EvCC Sustainability

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable?

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place!

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

Many other colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest (and nationwide) have taken to student fees to fund their sustainability and environmental goals. Here are some examples of projects they funded through these types of fees. Below are examples of projects that have been undertaken on other campuses, or potential project ideas generated by students for our campus.

Farm to Campus Program

Agriculture and food production are some of the biggest contributors to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, due to the industrialized processes that many large food corporations have adopted. However, by bringing local, organic food directly from farms in our area, we are avoiding many of the issues associated with intensive agriculture. Not only do programs like this encourage healthier dietary habits and benefit the environment, but they also support the local economy.

Honey Bee Colonies

Most people are aware of the declining pollinator populations, which may threaten food supplies across the globe. Many college campuses practice raising honey bee colonies and implementing landscaping strategies that are conducive to the health and wellbeing of people, plants and animals (including bees!), and can even beautify campus grounds.

Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is defined as the development and implementation of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate health risks associated with, but not limited to, hazardous substances used in many chemistry labs around the world. This can take the form of inventorying chemicals and properly disposing of those that do not get used, and designing chemistry experiments for curriculum that incorporate green elements.

Rain Gardens

In rainy Western Washington, significant amounts of rain water containing pollutants from yard chemicals, motor oil or other toxic substances enters our stormdrains and eventually empties into Puget Sound. Rain gardens are natural filters that remove pollution from rain water and returns it to the water table, helping to recharge aquifers and keep our streams and other waterways clean and healthy.

Solar Powered Charging Stations

Pretty much everyone has a cell phone or laptop they use regularly on campuses today. We often like to sit outside when the weather is warm, but just as often there isn’t a way to charge our devices outside. One unique solution to this problem is installing benches with solar panels hooked up to a USB port or 12 volt outlet. Not only does this provide a place to sit and charge our phones and laptops outside, but it does so through completely clean, green energy!

Eco-Scholarships

Some colleges have used the funds from their sustainability fees to offer mini-scholarships to STEM students, specifically those studying environmental sciences or engineering.

To learn more about Project Examples

Click here: https://www.everettcc.edu/administration/college-services/facilities/sustainability/evcc-green-fee/project-examples

FREE EvCC Styrofoam Recycling Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

Are you a current student with ideas on how to make EvCC more sustainable? 

The EvCC Student Green Fee has funds available and will be accepting student proposals Jan 1st through Jan 31st 2025. Any proposals received outside of this timeline will not be considered.

The Student Green Fee is an opportunity for EvCC students to help create a more sustainable campus through college funding.

Submit yours to be a part of making EvCC a more sustainable place! 

For details and instructions or to learn about previously funded projects Click Here

In order to submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:

1.  First, download and save both the budget proposal form, as well as the SMARTS worksheet
2. Second, fill out the documents, saving them under the following format: ProjectPropsalName.Date.GreenFeeBPF and ProjectProposalName.Date.GreenFeeSMARTS
3. Finally, email completed documents to sustainability@everettcc.edu.

Background of the Green Fee:

In May 2018, EvCC students had the opportunity to vote on whether to assess the proposed Student Green Fee, a $0.50 (fifty cent) per credit fee, with a maximum of $7.50 for 15 credits that would fund various sustainability and environmentally-focused projects and activities on campus while giving the student body more influence over how the campus approaches sustainability. 

With 70% of ballots in favor of the proposed fee and board approval, fee collection began in Winter Quarter of 2019. The uses of the funds from this fee include:

• Creation of the Campus Sustainability Fund to provide funding and resources to the campus community in the effort to advance the sustainability goals of the College and the ASEvCC.
• Student employment opportunities in the Sustainability Office
• Supplemental funds for outreach, education and materials for the Sustainability Office.
• ASB Senate and BOT approved the Student Green Fee Financial Code 
•  and Agreement Document 

FREE EvCC Styrofoam Recycling Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu

EvCC Students for Enviromental Action (SEA) Club and Sustainability Department invites you to be an environmental hero! Bring clean styrofoam, packing peanuts in bags or boxes, bubble wrap and plastic film to be recycled–for FREE! If you are bringing styrofoam, please consider bringing a donation for the Marysville Food Bank of non-perishable food or monetary donations. We hope to collect as much styrofoam as possible; help us spread the word to your family, neighbors, and friends.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Parking Lot K (old Providence side) 10am-2pm
FREE

Materials We Accept for Recycling
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Your material must be:

Clean
Dry
Free of all tape and any labels so it does not contaminate the recycle process.
Please bag your peanuts separately for drop off
No contaminated material accepted.
We will accept any amount, large or small. Sorry, no hot tub covers, please.
To Identify Your Foam:
Look for the #6 or EPS inside the recycle symbol
Bend the material – it should break and snap with loose beads
Polystyrene Examples:
Clean Styrofoam
Clean Takeout
Clean Polyethylene
Clean Shipping Coolers
Clean Styrofoam Sheets
Other Materials We Accept:
Packing Peanuts (in bags or boxes please)
Clear bubble wrap
Clear plastic wrapping (Clean & dry material only)
What We Do Not Accept:
Spray-in Foam
Insta-pak Foam
Grey Insta-pak Foam
Foil-covered Foam
Pink or Blue Insulation Foam (XPS)
Hot Tub Covers
SEA Club is all about promoting environmental awareness and having fun while learning about current sustainability initiatives. For more information about this event please contact Laura Wild, Club Advisor at lwild@everettcc.edu.

