Sustainability

Student organization recovers more than 1,600 pounds of food from dining halls, campus events

Katarina Benson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:01:11 +0000

Student organization recovers more than 1,600 pounds of food from dining halls, campus events Katarina Benson Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:01

��AV has won four consecutive Gold STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment, and it’s thanks in part to campus systems and organizations such as the Food Recovery Network (FRN).

Zero Waste Mason, a collaborative university-wide program that aims to reduce waste, has an ambitious goal of diverting 90% or more of university waste from trash disposal. The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is an important part of that equation.

The Food Recovery Network is one of the largest student-led movements against food waste and hunger in the country, focusing on diverting surplus food from college campuses and redistributing it to the local community. Student volunteers work with Mason Dining’s Food Recovery Verified staff to sort, package, and deliver food to the local community and campus partners.

“We and so many other sustainability organizations are the main impactors on Mason’s sustainability goals, as we are the individuals going out there and doing the work,” said junior Camila Rosales, president of George Mason’s chapter of FRN.

FRN’s members are committed to sustainability. Before they can volunteer, they are required to complete an online course in food safety and handling.

Camila Rosales and FRN students in action. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Rosales, a business major with a concentration in operations and supply chain management, originally joined the club to fulfill service hours but fell in love with the organization’s mission. Since the chapter began in 2018, they have recovered more than 1,600 pounds of excess food. In the Fall 2024 semester, under Rosales’s leadership, they recovered more than 750 pounds alone and are on track to reach similar numbers in Spring 2025.

The diverted food is donated to nonprofit organizations in the Northern Virginia community such as New Hope Housing’s Mondloch House, a shelter in Alexandria, and the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter, an emergency family shelter in Fairfax. The club also helps combat food insecurity on campus through Swipe4Change, an end-of-semester Mason Dining initiative that allows students to donate leftover meal swipes and volunteer to collect unused food for Patriots in need.

“Food Recovery Network’s impact is definitely only something you can see behind closed doors,” said Rosales.

Rosales, who is also the events director of Her Campus at George Mason and a Costello College of Business Impact Fellow, was encouraged by previous leadership to take on the mantle of president. She fondly remembers the time she showed up to a volunteer shift, without realizing it had been rescheduled, and began processing and packing everything herself. The chapter’s leadership were so impressed by her efforts that they asked her to become their new president.

Students repackage food collected from Mason Dining. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Rosales said that one of the things that drew her to the organization was helping so many people within that supply chain, she said. “Not only are we donating to these nonprofits, but our dining staff has taken so much time to create this food that being able to make sure food continues on is rewarding. [Joining the FRN] is one of the best decisions I’ve made since entering Mason,” she said.

As president she oversees all volunteers as well as coordinates communications between FRN’s national leadership, the nonprofit organizations they donate to, and Mason Dining staff. “It’s a lot of emails and managing finances,” she said. “Everything needs to be done almost perfectly, from coordinating [food] drop off times to sanitation.”

Her main goal for the spring semester is to increase recruitment efforts to be able to make an even greater impact on campus and in the local community. She also wants to expand the chapter to include more opportunities for student connection.

Rosales highly recommends getting involved with sustainability efforts on campus. "Beyond the service hours, you get to see behind the scenes of where your food comes from (if you eat at the dining halls), and you're supporting the local community."

Learn about Sustainability at George Mason

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Turning “trash” into treasure: diverting surplus property from the waste stream

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:27:59 +0000

Turning “trash” into treasure: diverting surplus property from the waste stream Lauren Reuscher Thu, 02/20/2025 - 10:27

When it’s time to clear out the garage or basement, some people might host a yard sale, selling old clothes, furniture, or housewares—whatever needs to go. After a successful yard sale, they might hope to have some extra pocket money.

Selling or redistributing surplus items from a public university is a bit more complicated, but the payoff is worth it. Since the arrival of Steve Pulis, purchasing manager in Facilities and Campus Operations, ��AV has earned more than $1 million in surplus property sales—including furniture, equipment, and more.

In 2023 and 2024, Pulis partnered with Housing and Residence Life to transfer used residence hall furniture to Virginia State University. Photo by Facilities and Campus Operations

Pulis started working at George Mason in 2017 and has helped the university add money to its general fund by effectively managing the commonwealth’s surplus sales process.

