By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica College has begun work on a detailed environmental audit that will look at campus practices in transportation, construction, water and energy use, waste and recycling, food service, curriculum and more.
Initiated by students in SMC’s Eco-Action Club, the volunteer effort — which is targeted to conclude by Earth Day in April 2007 — involves students, professors and administrators, and is overseen by a special subcommittee of the SMC Academic Senate’s Environmental Affairs Committee. Students include Eco-Action club members, and those enrolled in environmental studies courses and in Sustainable Crews, an extra-credit environmental program facilitated by the nonprofit Sustainable Works.
“This project is really good for us because it’s not just about what we’re doing wrong, it will give us a road map to improve,” said SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang.
This is the first time since 1993 that the college has conducted an environmental audit. After the 1993 study, SMC changed many of its practices, particularly in the areas of curriculum, including the creation of the Center for Environmental and Urban Studies, water conservation and recycling.
Since then, SMC has gained a reputation for having one of the best recycling programs in the state, school officials said. SMC recycles 85 percent of its waste — 65 percent of construction waste is excluded — and is known for its worm composting project that turns three tons of SMC cafeteria garbage each year into clean and organic fertilizer.
For further information, contact Bertone at (310) 458-8716. Heal the Bay educator heads to Belize
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.