Some of our activities, such as hosting speakers or organizing EarthCorps cleanups, are one-time events. One of SEED's greatest hallmarks, however, is a willingness to take on large, long-term projects. Our privileged position as a part of HFS grants us a unique level of influence, increasing the likelihood that such projects will be successful. Though these projects are more difficult and risky, the scale and permanence of the change they effect is well worth it.
Compost
After SEED's success in expanding the recycling program to every floor of the residence halls, the club chose to continue its efforts of diverting waste by pressing for a similar program with compost. Since early 2007, we have supported HFS as they installed "front-of-house" compost bins in the dining facilities so that diners could send food scraps, napkins, and compostable tableware to Cedar Grove, the same place HFS was already sending food scraps from the kitchens. We also initiated a pilot program where we put compost toters on four floors of Lander to demonstrate the feasibility of having a compost system on every floor of the residence halls.
The pilot program was unsuccessful that year, but we persevered in the fall. Throughout the 2007-2008 school year, several dedicated SEED members worked tirelessly. They weighed the toters, emptied them, sorted through the compost for contaminants, gathered feedback from residents, and coped with equipment that grew legs and walked away. Finally, their efforts paid off: in the spring, HFS announced that its custodians would begin emptying the compost bins, and this fall, students will arrive to find compost bins on every floor of Lander!
P-Patch
Recycling
Recycling holds special significance for SEED, as the club was created by students who wanted to see paper recycling receptacles on every floor of the residence halls. It took several years of hard work, but the students finally accomplished their goal. Today, residents even enjoy the convenience of having blue recycling cans in their own rooms.