Sustainability@UIC

The [Unsustainable] Corporation: "The Death of Birth"

2011-12-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

I'm almost finished watching "The Corporation," but I'm going to write anyway about the life-changing experience I've endured in the first hour and forty minutes of my viewing. According to the film's website, the documentary "explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time." I encourage you, Dear Readers of Our Blog, to watch this documentary as it has been heralded as the most successful Canadian documentary ever.

While the documentary focuses mostly on the evolution of the corporation in America, modern corporate greed, and the effects of advertising, there is an appropriate digression into the area of sustainability that is discussed by CEOs like Ray Anderson, professors and experts like Noam Chomsky, and people who work within the corporate environment like Carlton Brown, a broker who tells the audience how it really is (for serious, this guy is honest).

Regarding sustainability, Ray Anderson's testimonial is, by far, the most moving. As CEO and Founder of Interface Inc., a carpet company that is dedicated to a vision as a result of Ray's epiphany, the "spear in the chest" experience he received after reading Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce. Ray's honesty is refreshing and touching as he explains the emotional turmoil he experienced after reading Hawken's book:

For 21 years, I never gave a thought to what we were taking from the Earth or doing to the Earth in the making of our products. And then in the summer of 1994, we began to hear questions from our customers we had never heard before: 'What's your Company doing for the Environment?' And we didn't have answers. The real answer was not very much. And it really disturbed many of our people, not me so much as them...I didn't have an environmental position.... And sort of the propitious moment, this book landed on my desk. It was Paul Hawkins' book, The Ecology of Commerce and I began to read The Ecology of Commerce, really desperate for inspiration, and very quickly into that book I found the phrase, "The Death of Birth." It was E.O. Wilson's expression for species extinction, "The Death of Birth," and it was a point of a spear into my chest, and I read on, and the spear went deeper, and it became an epiphanal experience, a total change of mindset for myself and a change of paradigm. Can any product be made sustainably? Well, not any and every product. Can you make landmines sustainably? Well, I don't think so. There's a more fundamental question than that about landmines. Some products ought not to be made at all. Unless we can make carpets sustainably, you know, perhaps we don't have a place in a sustainable world, but neither does anybody else, making products unsustainably. One day early in this journey it dawned on me that the way I'd been running Interface is the way of the plunderer; plundering something that's not mine, something that belongs to every creature on earth. And I said to myself, "my goodness, the day must come when this is illegal, when plundering is not allowed. It must come." So, I said to myself, "my goodness, some day people like me will end up in jail."

What if every company had a Founder or CEO with this mentality? Currently Interface wants to be the first company to produce zero negative-effect on the environment, a goal they would like to achieve by 2020 (that's only eight years from now, people). The company website is littered with sustainability initiatives, missions, visions, and dedications to Ray's memory (he passed away this last August) and his thoughts about sustainability.

Many students I talk to here at UIC don't even know what the Office of Sustainability is or does. The students enrolled at UIC, right now, are the next line of workers about to enter the job market (whether they are getting a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD); we need to educate ourselves concerning the sustainability initiatives on campus such as this office, the Green Fee (which I have blogged about previously), and the efforts to audit our waste to figure out what we can do to change the way we dispose of our trash and recyclables. As the next line of workers, we have a responsibility to the environment to challenge our employers (in the most productive way possible) and change the way things are from the inside out.

Hopefully, other companies like Interface will recognize that the bottom line is not the only essential thing in a business. Imagine the day when you can ask an employer about what steps they are taking to support Green initiatives before you can accept employment. I know it would make my job-hunting much easier if employers were required to report their sustainability initiatives and missions to job websites.

We are almost there, and I have hope that there are more CEOs like Ray Anderson out there, ready and motivated to help sustain our planet. If not, I am up to the challenge. Who's hiring?

Is it necessary to wash your jeans?

2011-11-28T16:55:00.000-06:00

Recently, I discovered an article about the non-necesity of washing your jeans, and it caused some conversation in the office about the common system of washing jeans.

Jeans typically consume 919 gallons of water during its life span. Levi Strauss & Company has realized the potential effect of this on the environment and the future of cotton availability and cost. To defray the usage of water, the company has created a nonprofit program to teach farmers in foreign countries to use less water. One of the techniques they suggested was to make a new brand of denim - stone washed jeans smoothed with rocks and not water.

