The Daily Bulletin Archive

By Mary A. Durlak

The third annual Environmental Information Fair will take place on Tuesday, April 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Perry Quad, behind Campbell Student Union. The fair, sponsored by EVERGREEN and Environmental Health and Safety, will feature a sculpture contest and exhibits by more than 20 vendors.

“Every sculpture must be made from recyclable items,” said Lauren A. Bostaph, ’05, ’07, coordinator of the fair and assistant to Rich Saddleson, director of business services/property control. “Individuals, departments, offices, and student groups are all welcome to take part.”

Recyclable items include cardboard, CDs, disks, cassettes, DVDs, batteries, ink and toner cartridges, and bottles and cans, so the possibilities are endless. To reserve space for your work of art, call Bostaph at 878-6835.

EVERGREEN is the college’s all-volunteer environmental organization. “On the faculty-staff side,” said Bostaph, “it’s made up of people interested in improving the campus’s green sustainability.” Bostaph, a native of Little Valley, can’t remember a time when she wasn’t passionate about environmental issues. “Maybe it’s because, as a country kid, I grew up with an appreciation of nature,” she said. “When I came here as a student, I wanted more opportunities to recycle and re-use.”

EVERGREEN’s successes include the implementation of recycling plastic, glass, and metal in academic and administrative buildings, outside on campus, and in the residence halls. Later, recycling programs for electronic media such as CDs and disks, and supplies such as cartridges and batteries, were added. Bringing the Buffalo Blue Bicycle Program, a bicycle-lending program, to campus is another achievement. In March 2010, Bostaph suggested collecting used eyeglasses. “We donated 149 pairs to the Lions Club,” she said.

In the fall, the group’s efforts focus on raising environmental awareness among new students. From January to March, Evergreen tracks the college’s participation in RecycleMania, a national competition that promotes waste reduction on college and university campuses. When students leave the residence halls in May, Evergreen’s most ambitious endeavor—Don’t Throw It Out—takes place.

“Trucks are located outside the residence halls,” said Bostaph, “and we invite students to bring anything they aren’t going to take home. We collect clothes, furniture, shoes, food, and appliances, like TVs and mini-fridges.” Volunteers then sort everything, and distribute a list of available items to local nonprofits, such as homeless shelters, the Asarese-Matters Community Center, and food pantries.

Next week’s Environmental Information Fair is EVERGREEN’s annual observation of Earth Day. Through displays, prizes, and giveaways—this year the student branch of EVERGREEN is giving away saplings—the event suggests ways to protect and celebrate the environment. This year’s participants include the Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo ReUse, Habitat for Humanity, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“With all the different displays,” said Bostaph, “we hope we offer something for everyone.”