We advance sustainability through our operations, education, and community engagement. We are committed to climate action. With the first geothermal district energy system in MN & a history of innovation, we have reduced our natural gas use by 60-70%. Now we are developing our next actions focused on eliminating operational emissions, scaling sustainability across the curriculum, and deepening experiences in sustainability solutions on campus and in our community. See sustainability in our institutional strategic plan.
The Sustainability Working Group will soon release a report and plan sharing our goals and strategies for change in decarbonization, education, and collaboration with local and higher education networks to accelerate change. See our review informed by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners.
Come mend your clothes at Carleton’s Clothing Repair Fair! Trained students and staff will teach you how to make repairs and provide needles, thread, fabric, and sewing machines! 🪡🧵👖👕
Come mend your clothes at Carleton’s Clothing Repair Fair! Trained students and staff will teach you how to make repairs and provide needles, thread, fabric, and sewing machines! 🪡🧵👖👕...
Look at the football team being diligent about waste disposal! Do your part at all the athletics events this homecoming weekend! Refer to our previous posts for more information
Look at the football team being diligent about waste disposal! Do your part at all the athletics events this homecoming weekend! Refer to our previous posts for more information...
Carleton’s Homecoming Weekend is coming up and our undefeated football team wants you to dispose of your waste correctly! From aluminum cans and glass bottles of all sorts (pop to beer), hotdogs, hamburgers, and chips to napkins and plant-based plastics, please be diligent of the composting and recycling process as we want to avoid contamination of these waste streams. When in doubt, ask someone or throw it in the trash!
Carleton’s Homecoming Weekend is coming up and our undefeated football team wants you to dispose of your waste correctly! From aluminum cans and glass bottles of all sorts (pop to beer), hotdogs, hamburgers, and chips to napkins and plant-based plastics, please be diligent of the composting and recycling process as we want to avoid contamination of these waste streams. When in doubt, ask someone or throw it in the trash!...
In order for Carleton to strive for zero waste, we must take steps to dispose of our waste in a proper manner, so the Sustainability Office is partnering with Facilities to provide the tools to ensure the reduction of waste on campus. Even though tackling waste may look different outside of Carleton, we are taking these steps to shape Carleton’s culture surrounding waste so that you are able to carry these habits to encourage zero waste beyond Carleton.
Compost — Compost is at the greatest risk of being contaminated and thus not compostable. All compostable items are organic, Ask yourself, “Is it edible? Was it ever edible?” If either answer is yes, send it to the compost. Disposing of compost at Carleton always goes into a bin with a green bag. Remember: pizza boxes as well as almost all cafe items in Sayles, Schulze, Weitz and the dining halls are compostable—yes, the cups, utensils, paper to-go boxes, etc… are plastic number 7 or made out of paper! (biodegradable). Compost at Carleton often doesn’t make it to the composting site because it is almost always contaminated.
Recycle — Recycling tends to be tricky to categorize. Similarly to compost, you must try to limit contamination. Students have to be diligent in the process of disposing of recyclable items. Note that clean and dry paper as well as firm plastics are recyclable and flimsy plastics are not, so throw your styrofoam, polystyrene containers, plastic chip bags, plastic bags and wraps etc… into the trash. Also, bubble wrap, waxed paper and cartons, as well as terracycle items are not recyclable, and should be discarded to the trash. Usually cardboard is recyclable, but grease- and oil-soaked cardboard is not, they are compostable.
Trash — We do not want to contaminate the compost and recycle because much more labor goes into processing these waste disposal categories and also leads to the contaminated set not being used. When in doubt, ask someone! If you’re still in doubt, throw it in the trash or search it up! Terracycle items go into the trash.
In order for Carleton to strive for zero waste, we must take steps to dispose of our waste in a proper manner, so the Sustainability Office is partnering with Facilities to provide the tools to ensure the reduction of waste on campus. Even though tackling waste may look different outside of Carleton, we are taking these steps to shape Carleton’s culture surrounding waste so that you are able to carry these habits to encourage zero waste beyond Carleton.
Compost — Compost is at the greatest risk of being contaminated and thus not compostable. All compostable items are organic, Ask yourself, “Is it edible? Was it ever edible?” If either answer is yes, send it to the compost. Disposing of compost at Carleton always goes into a bin with a green bag. Remember: pizza boxes as well as almost all cafe items in Sayles, Schulze, Weitz and the dining halls are compostable—yes, the cups, utensils, paper to-go boxes, etc… are plastic number 7 or made out of paper! (biodegradable). Compost at Carleton often doesn’t make it to the composting site because it is almost always contaminated.
Recycle — Recycling tends to be tricky to categorize. Similarly to compost, you must try to limit contamination. Students have to be diligent in the process of disposing of recyclable items. Note that clean and dry paper as well as firm plastics are recyclable and flimsy plastics are not, so throw your styrofoam, polystyrene containers, plastic chip bags, plastic bags and wraps etc… into the trash. Also, bubble wrap, waxed paper and cartons, as well as terracycle items are not recyclable, and should be discarded to the trash. Usually cardboard is recyclable, but grease- and oil-soaked cardboard is not, they are compostable.
