The Department of Facility Services has hired UWM alumni Kate Nelson as the first Campus Sustainability Coordinator. Nelson was hired after completing her second undergraduate degree at UWM. The position was created by former Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administrative Affairs Sherwood G. Wilson, who initiated it in 2006 due to student interest.

Nelson’s new position in facility services is to get to know the UWM system and begin formulating plans to make an environmentally friendly campus. Nelson explains that she has begun working with the storage department this past month on how to properly handle state merchandise, such as old desks, computers and whiteboards from UWM. She is trying to find other measures for the department to reuse these old items in conjunction with UW Madison’s SWAP website. SWAP is a website open to the public where people can purchase used items from the website’s inventory.

Reusing and recycling products is a huge portion of Nelson’s agenda. She is currently in talks with the union, housing, and grounds departments on campus to create a universal recycling program for UWM. She also hopes to create a student-run recycling program with the addition of building a recycling location on campus that would be run by students. Construction and demolition recycling is also a top priority for campus remodeling projects.

Nelson is also working with EcoTone, an on-campus environmental organization, to research the use of composted utensils and napkins to be used in the union. These composted utensils are made of broken down food particles such as corn. Nelson says that the cost issue of this project needs to be further looked at before a program goes into place.

Nelson says that Milwaukee is not different from other cities in that it has seen a decline in household recycling. She says that recycling is old news in many areas. She hopes that her work on campus will spread into the outer lying areas of the Milwaukee community in the future.

For now, Nelson says that help from UWM students is needed for future projects. A morning spring clean up has been organized by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters and will take place May 3 on campus and within the community. This event will also feature vendors, food and live music. Nelson hopes that events like this will continue on campus in the future to get the word out about sustainability.

She explains her title of “sustainability” is not just an environmental issue but also a social and economic one. She believes that people can make this earth as clean as they want it to be.

Nelson hopes that UWM students will consider riding their bike, taking the bus or walking to class over driving. She also hopes students with computers will learn to put them to sleep mode when they are not in use. She explained that this helps use less electricity, which in turn helps students save money on their energy bill.

Recycling is yet another way students can make a difference. “Walking that extra couple of steps to the garbage and recycling can help keep this campus cleaner,” said Nelson.

Nelson encourages students to contact her if they would like to join this UWM conservation effort. She also said she plans to hire student workers and interns in the near future.

More information on Nelson and the ongoing environmental practices at UWM can be found at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/PPS/sustain/Sustainability.html.

> Comments