However, the company is also asking us regular consumers to use less water. Labels in their jeans now urge consumers to wash less and only use cold water. Levi Strauss & Company also suggests hardly washing jeans and to freeze them instead.

Throw jeans into my freezer next to my frozen dinners? Yeah, right. What does accomplish?

Photo borrowed from mystyle.com

The company claims that freezing jeans actually kills the germs that cause sickening smells from dirty jeans. Also, I've heard and read of real life testaments that people think you can actually succeed by not washing your jeans that often (as long as you don't do heavy duty or dirty work with them on).

I personally always wash my jeans after single usage. I've grown up knowing that you wash all of your clothes after you wear them. Same thing goes for hoodies, I wash them after one usage. However, some people in the Office of Sustainability claim that they are fine by not washing their jeans or hoodies after each wear. At first I disagreed, but after research and thought - maybe we all should wash our jeans and other clothing less?

Now, I think freezing your jeans is a bit ridiculous. I barely have any room in my freezer as it is and if I did have it, why would one want to put their dirty jeans in it? I am not going to buy another freezer, either. But realistically, you and me can limit the washing of our jeans and all other articles of clothing.

I am both embarrassed and proud to say that this past weekend I wore the same pair of jeans three times. I wore them to 3 different occasions, obviously. I like to think I'm a pretty stylish guy, but as it is no one pays attention to your pants... so why not wear jeans more than once? Its pretty reasonable to wear your jeans about 3 times (at 3 different occasions, of course) and then prepare them for washing. I might not be able to do that with my undies, socks or t-shirts, but I sure can with my hoodies and jeans!

I've finally came to the realization that it is important to adapt our natural resources usage as time goes by. Water resources will be more and more scarce if our society consumes as it does today. So, for you all, I propose a challenge...

Skip the freezer and wash your clothes left!
But please, wash your underwear...

DEA Drug Collection Event (10/29/11)

2011-10-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, October 29th, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be collecting expired or unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs for proper disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. nationally as a part of Red Ribbon Week.

How is this a sustainable event?
Medicines poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet can sometimes pass through waste water treatment plants and enter rivers, lakes, and streams which are often used as sources for community drinking water supplies.

Additionally, proper and safe disposal of medicine can help prevent:

Poisoning of children and pets;
Misuse by teenagers and adults;
Health problems from accidentally taking the wrong medicine, too much of the same medicine or an expired medication that is too old to work well;
Medicines from entering rivers, lakes and streams.

To find a location near you, go to http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html and click on, “Find a collection site near you.” On the next page, fill in your zip code or County/City/State, select a distance, and click “Submit.” A list of collection locations and addresses will pop up.

For Illinois disposal area questions, contact A/GS John Pacella at (312) 353-3709.

Help UIC's Waste Audit for RePaper Challenge

2011-10-17T17:07:00.000-05:00

UIC is going to participate in a national effort in higher education to raise the paper recycling rate to 75%. Our current overall recycling rate is about 40% - we need to increase this to make ourselves more viable in the RePaper Challenge. We have all the requisite parts in place in our existing program, except the performance of an annual waste audit - so we will conduct the audit in an outdoor area this week.

Who: UIC Office of Sustainability

What: RePaper Challenge waste audit

When: We will collect the bags on Wednesday, October 19^th, with the help of a truck and driver provided by the Dept. of Transportation. We need several volunteers for this task, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 20th, starting at 9:00 a.m., one building at a time, we will weigh the trash and then sort it to find the percentage by weight of each type of paper, plastic, metal, aluminum, glass, and waste materials. The findings of the audit will be compared against the monthly recycling numbers.

Where: University Hall; James Stukel Towers; Student Center East; and the College of Medicine/Clinical Sciences Building

What: After collecting the garbage Thursday, all bags would be tagged to show the building they came from, and then delivered to a staging area at the West Dock and driveway of the 608 building (Science and Engineering Labs West) on Taylor Street just east of Morgan Street.

