LTS Student & General Services became a certified Sustainable Office in Spring 2015. They completed 31 sustainable actions and received Bronze level certification.
The Sustainable Office Program is a voluntary program designed for staff to take the lead on promoting environmental practices in the workplace. Offices that participate in this program take specific actions that address day-to-day behavior and create sustainable office policies. Depending on the number of completed actions, offices will receive Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification levels. Offices may submit new applications if they wish to improve their certification level.
One area of sustainability in which LTS Student & General Services' excels is recycling. Not only do they have sufficient single-stream recycling bins (i.e. bins for paper, cardboard, cans, etc.) , but they also collect many items for recycling that must be collected separately. For instance, they offer battery and plastic film collection in EWFM library. They also recycle toner and ink cartridges through Printing & Mailing Services and participate in in the TerraCycle program offered through the Purchasing Office.
In addition to successfully completing many of the actions in the Sustainable Office Program, LTS has implemented sustainability in several ways of their own. For instance, they implemented PaperCut and a print allowance in 2011, which has reduced wasteful printing. They have also provided Scannx Book Scan Centers, which further reduce printing by making it easy to scan and digitally save and share documents. These centers are available in EWFM and Linderman libraries.
Staff from LTS Student & General Services also participate in the LTS Green Team, a voluntary group that promotes environmental sustainability through their operations and outreach. They have created displays on topics such as waste and beekeeping, and they frequently participate in events such as the annual Earth Day fair.
Congratulations to LTS Student & General Services!
If your office is interested in becoming Sustainable Office Certified, please visit http://sustainability.lehigh.edu/sustainableoffice for more information and to register.