Earlham Environmental Action Coalition Actions!

Recycling
Composting
One-Sided Notebooks
Environmental House
Awareness
Greenzines
Earth Picnics

Environmental Policies (by Daniel Hunter) http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~hyrax/personal/files/student_res/success.htm

Earlham student activism has resulted in a variety of environmental policies and changes at Earlham. For example, an "environmental program currently in place by Sodexho-Mariott is the "To Go" containers — containers made for taking out food from Saga. For many years, Sodexho-Mariott purchased styrofoam "To Go" containers [approximately 58,500 per year!], allowing students "on-the-go" to eat a meal out of Saga. Due to strong influence by the Earlham Environmental Action Committee (EEAC), these styrofoam containers have been replaced with reusable plastic containers as of the 1998-99 school year. The system is set-up such that each student receives a free sturdy, plastic container (originally purchased by Earlham College). Students then come with a used container and exchange it for another, clean container. The dirty containers are washed, as per health regulations, and used again."

This project was one of the earlier such projects in the country, and one of the first in the Sodexho-Marriott chains of college dining services. Students began conversations with Kathie Guyler, manager of the Sodexho-Marriott dining services at Earlham. After working with her and, most likely, the food review committee, students convinced Kathie Guyler to try the experiment on a short-term basis (how they convinced Earlham to make the initial investment in plastic containers is a good question). After the students graduated, the short-term experiment was deemed a success and it became a regular institution at Earlham.

Students are also fully responsible for the recycling program at Earlham College. Student-initiated, student-run, student researched and student-powered, the recycling program has been trying to figure out how to institutionalize itself better for several years. The recyclable market fluctuates such as in 1995 when Rumpke Recycling refused to accept paper or cardboard due to a lack of demand in the Midwest, making the job harder for students. Since then students helped get copy machines and computing centers across campus to make use of both sides of white paper as a way of reducing waste.

Students, backed by the Earlham Environmental Action Committee, have run the recycling program every year since its inception many years ago. Students have recycled literally tons of various materials: paper, glass, plastics, cardboard and more. As students, even small groups, raise issues it can change outcomes (such as when one student helped the new social science building to be Green Star compliant by researching what it took and then suggesting it to one of the building’s committee members). While not being content with where the recycling program is, one can recognize that a part of becoming part of the Earlham institution (and thus run by administration and staff) is proving that it can function effectively, which students have done.

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