Also, at 4:00 pm, the trash would be re-bagged and could then be picked up by drivers to put them back into the waste stream. We’ll put the paper and any bottles or cans into recycling totes.

For this we need as many volunteers as we can get.

Extra: The volunteers involved in handling bags and/or sorting work will receive a brief safety training and will be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment for the task they are assigned. A training has been set up with Rich Anderson, Director of the Environmental Health and Safety Office on Tuesday, October 18^th, 10:00 am in the Paulina Street Building, 1140 S. Paulina, 2^nd floor EHSO conference room. If you are unable to make this meeting, those who receive training will perform onsite training prior to any volunteer handling trash.

Please contact Joe Iosbaker if you are able to volunteer and to give your hours of availability.

UIC Recyclers Saved 1,190 Trees in May

2011-06-02T14:48:00.001-05:00

Since April 2010, UIC has been picking up all of its cardboard and paper recycling itself - paper is picked up by Joe Fabrizio and Ray Shumpert and cardboard by Fred Bartucci and Tim Macias and they've been doing a great job! The numbers show that in March they collected over 140,000 pounds of material, saving 1,190 trees, 490,095 gallons of water, and reducing landfill volume by 231 cubic yards. The image above shows the history. Let's keep up the good work of separating our recyclables into the right containers and let Joe, Ray, Fred, and Tim keep up the good work of collecting it!

The Story of Stuff

2010-11-12T15:54:00.000-06:00

Stuff. It is everywhere, it is everything, it is really who we are. This video brings to mind a movie I watched in a management class "The Corporation." I have pondered this idea again and again and what always drives my thoughts is marketing and society.

If I had to describe the US society to someone I would tell them to walk outside-look around. Before you even got outside, how many different thoughts ran through your mind because of all of the ads, brands, or sounds you heard? It could be a text message, a poster promoting a group with sponsors swimming across the page, or even your colleagues brand-new "vintage" Nikes high tops. Walking outside you face billboards, stores, and more importantly the acceptance of the public. The thing that really confuses me as I sit here and right this post is that when I leave here I am going to most likely fall right into that society- not as fully as others, but habits and ways of life are hard to consciously recognize and stop.

Being one not to watch movies, this one kept my attention- she expanded the dry "extraction-production-distribution-consumption-disposal" into history, sarcasm, and expansive knowledge. We are a "system in crisis." This current linear system cannot proceed on a finite planet. Besides resources, production, consumption, and disposal we need to look at the other factors involved like people. The government and corporations are brought up first. The government is a big influence; however corporations are the final decision makers. Having more money, corporations play with the government like a string puppet. After WWII Victor LeBow said:

And there we have it- now we consume more than double of what American's consumed back in the 50's. American's are using 30% of the world's resources while only holding 5% of the world's population. With the increase of consumption, ironically enough, happiness in the United States in decreasing. We spend too much time watching the TV and shopping instead of the doing those things that increase happiness like spending time with friends and family.

Why?

Marketing: It tells us we are wrong; people are exposed to over 300 advertisements a day telling us their products make what we are doing wrong right.

Planned Obsolescence: Products are designed to be used up within a specific time period. Products can be planned through function, like a paper coffee cup or a machine with breakable parts, or through “desirability,” like a piece of clothing made for this year’s fashion and then replaced by something totally different next year. It is also known as “design for the dump."
Perceived Obsolescence: Products that are still functional but no longer perceived to be stylish or desirable, like fashion.

She brings up the idea of how these consumer products we buy are actually paid for. In her example, the $4.99 radio definitely creates more costs in production than it is sold for. The rental space of where it sits, the health care and wages of the workers, the transportation of the plastic, oil, and metal used to produce it and the energy poured into the factory it was made in would make the product cost a large amount of money. By externalizing costs, the radio is sold for $4.99 at a higher price than what it costs the company to make.

So what is her solution?
Recycling? Not entirely. Many products can't be recycled because they are dirty or are not designed to be recycled. One garbage can full of garbage a household creates has already created over 70 cans of waste upstream of production. So while recycling is great, it is impossible for it to stop the waste already created.

Her solution is the solution spoke by many- look at the Big Picture.
We need to unite to reclaim and transform this consuming society to stop wasting resources and people and start using closed loop systems, clean up pollutants, and create local societies.