Food is the heart of any holiday celebration. It nourishes the body and the soul. It gathers family and friends together. And don’t we all enjoy cooking it for those we love the most? And sometimes we over-prepare, which is absolutely normal, but….

Leftover holiday food and food waste is a real issue. The Ecology Center found that in the United States, we see a 25% increase in waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. 

That’s 1 million extra tons of waste, and 21% of that is food.

Why is food waste such an ecological problem?
And what happens to the food we throw away in the bin?

All of the food scraps and leftovers we discard end up in landfills where they start breaking down. During this process, methane is emitted, a greenhouse gas about 20 times more dangerous than CO2.

The reality is that we throw away more than just the leftovers we see on our plates. As Pete Pearson, Director of Food Waste at WWF says, “When we throw away food, we’re also throwing away the land, water, and energy used to produce that food.”

It’s easy to get your children on board! Healthy, and meaningful habits are shaped in childhood, hence the younger we engage children to help at home with cooking, grocery shopping, and holiday preparations, the younger we can educate them on also lowering food waste.

To make this super simple, we created a quick checklist with ideas for you and your family to follow this holiday season:

• Plan in advance by making a grocery list before you go to the store, and stick to it. While listing what you need, check out what you already have in the pantry, the fridge, and the freezer.
• Resist the urge to over-prepare big quantities of food; focus on preparing just enough.
• Store food correctly. That’s a vast topic that you can research additionally. We love this guide on storing food. Separate sauces from salads and meals, when possible, so that the leftovers can stay good for longer and can be reused in different ways.
• Don’t over serve. Portion control is a smart move here. Plus, everyone can always ask for more if needed. Another food-waste option is to serve “family style” or “buffet style”. This means putting everything in big bowls and plates on the table and letting people serve themselves.
• Encourage friends and family to take leftovers home. 
• Explore “holiday leftover recipes” online for new ideas or check out the ones we selected for you below.
• Feel free to donate the excess to a food bank or homeless shelter nearby. They are always accepting donations and having extra can be a great comfort around the holidays.
• Compost! This is a useful way to give life to old food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens, or potted plants. As they say, composting is taking care of the future.

Reducing food waste is really beneficial on so many levels – for the household, for the people in the community, and for the environment. Lowering food waste:

• Leads to reducing methane emissions from landfills.
• Helps us save money through thoughtful planning, shopping, storage, and preparation.
• Is good for the community when we volunteer and donate to those in need the untouched food that otherwise would have gone to waste.
• Contributes to conserving energy and resources.  

For more food waste prevention tips, visitusefoodwell.org.

 Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!!! 

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu

Want to give Christmas gifts that won’t break the bank, or the planet? 

Here is some Sustainable Christmas Gifts Ideas: 

USE SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP

What looks beautiful under your tree might be less so further down the waste stream. Most mass-produced wrapping paper and gift bags are printed using unsustainable inks and are coated with shiny foils, reducing their recyclability. Get creative and wrap gifts with materials that you already have, like old magazines, newspapers, comics, or paper shopping bags. You can also use clean fabric like scarves, bandannas, or even dish towels for a reusable wrapping. Create your own bows from strips of colorful paper and accessorize with twine, pressed leaves, and pinecones.

SEND A CARD THAT PLANTS TREES

As the holidays draw near, many of us may wish to send a card to commemorate the season.  But as appreciated as they are in the moment, cards often get thrown away once the holiday season is over. The solution? Send an eco friendly holiday greeting card that’s made from recycled or recyclable paper — or, choose from one of our several e-card options to go zero waste and plant a tree to boot!

GIFT AN EXPERIENCE THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO

Gift something that can be enjoyed in the future, like tickets to a rescheduled game, comedy show, play, or concert, a fun day trip, a museum membership, guitar lessons, or even a gift card to a favorite local restaurant or business. You’ll be supporting a local business and giving your recipient something to look forward to!

Keep your holiday footprint small by purchasing locally crafted gifts from small businesses.

HANDCRAFT SOME AWESOME DIY GIFTS

Handmade gifts are so meaningful—there’s nothing quite like them. Creating a gift for someone means making something special, unique, and putting a piece of yourself into the gift. It could be something like an artwork, a poem, a story, a song, a knitted sweater, some DIY bath salts, candles, or even cooking (or baking) something tasty.