We are careful stewards

Pulis earned a Silver Impact Award from his department for his efforts to partner with units inside and outside the university to increase the amount of surplus property sold, donated, or otherwise diverted from the waste stream.

As a result, George Mason is now ranked at number 7 among higher education state agencies for total surplus sales in the Commonwealth of Virginia through GovDeals.

Shopping for “free”

Commonwealth agencies must follow strict procedures when it comes to the reallocation of surplus property. When offices and departments at George Mason no longer need equipment, furniture, or other supplies, those items are declared as “surplus.”

Staff from Central Receiving, part of Facilities Management, pick up the unneeded items and store them in the warehouse on the Fairfax Campus. Surplus items are made available to internal departments and other state agencies for free. Pulis is often contacted by university departments and state agencies seeking specialized items.

“In some cases, I do reach out directly to other state agencies to see if there is an interest to transfer the items from George Mason to the agency,” Pulis said.

Steve Pulis, purchasing manager, Facilities and Campus Operations. Photo provided

Going once, going twice . . .

Surplus property may be sold at auction through the GovDeals website, and this is where the earning really happens. Pulis examines the resale market to determine whether an item will sell at auction.

The sale of surplus state property through auction or direct sales sends money back into the university’s general fund.

“Steve has increased the amount of university surplus sold through GovDeals by roughly $69,000 a year,” said Kat Sirotin, director of purchasing and fiscal services in Facilities and Campus Operations. “Initiatives like this help infuse funding back into the university’s general fund while also supporting our sustainability goals by diverting used equipment and furniture from the waste stream.”

Giving items a new life

Decommissioned spaces are one source of surplus property. Upon the closure of the university’s instructional site in Loudoun, and the former library space in the Johnson Center, university staff planned for the repurposing or sale of surplus items.

Another recent surplus sale? Extra personal protective equipment (PPE) purchased during the COVID pandemic, such as disinfectant wipes, masks, and wipe dispensers. Items not sold on GovDeals were donated to Serving Each Other, a nonprofit organization that distributed items to clinics, assisted living facilities, and to support hurricane relief in North Carolina after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

Surplus property also results from regular upkeep and replacement of furniture and equipment. In 2023 and 2024, Pulis partnered with Housing and Residence Life to transfer used residence hall furniture to Virginia State University, an HBCU near Petersburg, Virginia.

Going where help is needed

When students move out of their residence halls, the Patriot Packout offers an easy way for them to donate unwanted items, instead of tossing them into the trash. Through Pulis’ efforts, some of those unwanted items are sold on GovDeals, transferred to other state agencies, or donated to nonprofit organizations.

In accordance with state policies and procedures, Pulis helped redirect clothing, furniture, and household items from the Patriot Packout to Serving Each Other, which directed the items to displaced individuals impacted by a fire at a housing development in southeast Washington, D.C.

Repurposing for a purpose

After receiving a request to remove furniture from Fenwick Library’s A Wing, Pulis came up with a creative way to repurpose the items. He collaborated with the City of Fairfax Fire Department and asked if they could use the furniture for their training exercises. The answer? “Yes.”

Sometimes, surplus property gets to take a heroic turn in its second life.

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Breaking down the composting process

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:46:23 +0000

Breaking down the composting process Lauren Reuscher Thu, 01/23/2025 - 09:46

Cindy Smith, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, took her EVPP 302 Biomes and Human Dimensions students to a composting facility last fall to give them a front-row seat for food and yard waste recycling.

Photo by Cindy Smith/College of Science

In the course, students examine human impacts on ecosystems. Because human activities often have a harmful effect on ecosystems, Smith also aims to show students positive, real-world examples of how humans can help mitigate these impacts.

“I want students to experience successful programs that are doing positive work, like keeping yard and food waste out of our landfills where the breakdown would produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas,” said Smith.

The field trip also offers insight into a career path for those interested in sustainability.

The Convertus composting facility, located in Manassas, Virginia, produces certified compost, mulch, and soil amendment products in bulk. The facility can process 80,000–100,000 tons of organic waste per year. This includes yard waste, tree branches, and food and restaurant waste.

A milk hauler dumps excess or expired milk products, which Convertus uses in the composting process. The students noted that it made the area smell like vanilla creamer. Photo by Cindy Smith/College of Science

During the field trip, students watched stages of the composting process, from the delivery of waste to the grinding, mixing, aerating, screening, and composting. They observed the different effects of various materials.