Composting at UIC?

2010-10-08T15:57:00.000-05:00

With the number of college campuses that have composting programs and the UIC's Climate Action Plan, it is surprising there hasn't been more discussion about composting on the UIC campus. UIC has the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 80% by year 2050 and also is aware of the need to implement composting on campus. The UIC Climate Action Plan states on page 40:

Landfilling solid waste generates methane emissions, a strong greenhouse gas. Sometimes those emissions are captured and flared; other times they are captured and used for power generation. This all depends on the type of landfill. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the amount of waste sent to a landfill needs to be reduced. Composting waste materials will also offset carbon emissions. In order to achieve zero waste, there has to be composting. While greenhouse gas emissions due to the waste stream are small at UIC, there are still a number of ways that UIC can reduce its current waste stream and increase composting. Also, recycling is one of the most visible ways to promote sustainability.

No matter the amount of emissions, UIC could implement composting to reduce emission but also to promote the routine of composting and influence the campus population to do it themselves. The plan states that there is an interest on campus, from Sodexo to Facilities Management, but who is acting on that interest?

The Jane Addams Hull House Urban Farm currently composts near the green house, but has not spread any further. In the September 2010 edition of BioCycle Magazine, an article discusses different US college campuses that have composting programs. Most of the programs have been initiated by students, but some were from research grants and the LEED certification standards for buildings.

For example, Vanderbilt University started a program at a commons because of their LEED accreditation, it is still a small program but allows students to get involved. However, it is Goucher College's initiative started by the Agricultural Co-op that I found very impressive. Compost tumblers are placed all around their campus, inviting people to give it a spin. The Goucher population can put their fruit, vegetable, and coffee scraps into white containers next to the tumbler to wait for the co-op student empty in with the rest of the compost. The co-op wanted to create a closed loop for their garden so they grow food, compost the waste from the dining halls and kitchens, produce the compost, use it on their garden, and sell the excess in 5-gallons buckets for $4 each. This initiative gave Goucher's facilities management the drive to set up a larger-scale program with Waste Neutral Group to collect pre- and post-consumer foods and soiled paper.

As a campus within the city, it makes the most sense to collect compost and have it taken off site to be produced. With the rise of local farms and produce, there is sure to be use for all of our organic scraps. The article Expanding Diversion of Food Scraps and Soiled Paper explains three ways to help implement composting successfully.

They first recommended policy changes including raising disposal fees, charging full costs for landfills and making them liable for future damages, giving carbon credits, and obtaining composting permits. Operational changes included restructuring collection to reduce cost by collecting trash on a less-than-weekly basis and organics more frequently and enclosing composting operations to reduce air emissions. Lastly, public awareness includes emphasizing resource conservation with soil and water and use appropriate terms like trimmings and scraps instead of waste.

Could the concept of sustainability and community, as I discussed in my last post, be used here?

Could we succeed using community in respect to UIC through the Green Youth Revolution, the Jane Addams Hull House Urban Farm, and the UIC Office of Sustainability? Would they bring together outside sources to create the most knowledgeable team?

What's in Our Trash?

2010-01-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

The Office of Sustainability tried to answer that question during the recent waste audit conducted on November 30. A waste audit is required by the state every five years and is a sample assessment to approximate a day’s worth of garbage at UIC. This particular time the garbage produced by the College of Pharmacy and University Hall was the sample used. These buildings were chosen because they've been sampled in the past, so we can have some longitudinal data to analyze.

So what was found in the garbage? Some of the more unusual items found were an unopened box of needles and plastic pipettes tips - both should not have been thrown in the normal trash! Along with the unusual items were some that are all too commonly found in the trash: a total of 365 pounds of material that could have been easily recycled. With the total weight of the trash being 931 pounds, that’s over 45% of the waste that could have been diverted from a landfill and recycled. We should point out that this data reflects the final results of the audit, slightly different from what was reported in the recent UIC News article. Another 33% of the waste was primarily disposable plates, cups and plastic ware.

Does the amount of recyclable material found in the trash surprise you? What do you think should be done to lower this number? How could people reduce the amount of disposable foodware they use?

