Contrary to belief and practice at many institutions, environmentalism does not have to conflict with running an instituition efficiently. Recycling and source reduction are two ways to reduce our environmental impact.

Recycling is the process of taking the materials and products we use up in our daily life and making them back into useful things.

Source reduction is almost the opposite: trying to use fewer resources by doing things like buying environmentally friendly products, buying fewer products, eating whole foods, and being conscious of water and energy use.

The earth is being damaged on a daily basis by human lifestyle choices, especially by those of us in Western industrialized countries. It remains to be seen whether this damage can be reversed, but it is our responsibility to do what we can to tread lightly on the earth.
Waste reduction and conservation of resources have benefits that reach beyond the strictly ecological into areas such as economics, human rights, politics, and ethics: areas that affect our daily life as much as the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Above all, recycling is about creativity and consciousness: being aware of the way you live and the materials you use, and imagining ways that those materials can be used once they have fulfilled the purpose for which they were created. Source reduction is about using only what you really need, and doing your best to make sure that the things you use don't cause harm to the earth.

Please let us know of any suggestions or feedback you have about the information we present in this website.

Here are some links to important recycling resources:

The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide

Grassroots Recycling Network

Resources on the Web