“The students were surprised to see a red tint in the leachate pond [during our visit], which resulted from red wine waste being processed,” said Smith.

��AV sends compostable scraps from multiple sources to the Convertus facility. Food waste is collected from campus dining and retail locations and Bigbelly Solar Zero Waste Stations. Two pilot programs collect compost materials in the form of paper towels from restrooms at the Facilities complex at Fairfax, and food waste from Katherine Johnson Hall at the Science and Technology Campus.

“It's great to see all this organic waste getting recycled into an economically viable product, rather than buried in a landfill or sent to a waste water treatment plant,” said Smith.

Learn more about sustainability at George Mason

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Mason Korea students conduct environmental research on Incheon stream

Colleen Rich — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:07:51 +0000

Mason Korea students conduct environmental research on Incheon stream Colleen Rich Tue, 01/21/2025 - 14:07

A team of student fellows at Mason Korea's Center for Security and Policy Studies received a grant from ��AV to support their research on improving water quality in Incheon's Seunggi-cheon stream.

Mason Impact project team at work. Photo provided

Under the guidance of Mason Korea faculty members Soyoung Kwon and Dakota McCarty, the team conducted fieldwork to collect and analyze water samples as part of the Mason Impact program. The project, "Enhancing Water Quality Management of Seunggi-cheon in Incheon, South Korea: A Region-focused, Low-cost, Nature-based Approach," produced a comprehensive dataset that helped pinpoint areas of elevated pollution in the stream using advanced statistical techniques. The findings informed the development of actionable strategies to enhance local stream health.

"We started this research project with one goal: to make an impact," said global affairs major Hyunwoo Jo, one of the student fellows. "I’m glad that we’ve accomplished just that through our case study. I was able to conduct valuable—and unique—quantitative research under faculty guidance."

Mason Impact project team with their poster at Fall Student Project Showcase. Photo provided

"I believe the world can change by focusing on small things nearby. Seunggi-cheon may be unknown to those outside Incheon, it is valuable to local residents as a place for walking, exercising, and supporting various wildlife," said global affairs major Minji Kim. "Through collecting and analyzing water samples, we gained insights into environmental security that could inform policies not just for this river, but for others in Korea and beyond."

"This project was a perfect case of the power of pairing interdisciplinary research with experiential learning," said McCarty, who is an assistant professor in Mason Korea’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy. "Through their dedication, and getting their hands dirty in real-world field research, the team not only gained valuable research experience but also contributed actionable insights to improve water quality in the Seunggi-cheon stream."

"Thanks to Dr. McCarty's enthusiasm and guidance, our student fellows had a valuable time learning through experiments," said Kwon, an associate professor of global affairs and director of security policy studies-Korea. "They also learned how to translate the research outcomes into policies for community development."

The mini grant, awarded by George Mason’s Office of the Provost, supports experiential learning projects that address real-world challenges. The students presented their findings at Mason Korea's Fall 2024 Student Project Showcase.

Learn more about Mason Korea

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Business student’s summer internship is an opportunity to practice sustainability

Colleen Rich — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:35:00 +0000

Business student’s summer internship is an opportunity to practice sustainability Colleen Rich Mon, 07/29/2024 - 14:35

��AV rising junior Vidhi Pathak spent a year searching for the perfect summer internship, before landing her current position as asset management intern for Summit Ridge Energy (SRE).

“I have concentrations in both finance and management information systems and wanted to make sure that I had an understanding of what both industries look like before graduating,” said the Costello College of Business student, who investigated to more than 200 internships in her search.

Pathak’s main project this summer is to create a comprehensive power business intelligence dashboard for SRE.

SRE operates solar assets for people who live in apartments or rented space, and don’t have the means or opportunity to install solar panels on their homes. Community solar or shared solar allows more people to go solar in an efficient and renewable way by subscribing to the shared solar array for credits that lower their energy bills.

SRE has around 10 teams ranging from land development and geographic information systems to project finance and engineering, Pathak said. “Managing the company’s solar assets sits right at the end of the cycle, moving cash flow around and seeing that both the customer and our joint venture partners are paid out,” she said.

“I'm really excited about this assignment because not only does it directly correspond to what I'm learning at George Mason, but this is something that SRE’s asset management team and the C-suite executives at Summit Ridge are going to be using on a regular basis going forward,” said Pathak, who is an Honors College student.