Make This Holiday Season Green

2009-12-22T17:10:00.001-06:00

Why stop at being environmentally conscious just because it’s the holiday season. The holiday season is notorious for being the opposite of environmentally friendly: the wrapping paper, lights, gift packaging, Christmas trees, traveling, etc. So what can you do this holiday season to make it feel like a jolly time of year, and have a lighter impact on the environment? Here are a few tips:

Wrapping paper: There is a very simple solution: use old magazines, newspapers, brown grocery bags, gift bags, or if you are going to purchase wrapping paper look for some made of recycled paper. By using old magazines and newspapers it also makes the wrapping of every present unique and makes you remember and relive the news of the past year!
Gifts: Buy local presents this holiday season. By shopping local you are not only helping the environment by cutting down on transportation of the goods but you are also supporting your local businesses. When shopping don’t forget to use your reusable bags!
Lights: What is the holiday season without the lights, so when purchasing the lights this holiday season try and find LED lights. They are 80-90 percent more efficient and last much longer.
Christmas trees: The very focal point of many homes during the holiday season can be purchased with the root ball and later can be replanted in your own back yard.
Don’t forget to recycle when the holiday season is over!

Here are a few links to a few other sites that offer even more suggestions to go green this holiday season.

http://www.treehugger.com/giftguide/

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/holidays/index.html

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm

http://www.sierraclub.org/holidays/

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1568660,00.html

http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/12/21/carbon-cost-christmas

Have any more going green holiday tips or ideas please share in the comments below!

Recycle Your Propane Tanks

2009-07-29T13:47:00.003-05:00

Grilling is one of my favorite activities during the summer (and winter, for that matter). I have one of those small propane grills that run on those smaller tanks found in most hardware stores (I usually use the green, 14.1 oz version):

Now, I find myself in the middle of the summer, with a handful empty tanks at hand. My environmental instincts prevent me from simply throwing it out, and my safety instincts from putting it our in the alley for the metal collectors.

So, what to do? The Chicagoist has posted a great guide to recycling propane tanks in Chicago. Supposedly, Coleman has launched a new product aimed to mark tanks as "empty", so that they can be recycled by any metal recycler. Until then, the Chicagoist suggests taking your empty tanks to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility.

While planning your trip there, be sure to check out their complete list of acceptable items, for any other things you might have laying around your home.

Want Cash for Your Old Electronics?

2009-07-02T09:52:00.006-05:00

So everyone is talking about recycling your old electronics, but what if it's in perfect condition, or at least works well? If it works, it should be reused, not recycled... So wouldn't it be a good idea to sell it, instead of just leave it sitting around?

YouRenew is a company that specializes in buying used electronics from consumers. Their website lists a long range of accepted products, and their potential price. For instance, a 4th Generation Ipod (40 GB, color display) can get you as much as $39 - free money! Visit the YouRenew website for a complete list of items, you can also suggest other items to be added.

"Green" Bookstore!

2009-06-26T12:06:00.005-05:00

It's one thing to read about stores going "green," its another thing to actually experience it. I recently stopped by the Student Center East to pick up some waste veggie oil for my biodiesel program, when I stopped by to buy some UIC apparel. While checking out, I was asked if I wanted a bag for my sweatshirts. The cashier told me that in efforts of a more source reducing outlook, the bookstore now charges about $1.50/bag to customers! This is a perfect yet easy way of becoming a more sustainable campus and I believe local stores should follow suit.

Biodiesel From (Virgin) Vegetable Oil

2009-06-23T10:14:00.001-05:00

Editor's Note: Britt, our IEPA intern, is spending the summer examining both Biodiesel and Composting Issues at UIC. He will be reporting his progress on our blog.

Control Biodiesel Processing-
This will help with the WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil) biodiesel later in terms of comparing the final products.

Day 1- So the last two days I have been in the process of making our first control batch of virgin veggie biodiesel. It was surprisingly fun and easy. These are the ingredients I used.

