April Progress Report
Resource Conservation Team
Amanda, Cuy, Sylvia, Kristina, Carson, Heather, Clara, Joelle, Caroline, Zach,
Liam, Margaret, Brandt
April, 2012
Compost
● Participated and worked with the Compost Summit
○ Facilitated sessions
○ Presented on Oberlin compost initiatives
○ Gave tour of Oberlin Residential Compost System
○ Transported compost from even to Stevenson pulper
● Plans for next year
○ Separate, cooperative/volunteer model for first year dorms
○ Separate compost system for village housing
J-House Garden
● New fruit trees ordered
● Fence posts and fencing ordered
● Seeds started in cold frames and in Science Center growth chamber
● OGROW/RCT cup collection project/seed planting and distribution at TGIF 4/28, in
collaboration with Slow Food
Recycling
● New recycling poster design competition
○ launched the competition by reaching out to Greenscene, ENVS department and
Art Department
○ made posters advertising the competition
○ used our Facebook account to make people aware of the competition
○ got permission from Office of Communications to use Oberlin logo on the
recycling posters
● Paper Recycling Boxes
○ delivered 8 more boxes to Office of Disability services
○ delivered 12 boxes to the Office of Communications
● Aluminum can recycling
○ discussing plans to better collect aluminum in problem areas, e.g. North Fields
○ decided to use Abitibi aluminum collection bin
○ planning to use this summer and fall to develop a pilot collection program to
bring to Abitibi
Education and Outreach
● Met with Keith and custodial managers, discussed ways to facilitate communication,
meeting with custodians, and paper towels
● Tabled at Earth Day event
● Met and discussed literature to be made and planning for next semester
●
Contacted ResEd about RA training, advocating for more programming
Thermostats
● Liam met with Dave Pastorius
● Began compiling a list of the locations of the thermostats in order to start education
campaign to reduce resource consumption in the form of heat
Hiring
● Held orientation for new members
Free Store
● Free Store volunteer Martin has been super helpful in cleaning the space
● Visitors: 148
● Total Items Outgoing: 423
○ Clothes: 198
○ Books/School Supplies: 54
○ Dormware: 26
○ Electronics: 36
○ Misc: 106
Hours Statistics
RCT Mtgs
25.2%
Office Work & Communication
8.4%
Free Store
15.9%
Recycling
5.7%
Composting
18.0%
J-House Garden
9.3%
Education/Outreach
10.1%
Building Walkthroughs
0.0%
Big Swap
0.3%
Commencement/Orientation
0.0%
Other: Please describe
7.1%