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Granting best practices

New York’s largest city has a goal to contribute zero waste to landfills by 2030 through New York City’s 0X30 plan. Throughout the state, students have diverse and plentiful ideas for innovative environmental projects to increase recycling rates, and thanks to recently distributed grants, four New York colleges and universities will have the chance to carry out their plans.

The College Council Grant Program from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) funded grants ranging from $180 to $2,700 for projects involving “initiating, improving or expanding source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting or food waste management projects on campus,” according to NYSAR3.

Schools receiving grants and the type of project to be funded include:

• SUNY Jefferson Community College, sustainable textbook project;
• University of Rochester, plans to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic bags;
• Wells College, residence hall in-room and in-bathroom recycling system support; and
• Union College, composting in a new college apartment complex.

Waste watchers

From spectators to sprinters, the Philadelphia Marathon attracts nearly 100,000 people each year. With all of those people comes a lot of waste: thousands of pounds of water bottles, energy bar wrappers and banana peels.

To help recycle and compost much of this material, as well as to educate race attendees, the Philadelphia Marathon has partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service to create a team of Waste Watchers volunteers. In 2015, Waste Watchers helped the marathon reach 90 percent waste diversion, a new record. At the start and finish areas and at water stops, Waste Watchers volunteers help race attendees sort their recycling, trash and compost into the correct containers.

The 2016 race is set for Nov. 18-20. For more information, visit http://philadelphiamarathon.com/volunteers.

Challenging habits

Is renewable living the key to happiness? New data from Tetra Pak show that adopting a few renewable lifestyle habits that help protect the earth’s natural resources can help people go from feeling glum to good.

According to the Renewable Living Survey, conducted in December 2015 for Tetra Pak, 70 percent of those surveyed claimed they felt happier when they made eco-minded choices.

Tetra Pak is inviting people to find joy in protecting the planet’s resources by using the social media hashtag #RenewableLiving. The company’s challenge encourages participants to adopt simple, renewable habits every day for a 28-day period.

More information is available at www.tetrapakusa.com/renewable-living.