1. Distilled water
2. Lye (NaOH)
3. HEET (methanol)
4. Pure Vegetable oil

I have about 3 hours into the entire process and that includes heating, mixing, and washing. Yesterday I mixed the methoxide (5 grams of NaOH/200 mL methanol) and heated the veggie oil (1 liter) to about 130 degrees. I then mixed the two liquids in a 2 liter pop bottle. This process took about an hour and a half. After 5 minutes of vigorously shaking the bottle the biodiesel was left to sit so the glycerin settled at the bottom. Below is the mixed veggie oil/methoxide.

Day 2- After settling for 24 hours, the biodiesel looked like so..

The bottom layer, where I am pointing to, is the glycerin. I then decanted the biodiesel since it is less dense and began the washing process. I heated ~300 mL of distilled water and gently poured the water into the washing tank with the biodiesel. I then SLOWLY rotated the washing tank so the water has enough movement to extract the excess catalyst and form "soap". Since the water is more dense the final product seperates like below.

After the washing was completed the soap had to be removed and we were left with biodiesel. Right now, the biodiesel is sitting in the fume hood evaporating to its final pure biodiesel state. Here is a comparison of the three stages. From right to left the fluids are 1.) Glycerin with a small layer of biodiesel, 2.) Soap from the washing process, 3.) Biodiesel ready to be evaporated or "dried".

For the record, when I started the lab smelled like chemicals, now it smells like cookies because of the heated cookie oil. The one problem I have found is that veggie oil gets on everything and it does NOT wash off because it is not soluable in water. So I think I will start washing with mineral oil.

That's all for now...

Britt

Tour of Loyola Biodiesel Lab

2009-06-11T16:08:00.003-05:00

First off, hello all! My name is Britt and I am researching the potential for UIC to start processing their own waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. I found out that Loyola University is running their own biodiesel processing. What a great idea for an OS fieldtrip!

After a little under a 30 minute ride, I was impressed. It's one thing seeing biodiesel processing pictures and reading about it on the internet, but when you see them up close and personal...IMPRESSIVE! I was in awe of how orderly the entire set-up was and looked. So as promised I'll post some pictures below. Rich Anderson and Cindy Klein-Banai joined us and came out just as if not more excited than me about the biodiesel program. So far things are looking good in terms starting this program before the summer is over...I don't want to rush the program and come up empty handed but it would be nice to see an actual development from my research and a concrete solution. Anyways, here's some of the pictures I took today.

This is the tank that holds the WVO prior to processing. Before occupying the tank, the oil is filtered down to about 25 microns which is above and beyond what it really has to be for the purpose of making biodiesel. The WVO is heated to about 60 degrees celcius using the band heater attached to the 55-gallon stainless drum. To the right of the drum is the methoxide container where the lye and methanol are mixed together.

Here is the entire tank set up minus the WVO tank. From left to right we have the reaction tank where the methoxide is mixing in the the circulating WVO. The middle tank is the wash tank. The far right tank is the storage of the cleaned biodiesel. I'll explain what these all do in a little bit.

So how does this process work. EASY! Before anything is processed a sample of the 25 micron filtered WVO is taken. The WVO is titrated to see how much extra lye on top of the 3.5 grams should be added per liter of WVO to create the catalyst. Once the lye is prepared it is mixed with methanol. There should be anough methanol in the catalyst tankt o equal 20% of the WVO being used. For example, if 100 gallons of WVO is used, 20 gallons of methanol should be used. This amount is then added to the methoxide storage bin that is plumbed to the reaction tank via tubing and the "blue" pump.

Once the WVO isup to 60 degrees celsius in its storage tank,the sediments that drop down to the bottom of the bin are drained along with some water. Then it is pumped into the reactor tank. The WVO is maintained at 50 degree via a probe inserted into a t-fitting that contacts the WVO during the recirculation. See the picture below.

Once the WVO has been circulated enough the catalyst valve is opened and 80% of the methoxide to be pumped into the reaction tank still while the WVO is being circulated to completely mix the two liquids. This is the first reaction. Glycerin will begin to settle at the bottom of the tank. After about 2 hours the glycerin will be ready to empty. The WVO is then allowed to recirculated again where the other 20% of the methoxide is added. After completely mixing, the reactor is left to sit for 24 hours. The glycerin is then drained.