The internship combines her business skills with her passion for sustainability, which is also one of the university’s main research areas and the focus of its Institute for a Sustainable Earth.

“I'm always trying to approach things from a sustainable point of view,” said Pathak. “I know there's a lot of preconceived notions about business majors only caring about money, and I want to prove that I care about the bigger world around me.”

When Pathak first came to George Mason, she joined Costello’s Impact Fellows Program where she was able to approach essential business courses with a sustainability mindset.

“I’ve experienced a lot of cool extracurriculars through this program. We went to visit a bee farm and took a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, to visit sustainable businesses; everything from nonprofits that work on water waste management in the region to big food banks,” said Pathak.

She also served as a member of the Mason Sustainability Council and as the undersecretary of University Sustainability with George Mason’s Student Government during her sophomore year.

“That role involved a lot of correspondence with fellow students, faculty and staff, and people in the local community, and bringing them together for events like the Patriot Packout or Earth Month initiatives,” said Pathak.

Pathak is also featured in University Sustainability videos teaching students the best practices for recycling, saving water, minimizing our carbon footprint, and more.

“I love the Earth and hope to integrate this passion into whatever job I end up doing post-grad,” said Pathak.

“I'm always trying to approach things from a sustainable point of view”

Learn more about George Mason's Impact Fellows Program

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George Mason earns solid gold in sustainability

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:56:18 +0000

George Mason earns solid gold in sustainability Lauren Reuscher Thu, 06/06/2024 - 09:56

For its commitment to campus sustainability, ��AV has earned a Gold rating in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment. STARS is a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance and is offered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). George Mason has received four consecutive STARS Gold ratings and was the first Virginia university to earn that rating in 2014.

George Mason earned a Gold rating in the STARS assessment for the fourth consecutive time, Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

STARS was administered by staff from University Sustainability and University Business Consulting. This year, George Mason demonstrated improvements in several performance categories, earning a total of 73.66 points. The university’s score increased 13% since the last assessment in 2021. The threshold for earning a Gold rating is 65 points, and George Mason is only 11.34 points away from earning the highest honor, STARS Platinum. Rankings are valid for three years.

Amber Saxton, program manager in University Sustainability, co-led the university-wide assessment with Minh Le, senior consultant in University Business Consulting.

“STARS recognizes what we are doing well, puts our sustainability planning and execution in context with peers nationwide, and helps us create a roadmap for continued improvement,” Saxton said. “Mason’s Gold rating reflects a comprehensive effort from stakeholders across the university, from research to operations.”

Sustainable purchasing is part of George Mason's STARS Gold rating. Locker room renovations for the men's soccer team included sustainable upgrades like lockers made from recycled content and responsibly sourced materials and energy-efficient lights. This project was supported by the Patriot Green Fund. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Office of University Branding

Consistent success in campus sustainability

George Mason has consistently earned high scores in the STARS categories for sustainable transportation programs, stormwater management, and academics and research. George Mason also scored highly in the innovation category for its on-campus gardens, food bank (the Student Support and Advocacy Center's Patriot Pantry), and sustainability project grant funds (Facilities’ Patriot Green Fund and the Institute for a Sustainable Earth’s new Mason as a Living Lab fund).

The on-campus gardens help Mason score consistently high in the innovation category on STARS. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

High marks in these categories reflect the commitment of stakeholders across the university.

“Mason departments and colleges have prioritized sustainability as a strategic part of their performance criteria and benchmarks for progress,” said Greg Farley, director of University Sustainability. “Mason has set a goal to be the highest-scoring AASHE STARS school in Virginia by 2030, so University Sustainability and its partners will need to keep pushing forward.”

Measuring the culture of sustainability

This year, George Mason earned new points in the sustainability literacy and culture category for launching a survey to measure students' sustainability literacy, culture, and behavior. Recent graduate Nikita Lad, PhD Environmental Science and Policy ’24, and K.L. Akerlof, associate professor of science communication, administered the survey to a representative sample of undergraduates in fall 2022 and spring 2023.

“The survey measured what factors affect students' sustainability behaviors and whether their knowledge and behaviors changed through formal or informal programming during their college careers,” said Lad.

The theoretically informed survey model found that time spent on campus and informal program participation influenced students’ nature connectedness and norms, which in turn affected sustainability behaviors. Lad shared the research study through a webinar with other members of AASHE and hopes to collaborate with other universities on future iterations of the survey.

