White Plains

Total 
Week 1 

Comingled

 500

 600

 100

 NA

 NA

 300

 77

 1577

Cardboard

 350

 626

 186

 NA

 NA

 2224

 32

 3418

Trash

 630

 1620

 150

 9720

 1440

 2160

 3780

 19350
                 
Week 2 

Comingled

 800

 900

 0

 NA

 NA

 300

 107

 2107

Cardboard

 973

 209

 70

 NA

NA 

 834

 32

 2118

Trash

 720

 810

 192

 9900

 1080

 720

 4590

 18012
                 
 Week 3

Comingled

 700

 1080

 34

 NA

 NA

 150

 87

2051

Cardboard

 834

 1440

 70

 NA

NA

 1390

 45

 3779

Trash

 585

 1080

 169

 9900

 1260

 2970

 4320

 20284

 

See Berkeley's weekly rankings and cumulative GHG reductions.
Compare Berkeley's results with other schools.

Berkeley Colleges Begins Steps Toward Becoming Carbon Neutral

In July 2009, Berkeley College President Dr. Dario A. Cortes signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which commits the College to developing a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality. The commitment calls for Berkeley College to

  • create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan
  • complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions
  • initiate interim actions to reduce greenhouse gases while developing the comprehensive plan.

The Project GreenPath Committee has completed Berkeley's initial Greenhouse Gas Report that measures the College's carbon footprint. This report provides baseline measurements which will be used to assess the College's progress in reducing carbon emissions.

In addition, the Project GreenPath Committee has initiated two tangible actions to begin the work of moving toward climate neutrality while in the process of preparing the climate action plan. The first action was to adopt an Energy Star Procurement Policy. This policy requires the purchase of Energy Star certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist wherever practical. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote cost savings and protection of the environment through energy efficient products and practices. More information about the Energy Star program is available at www.energystar.gov.

The second tangible action involves increasing awareness of the need for waste reduction and improving participation in recycling. To launch this initiative, Berkeley College campuses are participating in Recyclemania 2011, an international college recycling and waste reduction competition, which runs February 6-April 2, 2011.

For more information about the Climate Commitment reports, please visit the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment website.

 

Project Greenpath Initiatives

Recyclemania Tournament - 2011
Berkeley College Celebrates Earth Day 2010
Berkeley College Hosts Virtual Climate Action Forum
Berkeley College Celebrates Earth Day 2009
Berkeley College Accepts New York City Mayoral Challenge
Berkeley College Distributes Reusable Shopping Bags
Berkeley College Celebrates Earth Day 2008
Berkeley Recycles! Do You?
Benefits of Live Green Plants
Sustainability Day - Fall 2007

 

 

Sustainability Tips*

  • Reduce engine idling.
  • Buying a car? Think about an energy efficient or hybrid model.
  • Don't top off your gas tank. Every drop of spilled gas adds to air pollution and wastes fuel.
  • Walk or cycle instead of drive. Save the planet AND your waistline. 
  • Check with your supervisor about working from home one day a week to reduce commuting emissions.
  • Carpool when possible, or use public transportation when available.
  • Use timers on your thermostats for heat and air conditioning.
  • Install a water-efficient shower head and reduce your time in the shower.
  • Fix your leaks! Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year.
  • When possible, wash laundry when you have a full load, or choose the appropriate load size on the washing machine.
  • Buy water- and energy-efficient appliances and products. Look for the WaterSense and EnergyStar labels when shopping
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs in your home with new energy efficient compact fluorescents or LEDs.
  • Support the Great American Clean Up! Visit the Keep America Beautiful website and join a local effort, or start your own volunteer group.
  • Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn instead of bagging them. The cut grass decomposes and returns to the soil.
  • Start an organic kitchen garden. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are fresher and taste better. 
  • Compost organic waste and use it to enrich your garden soil.
  • Use nontoxic household cleaning products. Many green cleaning products are available now, or try the tips from Blisstree for making your own.
  • Dispose of hazardous waste (cleaning solvents, paints, used oil, etc.) properly. Contact your local environmental or sanitation office for more information.
  • Make Earth Day a "Go Veggie Day." Bring in a vegetarian snack or lunch to share with others.
  • Use a reusable coffee cup and water bottle! 
  • Go paperless: bills, newspapers, magazines. 
  • Whenever possible, scan and file documents instead of printing and copying them.
  • Share instead of buy: Go to the library for books, magazines, movies, and more.
  • BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag! They come in fun sizes and shapes so you can always bring your own. 
  • Ecycle your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to an electronics recycling center.
  • Bring your own lunch to work (saves packaging and waste). Make it a vegetarian meal to further reduce your carbon footprint.

*suggestions from the Project GreenPath Committee and Berkeley College community for Earth Day 2010