Add some special touches like homemade ornament or a book you loved this year! 

DO A GIFT SWAP 

In the spirit of the season, sometimes we can get caught up in the excitement of buying what we think is the perfect gift. And perhaps you have a few of those “perfect” gifts in the back of your closet. Set some ground rules, and get a group of friends or neighbors together for a gift swap! You never know what treasures you might find.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu

As we enter the holiday season, you may be wondering how to reduce your impact and still enjoy all of your favorite traditions while also having a sustainable holiday season. But have no fear! You can make plenty of wonderful sustainable Christmas memories and have a lower environmental impact.

Here Are Some Sustainable Holiday Tips For an eco-friendly Holiday:

Get a REAL TREE

Why? Real Christmas Tree are more environmentally friendly than fake ones, which are made from plastic that will take hundreds of years to break down. But don’t get just any tree: some growers use up to 40 different pesticides and even add chemical colorants! Ask your local Christmas tree grower about their practices or search for a sustainable farm near you. Besides using less pesticides, a sustainable farm will plant more trees than they cut down each year. And those that they do harvest will be selectively cut in patches to maintain a healthy rotation.  

ARE FAKE CHRISTMAS TREES BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Artificial trees can last many years if well cared for, which seems to make them the obvious sustainable choice, but they do have drawbacks. Because most are made with plastic and metal materials, they take a lot of resources to create — and their plastic components will exist for thousands of years, polluting our oceans and harming wildlife. 

Often shipped long distances, they also have a hefty carbon footprint— to the tune of up to 88 lbs of CO2 per 6.5ft. tall artificial tree. In comparison, a live tree that is recycled—by turning it into woodchips—or kept growing in a pot “can have negligible or even negative emissions,” according to Dr John Kazer of the Carbon Trust in an interview with The Guardian. When you consider that Christmas is one of the most highly celebrated holidays in the world, that difference adds up fast.

MAKE SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Get creative and use things that you have around the house to create your own unique, adorable Christmas decorations. This can be extra special, for example, if you use items from loved ones to create a memento ornament that will remind you of all the beautiful Christmas memories you have shared. It’s also a great project to keep kids busy when they’re on break from school, or a fun excuse to host a crafting party with your friends and family!

SWITCH TO LED HOLIDAY LIGHTS

While Christmas lights don’t use as much electricity as some other decorations, switching to LED lights can save you around $50 on your holiday season energy bills because they use 90% less energy. Still not convinced? LEDs release very little heat and last about 200,000 hours, so you won’t have to replace them for a long time. And according to one study by the US Department of Energy, if everyone in the US replaced their conventional string lights with LEDs, it would save about 2 billion kWh of electricity each month.

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

Every year, over 10 million Christmas trees end up in landfills. We know that, especially when living in an urban setting, it can be challenging to properly dispose of your tree, but many municipalities offer solutions to this. So look into what local programs are available, like turning your tree into mulch or wood chips, or even donating it towards an environmental project like stream bank stabilization. 

DITCH THE CHEAP STOCKING STUFFERS

Often, stockings are filled with cheap plastic items that end up broken, lost, or discarded once the holiday season ends. Instead, fill them with delicious homemade treats and a few small, thoughtfully chosen gifts to round it out. Stockings are a fun part of the Christmas tradition, and with a little thought, they can be transformed from wasteful to awesome!

ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT

As the snow falls, we understandably respond by cranking up our thermostats. This year, get cozy with some Christmas themed PJs and a snuggly blanket by the fire. Play board games, tell Christmas stories, and take advantage of this chance to slow down and be together with your immediate family and pets. After all, that’s what the holiday season is all about.

PREPARE AN ECO FRIENDLY FEAST

While preparing all of your favorite holiday dishes, try to support local farmers that grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only will fresh, local ingredients lend an extra vibrancy to your meals, the food will taste better, too. Finally, a local, sustainably farmed roast or ham is always going to be better for the environment than factory farmed meat that has been shipped from thousands of miles away.

Simple steps can be taken every day to be more sustainable at home. Incorporating these tips into your life will not only save you money, but the earth too!

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu

One significant advantage of starting a home garden is the reduction of food waste. In traditional grocery systems, unsold produce often goes to waste due to imperfections or overstocking.

By growing our own food, we can harvest precisely what we need, minimizing waste and saving money. Additionally, any surplus can be shared with neighbors, donated to food banks, or preserved for future use through canning, freezing, or drying.

Gardening is not only a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, but it also holds the key to a sustainable future. By growing our own food, we can reduce our carbon footprint, promote biodiversity, and contribute to healthier ecosystems.

