The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Campus Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, by way of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, is now engaged in a number of initiatives to increase efficiency in resource usage and recycling capabilities, minimize waste, and promote new teaching methods and research agendas. Here’s how you can help—on campus and at home.

How to Recycle on Campus

UTPB makes it easy to responsibly dispose of paper, plastic, aluminum, and more.

Paper

All offices, classrooms, and seminar rooms on campus should have a white desk side container for their paper. If you do not have a container and need one, contact your department’s administrative assistant to request one.

Please place the following in the white bins:

  • White paper
  • Colored paper 
  • Books without the bindings or covers 
  • Magazine pages without the glue binding 
  • Chipboard (like a cereal box)-- must be clean and free of grease and liners
  • Envelopes without the plastic windows

Things that cannot be recycled and should be placed in the regular trash.

  • Glossy paper (like some magazine covers)
  • Newspaper (take these by the recycling center for the dark blue bids in the parking lots of the grocery stores)
  • Waxed or plastic coated paper (like TV dinner boxes)
  • Anything that has grease or food on it.

Cardboard

You may break down boxes and leave them outside of your office for pickup by the custodial staff.

Plastic Bottles and Aluminum Cans

Each building on campus, as well as each floor of the Mesa Building, has as a black recycling station which accepts aluminum and plastic (#1 and #2). Please make every effort to carry your recyclables to one of these stations rather than to simply throw them out.

Printer Cartridges

Both ink jet and laser printer cartridges are collected for recycling. Save the cardboard box that cartridges arrive in. Return the depleted cartridge in the cardboard box to your administrative assistant.

If you notice problems with recycling procedures on campus, please contact Lail Grant at 552-2778 or Sharon Royall, Director of Purchasing, at 552-2793.

Ways to Reduce Waste at Home and on Campus

Walk or bike from campus dorms or nearby apartments—better for you, better for the environment, better for university parking congestion.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Turn off lights in offices and classrooms after you leave them.

Shut off computers and printers when not in use.

Green Printing Guidelines:

  1. Before you recycle paper, reuse it by printing on the reverse side. Keep a pile of reusable paper (old handouts from class or from meetings, drafts of papers, etc.) by your printer
  2. Use printers that print double-sided
  3. Turn off printer when not in use
  4. Buy 100% post-consumer paper
  5. Lower consumption by emailing drafts, notes, and newsletters instead of printing them.
  6. Edit documents online instead of printing drafts
  7. Make your own notepads using scrap paper.
  8. Reduce margin widths when printing
  9. Don’t use Goldenrod, Fluorescents, or bright-colored paper—it is not recyclable
  10. Use recycled toner cartridges for laser printers.

Stop Junk Mail

  • Credit Card Mailings. You can call a single number to get your name and address removed from the mailing lists circulated by four major credit card agencies. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The number works 24 hours a day. You will be prompted to give your full name, address, telephone number and social security number. When given options, press 3 to have your name removed permanently, or press 1 to have your name removed for just two years.
  • Unwanted Catalogs. Take a minute to call the 1-800 number on the back of any unwanted magazines or catalogs. Asked to be removed from the mailing list.
  • Sign Up For The Mail Preference Service to Reduce Junk Mail. Write the Direct Marketing Association and register with their Mail Preference Service - an indication that you do not want to be contacted by solicitors. Address:

    Mail Preference Service
    c/o Direct Marketing Association
    PO Box 643
    Carmel, NY 10512

    In the letter or 3 1/2 x 5" postcard, include the date, your name, address and signature, and write "Please register my name with the Mail Preference Service." You can also register online at http://www.thedma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.htm for $5.
    For more information on stopping Junk Mail visit http://www.newdream.org/junkmail/index.php

Reusable Mugs

Using a reusable mug when you get your hot drink, in small action that collectively has a big impact. "If only 15 percent of US college students used reusable mugs instead of disposable cups every day, we would eliminate more than a billion cups a year." The Earth Works Group

Utilities Powered by Renewable Energy

Check out the Power to Choose website—it gives excellent information on which power companies make use of the most renewable power sources: http://powertochoose.org/_content/_compare/showoffers.aspx

Home Recycling

Bring home recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and 2, and aluminum) to receiving sites at various grocery store parking lots and, in Odessa, to the Odessa Time Machine at 42nd Street and Golder. Ph#: 432-368-5730.

Good Green Purchasing Ideas

Food

  • Purchase certified organic food—it is much healthier for you and for the planet, because pesticides and herbicides are not used in its production. It costs a little more, but it is well worth it in terms of improved health.
  • Eat good wholesome foods—fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Such are healthier for you and require much less energy for their production than processed foods. And, of course, they contain no dangerous additives. Have a look at the following article for more information. http://audubonmagazine.org/features0901/viewpoint.html
  • Support local farmers. Locally grown food is very good because it requires less energy for transportation. This web page will help you find a market near you. http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/

Organic and Green Cleaning Products

Such products keep your home space much healthier for you and your family, since you’re breathing far fewer dangerous chemicals.

Other Reusable Products

  • Paper or plastic? No way. Go cloth. Some grocery stores offer a discount when you bring your own cloth bags.
  • Buy terry bar towels or microfiber cloths instead of paper towels, and use cloth napkins instead of paper. These reusable products last a good long time.

Xeriscaping

Purchase native plants for your yard at home. They require less water and fewer chemicals. If you do maintain a conventional lawn, be sure to use organic lawn and garden products for improved long-term health of your property.

More Information

For more information about sustainability efforts on campus or ways that you can get involved, please contact Dr. Todd Richardson (richardson_t@utpb.edu) or Dr. Diane Post (post_d@utpb.edu).