Trash — We do not want to contaminate the compost and recycle because much more labor goes into processing these waste disposal categories and also leads to the contaminated set not being used. When in doubt, ask someone! If you’re still in doubt, throw it in the trash or search it up! Terracycle items go into the trash....
Taking a walk with Dr. Dave Schneider, discussing Antarctica, climate change & how to build sustainability literacy. Dave is a researcher @ciresnews & also a @CarletonCollege @carleton.geology grad. Dave is especially proud Carleton is divesting from fossil fuels. As a long time climate scientist he knows of the need to support more people into climate action. Dave & illustrator Kira Davis created “Goodnight Fossil Fuels” after noticing there were not many children’s books in this space. Such a pleasure to meet a #climateaction superstar! Enjoy your visit & meeting on the West Antarctic Ice sheet (WAIS) project up in Cloquet, MN! Thanks for visiting! #antarctica #climateeducation #goodnightfossilfuels
Taking a walk with Dr. Dave Schneider, discussing Antarctica, climate change & how to build sustainability literacy. Dave is a researcher @ciresnews & also a @CarletonCollege @carleton.geology grad. Dave is especially proud Carleton is divesting from fossil fuels. As a long time climate scientist he knows of the need to support more people into climate action. Dave & illustrator Kira Davis created “Goodnight Fossil Fuels” after noticing there were not many children’s books in this space. Such a pleasure to meet a #climateaction superstar! Enjoy your visit & meeting on the West Antarctic Ice sheet (WAIS) project up in Cloquet, MN! Thanks for visiting! #antarctica #climateeducation #goodnightfossilfuels...
Curious about current sustainability initiatives on campus? Click the link in our story (or visit: https://www.carleton.edu/sustainability/news/fall-welcome-from-the-sustainability-office/) to find out what we’re up to! 🌍
Curious about current sustainability initiatives on campus? Click the link in our story (or visit: https://www.carleton.edu/sustainability/news/fall-welcome-from-the-sustainability-office/) to find out what we’re up to! 🌍...
Thank you to all who marched to #endfossilfuels #climateaction #climatejustice
Thank you to all who marched to #endfossilfuels #climateaction #climatejustice...
Working with @carletondine on setting food targets for sustainability. Data supports accountability, so we are exploring the percentage of emissions associated with protein choices. Red meat is a major source of emissions in our choices. Across preferences & perspectives reducing consumption is often easier than eliminating, so we are exploring opportunities to support improving choices & helping our community see how food choice contributes to climate solutions for choices on & beyond campus. #climateaction #sustainability #foodsystems #transparency #dietemissions #food
Working with @carletondine on setting food targets for sustainability. Data supports accountability, so we are exploring the percentage of emissions associated with protein choices. Red meat is a major source of emissions in our choices. Across preferences & perspectives reducing consumption is often easier than eliminating, so we are exploring opportunities to support improving choices & helping our community see how food choice contributes to climate solutions for choices on & beyond campus. #climateaction #sustainability #foodsystems #transparency #dietemissions #food...
Things you can do: Buy secondhand! Give high quality clothes a new life & counter consumption-culture, especially fast fashion. Second hand (most sustainable) is outpacing fast fashion (least sustainable). #fastfashion #secondhandfashion #sustainability #environmentaljustice
Things you can do: Buy secondhand! Give high quality clothes a new life & counter consumption-culture, especially fast fashion. Second hand (most sustainable) is outpacing fast fashion (least sustainable). #fastfashion #secondhandfashion #sustainability #environmentaljustice...
Back to campus! Great to celebrate a new beginning with our STA-ffice team. Building relationships is one of our core values! Popsicles are part of practice:). #sustainability #climatejustice #environmentaljustice #countdown
Back to campus! Great to celebrate a new beginning with our STA-ffice team. Building relationships is one of our core values! Popsicles are part of practice:). #sustainability #climatejustice #environmentaljustice #countdown...
Thank you to the Our Children’s Trust plaintiffs for this important win in Montana. The climate impacts associated with energy projects should not be left out of consideration. Whether or not this is appealed in higher courts it sets important legal precedent holding fossil fuel companies accountable. (Picture: CC Public Use) #changesystem #shiftpower #decarbonize #environmentaljustice #climateaction #youthclimateleaders
Thank you to the Our Children’s Trust plaintiffs for this important win in Montana. The climate impacts associated with energy projects should not be left out of consideration. Whether or not this is appealed in higher courts it sets important legal precedent holding fossil fuel companies accountable. (Picture: CC Public Use) #changesystem #shiftpower #decarbonize #environmentaljustice #climateaction #youthclimateleaders...