Purpose

1. Conservation of natural resources.  As a signatory to the Talloires Declaration, Lane Community College is committed to setting an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations.
2. Utility cost avoidance.  It is less expensive to handle material that is recycled than materials that are thrown away.  In fact, the sale of recycled materials generates revenue.  Funds not spent on garbage and funds generated from selling recyclables may be reallocated to college programs and services.

Therefore the college shall:

1. Make measurable, annual progress toward zero waste through education, life-cycle purchasing, waste reduction, and expanded reuse and resale programs;
2. Place recycling containers in every public space and designing recycling infrastructure into all new construction and remodels; and
3. Educate, train, and support the college community in methods to support the goals stated above.

Definitions

• Life-cycle Purchasing:  A method of procurement in which the total cost to the college of acquiring, operating, supporting, and (if applicable) disposing of the items is an integral part of the purchasing decision.  For example, when a computer monitor is purchased, the cost of electricity for the life of the monitor would be factored into the total monitor cost as well as the cost to dispose of the monitor at the end of its life.
• Talloires Declaration:  Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, this is the first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education.  The Talloires Declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations, and outreach at colleges and universities.