Through Bioblitz, the Mason Nation crowdsources the identification of species across campus. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

Bioblitz made an impact

George Mason earned new points in biodiversity this year thanks to Bioblitz, a crowdsourced assessment of plant and animal species on campus. Through an app, the Mason Nation helped identify and monitor endangered and vulnerable species around the university. In spring 2024, more than 500 biodiversity observations were entered into the Bioblitz app by 107 observers, documenting 273 species.

Bigbelly solar waste stations were recently installed across George Mason's campuses. Photo by Facilities

Moving toward zero waste

New efforts to improve waste diversion boosted George Mason’s score in that category. Facilities Management, University Sustainability, Auxiliary Services and Operations, and other campus partners worked to expand composting, reduce single-use plastics, and promote the use of certified compostable and aluminum products.

George Mason is expected to improve further in this category in the future, with the installation of new Bigbelly solar waste stations across its campuses, the development and implementation of new design standards for “zero waste” bins, the addition of glass recycling, and the future launch of a reusable food container pilot and paper towel composting.

Mason earned one of the highest STARS ratings among Virginia universities. As of April 2024, the University of Virginia earned 74.85 points, ��AV earned 73.66 points, and Virginia Commonwealth University earned 66.4 points. Participating institutions can earn points toward a STARS Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Rating, or earn the STARS Reporter designation.

Sustainability at George Mason

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Sustainability MBA elective matches student teams with partner companies

Greg Johnson — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:09:06 +0000

Sustainability MBA elective matches student teams with partner companies Greg Johnson Thu, 05/16/2024 - 11:09

When hearing the term “sustainability” in business circles, there’s often a misconception that it hinders growth. For the last three years, the MBA elective course Environmentally Sustainable Operations has offered interested graduate students from across ��AV the opportunity to work with companies from multiple industries on making the business case for sustainability.

Dominic Leone, Jordan Heisen,
Sabrena Snow (Hyde), Rachel Edwards

Each year, new companies participate, mobilized by George Mason alumni, faculty and staff, and other community members. “I only need to have one conversation with them, and then they're on board,” says Ioannis Bellos, an associate professor of Information Systems and Operations Management (ISOM) at the Costello College of Business at ��AV and director of the MBA Program; Bellos developed the course and has been teaching it since Spring 2022. This latest semester the course featured consulting projects with: Schneider Electric, 4P Foods, Hyde, MAXSA Innovations, and Future Acres Urban Farming.

Because of the partnership building done by Bellos and others at George Mason, this course offers an excellent experiential learning opportunity where students help real companies, gaining insight from the executives in the process. “It was an exceptional opportunity to mentor MBA students from George Mason’s Environmentally Sustainable Operations course,” says Kevin DeLeon, program manager of sustainability business at Schneider Electric. “We were excited to participate and offer students a glimpse into the practical aspect of driving sustainable improvements. This collaboration is a reflection of Schneider Electric’s mission to champion sustainability and our commitment to engaging and educating future leaders.”

MBA students Rachel Edwards and Jordan Heisen had previously participated in the Global Residency program at the Costello College of Business, where they visited Sweden and Denmark to meet with businesses in the sustainability field, sparking both of their interests in the subject. For their sustainable operations project, they joined fellow MBA student Dominic Leone to work with Hyde, a Washington, D.C., based company pioneering AI-driven solutions to combat excess inventory in the apparel industry. The three of them worked closely with Hyde representatives to examine ways they could make their practices more sustainable.

“Apparel clothing discarded in landfills is now visible from space,” says Sabrena Snow, Hyde’s vice president of partnerships and sustainability. “We began working with the Costello College of Business to really quantify the impact of excess inventory, and its disposal, on the environment.”

The team of Costello MBA students examined Hyde’s business practices to see how they could best help them.

“A lot of companies are pumping out new fashion trends,” says Leone. “If that trend is going to continue, how can we do it in a more sustainable way where we don’t overorder and have a crazy amount of excess inventory?”

Once a week, the team met with CEO Rahul Jindal and Snow. “Going through the paper with Hyde and hearing the feedback from both representatives, they were an incredible pleasure to work with,” says Heisen.

“By building a framework, and combining our EPA data, company interviews, and Hyde's proprietary data, the George Mason team was able to size the impact of producing and dumping excess apparel inventory in the United States,” says Snow. 