Once the operator is sure that all the glycerin is out of the crude biodiesel (CBD), the CBD is then pumped into the wash tank. Here tiny misters spray tap water into the tank where it will, because its dense, seep through the CBD grabbing contaminant on its way down. This process created waste water and soap. The water is left to settle and later drained. The drained water is tested and if it is basic, the biodiesel is washed again.

When the biodiesel is cleaned it is then "dryed". This is the cool part. Zach said that a water pump was connected to a piece of wood where the air comes out of the wood as "micro" bubbles which grab the contaminants left over after washing and rise to the surface where they pop and travel back down to the bottom of the container. 24 hrs later the waste water can be drained and the cleaned and ready to use biodiesel can be pumped into the storage tank and used within its 6 month shelf life!

And some random pictures:

Filter that sits in between the WVO and the reactor tanks that filters down to about 25 microns.

This is the valve system that controls what liquid is being pumped where. On the vertical tubing attached to the pump is the temperature probe and heating element.

Methanol is highly flammable and when it burns it creates a clear flame so every metal valve that methanol touches is grounded.

The final filter that filters the cleaned biodiesel to about 5 microns.

That's all for now!

Do you know the Story of Stuff?

2009-05-13T09:28:00.000-05:00

If you keep up with the front page news, you might have noticed that Annie Leonard's "Story of Stuff" was featured in the New York Times on Monday, May 11. Many of us in the OS think this is a good tool that can be used to explain the complex relationship between consumerism, waste, and climate change - sometimes good, sometimes bad.

The video is about 20 minutes long. Take a look, if you haven't seen it already. Pass it on to your friends and family, if you'd like. Of course, this video isn't without controversy - while it's being viewed in classrooms around the country, one school board banned it because it was "anticapitalism." So, what do you think, UIC? Is it one-sided? Is it spot-on?

Position in Environmental Health and Safety (Due Feb 20, 2009)

2009-01-27T11:01:00.007-06:00

The University of Illinois at Chicago, Environmental Health and Safety Office seeks an Assistant Director for Chemical Safety. The Assistant Director for Chemical Safety will be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and management of the chemical safety and chemical hazardous waste programs for the University campus and medical center in compliance with RCRA, EPA and IEPA regulations.
Duties include management of LQG hazardous waste facility, supervision of staff, chemical safety training, chemical, incinerator and waste facility inspections and enforcement, and environmental compliance reporting. Other duties include waste minimization and chemical redistribution programs, participation on the campus Hazwoper Emergency Response Team, and assistance with the asbestos management program.
Advanced degree in Environmental Health and Safety, environmental or chemical engineering, environmental science or industrial hygiene required. CHMM, CSP, or CIH certification preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of current local, state and federal laws, codes and regulations pertaining to chemical safety and hazardous waste required. Three years of administration or management experience with staff supervision necessary. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills for a variety of audiences. Data management and analysis with database knowledge and experience a plus. Must have a valid driver’s license and be capable of extensive walking and respirator use.
This is a full-time, 12-month Academic Professional position at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For full consideration, candidates must submit a letter of application and resume by February 20, 2009 to:
ehsojob@uic.edu or Eva Ortegon, Search Coordinator, 820 S. Wood St., m/c 932, Chicago, IL 60612.
Email submissions preferred.
The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Trayless Dining Success!

2008-12-30T16:13:00.010-06:00

During the week of November 17-21, three dining halls on campus went tray-less. The purpose was to measure just how much waste water could be avoided by not offering trays for its customers, and to evaluate the response among students and staff.

The event turned out to be a great success, waste was reduced by 3,120 lbs for the week collectively. It was decided to go "tray by request" from now on, and students seemed to be on board with the concept. The poster comes from Sodexho and Campus Dining who organized the event. Please contact them directly for more information.

Campus Dining also reminds you to:

Take only the number of napkins you need per meal.
Take only one cup for each beverage purchase.
Recycle aluminum cans throughout campus at the designated recycling stations as well as at home.
Dine in rather than carrying out.

