Zero Waste Team Members

Our Zero Waste Team assists in educational programs concerning Aquinas’ waste streams. With everyone working together, we can reach this aggressive goal and be a zero waste campus! A "Sustainability Advocate" is the zero waste point person in a respective area on campus. This volunteer is the campus community's one-stop resource for recycling and composting questions, recommendations, ideas, and challenges related to zero waste.

Sustainability Advocates (2023/24)
Below is a listing of the Zero Waste Advocates in each area.

  • Academic Building
    • 2nd Floor: Lynn Atkins-Rykert; Kevin Cantley
    • 1st Floor: Thad Salter & Chad Gunnoe
  • Albertus Hall: Jessica Eimer Bowen
  • AMC: Mary Hurd and Nate Lareau
  • Grace Hauenstein Library: Christina Radisauskas; Jeanine Weber
  • Holmdene: Jessica Vaglica & Mary Bauer
  • Knape Hall: Ethan Barker
  • Meijer Hall: Annah Stang
  • Regina Hall: Ehl P'Simer
  • Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center: Duane Ambrose
  • Commuters: Ella Satterthwaite & Matthew Sommerfeld

Advocate Testimonials

"I was able to instantly incorporate composting my old coffee grounds. Each morning when I go to the sink and get water to fill my coffee pot I put my old coffee grounds and filter into the composting bin. I always disliked tossing the old coffee grounds into my office trash can. The convenience of the compost bin near the sink means ZERO excuses!"

Lynn Atkins-Rykert - Graduate Management Programs

"I don't know if I am a guru so much as a sustainability parrot ... it seems I am constantly chirping, ‘You can compost that’ ‘oh, that is recyclable.’ I must really be on top of it because a new employee actually thought I worked in the Center for Sustainability. I took it as a great compliment!"

Brigid Avery - Advantage Center

"One of the obstacles I faced with moving toward zero-waste in my own office were the many tissues I go through each day. (Allergies!) I know tissues are compostable, but a crock sounded too inconvenient (and yucky). After splurging one day on gourmet coffee, I found my solution -- paper coffee cups! I now keep a tall coffee cup on my desk into which I stuff my tissues (and orange/banana peels). At the end of the day, I bring it to the compost bin down the hall and dump it all out. No mess! Once it gets too yucky I can toss the whole cup into the compost container -- and then treat myself to another gourmet coffee!"

Susan English - Education

 

CONTACT INFO

Jessica Eimer Bowen
Executive Director, Center for Sustainability
Albertus Hall, Rm 129
(616) 632-1994
eimerjes@aquinas.edu