The Hyde representatives took it a step further and connected the students with high-profile contacts from the fashion industry’s sustainability field. “When we started this project, Hyde was trying to get partners and funding,” says Edwards. “Being able to attach this white paper to any sort of funding that they’re trying to get later, this is their documentation of what’s going on.”

One of the community partners who worked to recruit participating companies for the course was Fairfax County Government’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination. “When we were approached about working with Professor Bellos, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for companies in our Green Business Partners program,” says Gina Weil, co-manager of the Green Business Partners program. “We know that green business is good business, and helping businesses identify both the economic and environmental benefits to adopting sustainable practices is central to our mission.  We were thrilled to be able to connect his students with Future Acres Urban Farming, and we know the experience for the students and the company was incredibly positive and beneficial for both.” The mission of the Green Business Partners program is to support Fairfax County businesses in creating a carbon neutral economy through collaboration and learning opportunities that advance climate action.

Students with guest speaker Ian Gayman,
MBA '23 (Partner at Environmental
Resources Management)

Though there was more to the course than this collaborative project, the experiential aspect brought the learning experience full circle. Bellos worked closely with the company representatives to ensure that their organizations got the most out of the projects.

Heisen appreciated how he explained case studies in the classroom. “He does a really great job of breaking down each case and ultimately getting you to thinking of another perspective,” he says. Sustainable operations lead to profit, says Edwards, “Unless it’s actually making money and it’s financially viable, there’s no reason for a company to do it.”

Recently, 68% of all prospective graduate students surveyed by the Graduate Management Admission Council said that sustainability is important or very important to them. This course is in direct response to this increasing market need.

If you want to learn more about how you can become a business leader with a sustainability mindset, please learn more about the Costello College of Business MBA program.

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In This Story

Ioannis Bellos

Meet the Mason Nation: Kevin Brim

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:06:43 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Kevin Brim Lauren Reuscher Wed, 04/24/2024 - 10:06

Kevin Brim

Job: Recycle/Waste Management Supervisor, Facilities Management

Can I recycle this? At some point, anyone who has approached a recycling bin (or set of bins) with good intentions has asked this question, either aloud or in their mind.

Helping the community understand the parameters of recycling and composting is one of the biggest challenges in recycling and waste management, according to Kevin Brim, supervisor in Facilities Management at ��AV. “It can be confusing trying to decide what is recycling, trash, or compostable,” said Brim.

His team is working hard to change that.

Keeping it clean: Putting the wrong items in a recycle or compost bin can lead to contamination of waste streams. Brim and his colleagues in Facilities Management are making it easier for the George Mason community to recycle, compost, and properly dispose of items.

Waste no time: Brim knows he is part of something impactful, and interacting with the George Mason community is what he likes best about his job. “I’ve been at Mason for 18 years, and I learn something new every day,” Brim said.

Protecting the Earth isn’t a one-person job: Waste diversion efforts stretch across the university and rely on the involvement of many units—and the actions of individuals. Mason Facilities, University Sustainability, Mason Dining, and others are working to help George Mason reach its Zero Waste goal: diverting 90% or more of all waste items away from the trash through reuse, recycling, and composting.

Learning the ins and outs: Brim’s first job in George Mason Facilities was as a quality assurance inspector for the university’s housekeeping contract. Brim moved to the waste/recycle team in 2011, learning every aspect of the operation from the ground up. That knowledge and experience led him to his current role as the supervisor of that team.

Spreading the word: Brim takes pride in his team and how they help foster a culture of sustainability at Mason. “I ensure my team knows just as much as I do about waste and recycling here at Mason,” Brim said. His team’s interactions with others on campus help inform the community about the proper disposal of different items, protecting Mason’s recycling and composting streams.

It all comes back to serving George Mason students, according to Brim. “Students are the reason we are here, so they’re our target audience,” said Brim. “I’m always interested in hearing their input on what we can do better, or what they would like to see.”

Harnessing the sun: Expanded composting access is part of a long-term strategy to improve George Mason’s waste diversion rate. Brim’s team recently installed new Bigbelly zero waste stations on the Fairfax and Mason Square campuses, some of which include solar-powered, waste compacting compost bins. Brim’s team plans to install more Bigbelly stations, expanding their availability across all of Mason’s Virginia campuses.