Try Using Ecofont to Save Ink

2008-12-12T10:38:00.004-06:00

If you're trying to save money on your printing expenses, you may want to check out Ecofont. It's a font with tiny circles inside each letter to reduce the amount of ink used in printing. According to their website, it can save up to 20% of your ink. The image is just a quick comparison between Helvetica (UIC's official font) on the left and Ecofont on the right. Ecofont seems a little faded, but it's still readable. We don't suggest you make a print out just to test the font, but if you need to print something and use Ecofont let us know in the comments!

Ecofont [via Lifehacker via QuickOnlineTips]

Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Seeking Applications

2008-12-05T16:21:00.001-06:00

The deadline for the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards is approaching. These awards recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use -- and that have broad applications in industry.

Nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from a chemical product or process. Any individual, group or organization, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia and industry, may nominate a green chemistry technology for these awards. Self-nominations are welcome and expected. Each nominated technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the United States. Typically, awards are given each year in five categories: Greener Synthetic Pathways; Greener Reaction Conditions; Designing Greener Chemicals; Small Business; and Academic.

Nominations must be sent no later than Dec. 31 to be eligible for the 2009 awards, which will be presented on June 22, 2009. For more information on the nomination and awards process, see: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/howto.html. You can link directly to the 2009 nomination package at: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/docs/nomination_package_for_2009_awards.pdf. For examples of last year's nominations and award winners, see: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/past.html.

If you have questions about the nomination process or awards, please write to EPA at: greenchemistry@epa.gov.

Recycle Your Cellphone

2008-12-04T10:28:00.004-06:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with a long list of cellphone and network providers to increase awareness of the importance of recycling old cellphones. The participants has pledged to:

Increase capacity and outreach about existing recycling programs;
Educate the public about the benefits of cell phone recycling, including how and where the phones can be recycled; and
Work with communities to hold special cell phone collection drives and events.

Read more about the program by clicking here. You can always recycle your private cellphone at any of the MicroStations located in the UIC bookstores. For information regarding disposal of university property, please review the UIC Business and Financial Policies and Procedures Manual for Property Accounting.

Green Laboratories: Resource Conservation in Research Settings (Webcast)

2008-11-25T11:25:00.003-06:00

Did you know typical laboratories consume 5-7 times more energy than office and classroom buildings? And fume hoods alone can use as much as 3 times the energy of one house in a given year? UIC recently participated in a Green Labs webcast to explore this topic further. With 30 participants joining from both sides of campus, this timely program addressed what people working in labs can do to reduce their energy and material resources use. There are a number of things, including purchasing Energy Star rated refrigerators and freezers, turning off lights, closing fume hoods when not actively using them, participating in a chemical redistribution program and finding users for unwanted equipment, that can really make a difference. To take it a step further, they suggested a lab R.A.T.S. (Laboratory Research and Technical Staff) program could be started at UIC to specifically address lab efficiencies. Check out the powerpoint and let us know if you're interested in greening our labs!

Mercury and CFLs

2008-07-09T17:33:00.003-05:00

For the past year or so, stories about the hazards associated with the mercury content of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) has surfaced once and awhile. By reaching further than just the local headlines, I wanted to find out for myself what the deal was.

Firstly, there is indeed mercury in a CFL, which would be hazardous for the environment and people's health if disposed of inadequately. In Chicago, there are two main ways to dispose of burnt-out CFLs:

- City of Chicago's Household Products and Electronics Recycling Center, located at 1150 North Branch (this site will also accept a wide range of other kinds of waste)
- IKEA and Home Depot, every store has containers for recycled CFLs

So the disposal is one thing, but what happens if you happen to break one in your home? The City of Chicago states that "[there] is not enough mercury to harm you if a bulb breaks...", while some newspaper articles say different. Actually, the truth lies somewhere in between - you can certainly clean it up yourself, but you better take precautions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued guidelines for how to handled a broken CFL, which are fairly straight forward.

At last, I wanted to share with you a study conducted in part by the Institute for Environmental Science and Policy at UIC. In the study, a life-cycle assessment, the author concludes that the amount of mercury released through the use of CFLs is far lower than that from the use of normal light bulbs. This has mainly to do with the lower energy use, which lowers the use of fossile fuel for electricity generation. The study also points out the economical benefits or retrofitting a home, business, or dorm with CFLs. Read the whole study here.