Innovative Approaches to Sustainability at Other Campuses

Here are a few selections of the innovative approaches to sustainability taking place on other college campuses. Each of these examples was chosen because they represent ideas that UCSC could potentially implement in some form, or in some cases, already has begun to. If you see something here that you want to make a reality at UCSC, contact the Sustainability Office susted@ucsc.edu and we will help you direct your ideas toward fruition!

Composting Toilets Save Precious Water

Vermont Law School has composting toilets that use a biocompatible "foam flush" that use very little water and they have toilets that don't use any water at all. The waste goes into tanks in the basement where aerobic bacteria and earthworms convert the waste into potential fertilizer year-round. UCSC should implement composting toilets in a single building then the idea could spread across campus with every building having composting toilets.

St. Olaf College opens Ole Thrift Shop

The “shop" sells items that St. Olaf students donate as they move out of the residence halls. Rather than throw away or recycle the items, students place them in Ole Thrift Shop collection boxes throughout campus. Proceeds from the sales support other environmentally sustainable projects on their campus as well as several local organizations. With move out approaching UCSC, it would be great if we had a center that takes in old items.