Saving the scraps: Composting efforts will also increase in campus dining locations. “Mason Facilities is looking to expand our composting programs with all food vendors on campus, with a main focus on behind-the-scenes food waste,” Brim said. These composting streams are often easier to control, ensuring a clean composting product.

The glass is half full: This spring, George Mason launched a glass recycling program, with purple recycling trailers parked on the Fairfax Campus. Brim says the glass recycling program has expanded to collect glass bottles at catered events on campus.

“We will continue to divert as much away from landfill and incinerator as we can,” Brim said.

Reduce, reuse . . . relax: Outside work, Brim spends time with his wife of 33 years (his high school sweetheart), three adult children, five grandkids, and two dogs. “They all keep me pretty busy,” he said. Relaxing in the backyard tops the list, too. “It’s the little things in life,” Brim said.

Learn more about Mason's Zero Waste goals

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10 ways you can help the planet—and Mason—this April

Colleen Rich — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:04:15 +0000

10 ways you can help the planet—and Mason—this April Colleen Rich Thu, 04/18/2024 - 11:04

April is Earth Month, and it is a great time to promote sustainable best practices on ��AV campuses and off. We have some tips on ways the Mason Nation can make a difference in small ways.

1. Reduce your water use.

See if you can cut down on the amount of running water you use while washing your hands, brushing your teeth, or rinsing off dishes. Reduce the length of your showers.

Mason business major Vidhi Pathak recommends making a playlist for the shower. “When showering, I make a two-song shower playlist and finish up after the second song ends,” said Pathak, the undersecretary of sustainability for Student Government.

Mason has been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists for promoting safe, accessible bicycling on campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/OUB

2. Make an effort to walk, bike, or scooter more, especially if you are traveling on or near campus.

These choices can help Mason decrease its carbon emissions and minimize traffic on campus. The new bikeshare stations make it easy to grab a bike. Also consider using the Mason Shuttles or carpooling with friends.

3. Always turn off any lights, appliances, and devices when not in use.

4. Carry a water bottle and use the campus filling stations.

Bringing your own bottle reduces the need to purchase plastic water bottles. The on-campus filling stations even have a meter so you can see how many plastic bottles you helped keep out of landfills. Find the closest water bottle refill station.

5. Take out the trash—correctly.

Always follow the signs on waste receptacles to ensure proper disposal and recycle what you can. There are even composting options available on campus at the Big Belly stations, Innovation Food Forest near Innovation Hall, or Potomac Heights Garden. You can dispose of clean glass bottles and jars at one of the new glass recycling trailers on the Fairfax Campus.

Big Belly stations are available across campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

The university has a Zero Waste goal of diverting 90% (or more) of all waste items away from the trash through reuse, recycling, and composting. Get the specifics.

6. Donate unwanted or unneeded items.

Patriot Packout, Mason's annual sustainable move-out initiative, is happening right now through May 10. As students move out of their residence halls, donations of like-new and gently used items are collected at the Fairfax Campus, SciTech Campus, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.

This year, donated items will support Mason programs including the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Closet, First Gen+ Center, and Parking and Transportation's bike programs. Community organizations, such as Food for Others, will also receive donated items.

Visit the webpage for a list of accepted items, campus donation locations, and volunteer opportunities. Mason students who live off-campus and Mason employees are invited to bring any of the accepted items to the 24/7 outdoor drop-off locations.

7. When shopping or running errands, bring a reusable bag, backpack, or other sustainable containers to reduce packaging waste.

8. Add more plants to your diet.

The Future 50 Program can help you track your carbon footprint. Photo by Jason Kirichok/Mason Dining

All food has a carbon impact, which reflects the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by creating that food, whether it’s from growing, transporting, processing, cooking, or disposal. Mason Dining was recognized with Food Management Magazine’s 2023 Best Concept Award – Best Station Concept for its Future 50 Foods program at Southside and Ike’s Dining Halls. The program helps diners track the carbon footprint of their food choices by color-coding them.

Mason’s newest dining hall, The Spot: Where Plants Power You, caters to the growing demand for plant-based dining options with an array of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

9. Grow your own food or help Mason grow some.

Students work in the Presidents Park Greenhouse. Photo by Sierra Guard/OUB

University Sustainability's Greenhouse and Gardens Program offers hands-on opportunities for you to get your hands dirty and learn about hydroponic and aquaponic food production systems while helping to plant and harvest fruits and vegetables. The Presidents Park Hydroponic Greenhouse produces almost 1,000 lbs. of fresh lettuce and salad greens annually that are served weekly at Ike's dining hall. The remaining herbs, fruits and veggies are donated to the community through Produce Pick-Ups, where anyone can sign up to receive free produce, as supplies last.

