Lovett contracts with two vendors to properly dispose of the paper, cardboard, plastics, and aluminum that are collected in bins and drop-off points throughout campus. Students and faculty are reducing the amount of paper they generate, as well, by turning in papers and assignments electronically. Most of the paper used in the school's printers, copiers, and publications are recycled post-consumer waste.
Students and faculty are aiding in this effort, heading up teams of volunteers after athletic events to pick up plastic bottles that were inadvertently left behind. Students recently took inventory of the recycling and waste bins on campus to make sure there were adequate numbers of both. The Upper School Green Team made signs to ensure that each receptacle is properly labeled.
Terracycling & CompostingThe Upper School’s Green Team has organized a composting and terracycling initiative that occurs daily on the Lovett campus. Banana peels and apple cores are composted after break each day and added to Lovett’s own compost pile that fertilizes our gardens.
Terracycling is a waste collection process for hard to recycle products. This includes many of the chip and candy wrappers from our Café. Green Team members have created collection sites in the café where they then send the wrappers away to be terracycled into products such as purses, wallets, and even picture frames.
E-Waste DriveEvery January, Lovett hosts an E-Waste Drive for families to bring old electronics onto campus to be taken to a disposal or recycling site. E-waste composes some of the most toxic items that go into landfills so the Lovett Green Team is trying to give members of the community a place to take these items so they can be properly and safely disposed.
This year’s E-Waste Drive will take place January 9-11, 2012, in expectation of the many new electronic gadgets people will receive over the holidays.
Recycled Carpet
The carpet in the lobby of the Hendrix-Chenault Theater has been replaced with carpet made from recycled materials. Interface, our supplier and a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally responsible floor coverings and other textiles, has a carpet reclamation program where carpet is collected from sites across the U.S. The program reclaims pounds of used carpet and vinyl backing, keeping the product out of landfills and using it to make new carpet. Additionally, the carpet does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are a variety of chemicals emitted as gases, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects (think of the smell with new carpet or paint).
Printing
The majority of Lovett's printed publications are produced on environmentally friendly paper. For example, the Lovett magazine, our flagship publication for alumni, parents, and friends, is printed on paper that is 100 percent recycled, processed chlorine free and consists of 50 percent post-consumer waste fiber. The Lovett Lines newsletter is printed on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper that is made from 100 percent post-consumer waste fiber and manufactured with Green-e Certified renewable wind energy--saving 113 trees per year. Both of the publications are produced by a commercial printer that is Forest Stewardship Council certified, indicating responsible use of forest resources through the chain-of-custody, from forest to customer.
Zero Waste Zone
In fall 2011, Lovett became a Zero Waste Zone (ZWZ) school. By being a part of this program, Lovett affirmed its commitment to sustainability, both in the dining services and other parts of the campus. Some of the ZWZ criteria include: spent grease is collected for the production of biofuel, common recyclables are collected for recycling, and excess food is donated or composted. To learn more about ZWZ check out their website here.