Remember, starting a garden doesn’t require a vast space or extensive knowledge. With a little effort and the right plant choices, anyone can embark on a sustainable gardening journey and reap the benefits of a greener, more self-sufficient lifestyle.

One practice that is sustainable and environmentally friendly is gardening. Not only does gardening connect us with nature, but it also allows us to grow our own food, reduce our carbon footprint, and contribute to a greener future.

How community gardens reduce food waste?

Community gardens thus are an excellent resource and strategy for reducing food waste.

The journey a vegetable takes from being planted on the farm to the grocery store can be long and complicated. First off, not all vegetables meet the standards to make the trip. Then, the vegetables that do get shipped face a variety of challenges.

The biggest waste happens when the vegetables are harvested and being prepared for shipping. Grocery stores only purchase vegetables and fruits that look good. There are no exceptions made for oddly shaped vegetables and these get discarded or set aside as livestock feed. In a community garden, all the produce is used. Even the weird-looking vegetables, the too-small carrots, the lopsided beets, the slightly bug-eaten cabbage. These are still perfectly good to eat even if they don’t look perfect.

The process of shipping fruits and vegetables thousands of miles from the farm to the grocery store is another area where lots of waste happens. The vegetables may rot on the long drive or show up in less than ideal conditions and get discarded before they make it to the shelf. Community gardens eliminate the whole transport issue because, of course, the gardens are local. They aren’t going to sit in a tractor-trailer on the highway spoiling and losing value. Freshly picked vegetables are always best taste-wise and nutritionally. The less a vegetable has to travel, the less likely it will become waste.

Additionally, community gardens can tailor what they grow to suit the specific desires of the community. If the gardens are growing what the local people want, then it will be eaten and not wasted.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu

This station are equipped with the tools necessary for bike repair!

Bring your used batteries, printer and toner cartridges and compact fluorescent lights to one of the following locations across campus:

• Liberty Hall (LBH): 1st floor next to the North entrance doors, across from the Fitness Center.
• Gray Wolf Hall (GWH): 1st and 2nd floors next to the bathrooms.
• Glacier Hall (GLA): 1st floor Reception 101 next to the door.
• Shuksan Hall (SHK): Main Entrance on top of the EvCC clipper box on the right.
• Parks Student Union (PSU): 2nd floor next to the ATM near the bookstore.
• Whitehorse Hall (WHI): Next to the staircase by the Main Entrance.
• Olympus Hall (OLY): 2nd floor hallway next to copier.
• Rainier: 1st floor main lobby
• Cascade Learning Resource Center (CLRC): 1st floor near the front desk/recycling bins

Please remember to limit your deposit of CFL bulbs to 10 per day.

Starting a garden can seem daunting, especially for beginners. However, with a few essential tips, anyone can kickstart their sustainable garden journey:

Start small: Begin with a small plot or even containers to gain experience and build confidence. As you become more proficient, you can expand your garden gradually.

Choose the right plants: Opt for plants that are well-suited to your climate and soil conditions. Native plants are often more resilient, require less maintenance, and support local ecosystems.

Plan your garden layout: Consider the space available, sun exposure, and plant height when designing your garden layout. This will help optimize sunlight and ensure plants have enough space to thrive.

Water wisely: Use efficient watering techniques such as drip irrigation or soaker hoses to minimize water waste. Collect rainwater in barrels to conserve water resources.

Composting: Start composting kitchen scraps and yard waste to create nutrient-rich soil for your plants. Composting reduces organic waste sent to landfills and provides a sustainable source of fertilizer.

Here are some great options to get you started:

Leafy greens
Lettuce, spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are quick-growing, nutrient-dense plants that thrive in most climates. They provide a constant source of fresh, healthy greens throughout the growing season.

Herbs
Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme are versatile herbs that require little space and add flavor to a variety of dishes. Growing herbs reduces the need for store-bought, packaged herbs, which often come with excessive plastic packaging.

Quick tip: all types of mint can be invasive for gardens and surrounding areas. They likely won’t hurt any of the other plants around them, but use caution when planning.

Tomatoes
With countless varieties available, tomatoes are a popular choice for home gardeners. They’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and fresh homegrown tomatoes taste superior to store-bought ones.

Root vegetables
Carrots, radishes, and beets are excellent choices for beginner gardeners. These hardy crops can be sown directly in the ground, and their greens can be used for salads, reducing food waste.

Tips for transplanting seedlings:

• Choose a day when the weather is mild, between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and not windy.
• Water the seedlings well before transplanting.
• Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball of the seedling.
• Gently remove the seedling from the pot or seed tray and place it in the hole.
• Fill the hole with soil and water the seedling well.
• Apply mulch around the seedling to help retain moisture.

Learn more about EvCC Sustainability!  www.everettcc.edu/green

Mariya Zelenskyy – Media and Outreach Coordinator  sustainability@everettcc.edu