10. Volunteer.

Help plant a tree. Photo by Evan Cantwell/OUB

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer on campus. Plant a tree, help with a composting audit, or assist Mason’s Food Recovery Network chapter with leftover food pickups from the dining halls, which is donated to those in need. Learn more.

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Mason as a Living Lab

Office Supply Swap is a staple of sustainability at Mason

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:22:38 +0000

Office Supply Swap is a staple of sustainability at Mason Lauren Reuscher Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:22

They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. On a college campus, that treasure could be a stack of three-ring binders or sticky notes collecting dust in the office supply closet.

The Office Supply Swap gives new use to unneeded supplies, conserving resources and supporting Mason's zero waste goals. Photo by Getty

Someone else might need those supplies—and need them urgently. Jessica Adams, assistant director of knowledge management for fiscal learning and engagement at ��AV, remembers when a former colleague approached her with a last-minute purchasing crisis. The department was hosting a conference and organizers realized the day before that they needed additional supplies.

The commonwealth’s supply vendor policies are not always conducive to last-minute purchases, according to Adams. “I offered what advice I could from my place in Fiscal Services and asked if she checked with other offices to see what supplies they had available,” Adams said.

This last-minute request sparked an idea that had been on Adams’ mind for quite some time: Mason needed an office supply exchange, where departments could quickly and easily seek out or repurpose extra or unused supplies.

Adams shared the idea with her colleagues on the Staff Senate, and it took off from there. The Office Supply Swap launched on Microsoft Teams in Spring 2023, thanks to the efforts of the senate and University Sustainability.

April Lopez, part of the Staff Senate’s Environmental Justice and Sustainability Committee, took the lead in creating the online community. Lopez has worked as an administrative assistant at Mason since 2019 in the Division of Special Education and disAbility Research in the College of Education and Human Development.

“We realized that with new collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and an increase in familiarity with community groups like Buy Nothing, we could get this going with very minimal input and no additional storage space requirements,” Lopez said.

The supply swap is part of the larger Greener Mason Community on Microsoft Teams, where the Mason Nation can share ideas and collaborate on topics related to sustainability. Illustration by Getty

The supply swap channel is open to all Mason faculty and staff and sits within the larger Greener Mason Community on Teams, which covers a range of sustainability topics at Mason: recycling, plastics reduction, living landscape, and even environment and climate-related reading and listening recommendations. The group offers a place for the Mason Nation to connect and learn.

The rules for the Office Supply Swap are simple: faculty and staff post unneeded items on the Teams channel. If another department needs the items, they can comment and arrange pickup. If someone needs an item, they can ask if anyone has a surplus. All items must remain university property—personal items and personal use of items are not allowed. Technology and furniture items should not be offered in the swap; they should go through existing surplus procedures.

The supply exchange echoes one of Mason’s core values: We are careful stewards.

“There are financial savings in not buying new when there are things already at the university that can be reused,” Lopez said. Repurposing and reallocating supplies also supports Mason’s zero waste goals.

Adams is thrilled that the supply swap is thriving. “The idea needed to get to the right people, at the right time,” Adams said. “April Lopez is the real hero with execution. She has been the biggest catalyst in bringing the Greener Mason Community to life and has built it into what it is today.”

Lopez hopes that the project helps people recognize that small actions support sustainability at Mason.

“I hope that the Office Supply Swap helps us recognize the abundance we already have, even if we’re just talking about paperclips, three-ring binders, and suspension files,” Lopez said. “In our cabinets and desk drawers, we already have items that the university could use for years to come.”

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10 ways you can help the planet—and Mason—this April

1. Reduce your water use.

2. Make an effort to walk, bike, or scooter more, especially if you are traveling on or near campus.

3. Always turn off any lights, appliances, and devices when not in use.

4. Carry a water bottle and use the campus filling stations.

5. Take out the trash—correctly.

6. Donate unwanted or unneeded items.

7. When shopping or running errands, bring a reusable bag, backpack, or other sustainable containers to reduce packaging waste.

8. Add more plants to your diet.

9. Grow your own food or help Mason grow some.

10. Volunteer.

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