Campus LiveGreen events highlight sustainability month

In October, the med center hosted several events to celebrate Campus Sustainability Month.

“No one of us can solve issues of sustainability on our own – it will take small and large efforts from everyone to make a difference,” said Eric Bloomquist, a member of the LiveGreen Ambassador Employee Resource Group and committee chair.

The ERG invites the med center community to join the group.

Bellevue Medical Center waste program

Bellevue Medical Center rolled out a new recycling program that will help reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill. As part of the effort, 55 new slim recycling bins and 12 triple-bins were installed.

Sustainability Engagement Survey

The Sustainability Engagement Survey received almost 2,000 responses. Results of the survey will be announced shortly and will help improve campus sustainability efforts.

Health Care Culinary Contest

Culinary services joined the Health Care Culinary Contest, which challenged health care culinary professionals to create a delicious plant-based dish. The “Vibrant Veggie Power Bowl” was served in the Nebraska and Clarkson Cafés on Nov. 20.

LiveGreen Ambassador ERG retreat

The LiveGreen employee resource group held its first retreat on Oct. 18 at Hitchcock Nature Center. Grace McMinn, a LiveGreen ambassador, said, “Each member touches a different part of our community – a community that displays opportunities to better the campus’s ‘live-green mindset.’ I’m proud to be part of a group comprised of people who act like every day is Earth Day.”

Campus cleanup

In collaboration with the Blue Bucket Project, the UNMC Office of Sustainability and LiveGreen ambassadors collected litter on Oct. 10 from the area around the Davis Global Center. Participants collected two bags of landfill waste, half a bag of recycling and one bag of Hefty ReNew Bag materials. The office also participated in Terracycle’s Writing Instruments Recycling Program by shipping about 6,500 disposable writing instruments to be made into new recycled products.

Tree planting

On Oct. 15, the UNMC Office of Sustainability partnered with UNMC grounds to plant a Frontier elm. “Nimbus” is located in the green space north of the Lozier Center for Pharmacy Science.