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The Greening of CSU, Chico

Adding organic cotton T-shirts in the A.S. Bookstore is only one of many actions taken by the campus community to promote a healthier environment. Some of the other efforts include:

Recycled Consumer Items and Chlorine-free Paper

The bookstore tries to carry as many recycled items as possible, and last year started selling chlorine-free notebooks and paper. The bookstore is also one of the top dealers of used books among American college bookstores of similar size.

 
Recycling

The A.S. Chico Recycling Program (ASCRP), started in May 1996, was given a boost with a student self-assessed fee in 1998 and today collects at over 400 paper, beverage container, and compost locations on campus. Since 1996, the program has collected over 632 tons of recyclable materials. Additionally, the Recycling Education Outreach program, part of ASCRP, has trained over 150 future teachers and 2,000 elementary school students in waste reduction techniques. The recycling program recently received a $24,900 grant from the Department of Conservation to purchase recycling containers for the campus athletic areas.

 
Electric Vehicles

An electric cart was the first alternative fuel vehicle on campus in 1989. Since then, the university has purchased electric carts for on campus and electric Ford Ranger pickup trucks for a fleet of 33 university-owned alternative fuel vehicles. The A.S. also owns one electric vehicle and one propane-powered truck.

 
Organic Landscaping

Since April 1997, the campus grounds keepers have switched to almost 90 percent organic landscaping, trading in chemicals for organic compounds, different management techniques, and mechanical means of controlling insects. In the new brick planter near Holt Hall, for example, landscape fabric has been laid. Small holes will be made to allow plantings, and the fabric covered with bark chips.

The fabric will allow rain to seep through, but prevent weeds from growing or germinating.

Barbara Alderson