Three WWU offices win sustainability awards

The Office of Sustainability at Wesrtern Washington University recognized three offices for certification in the Underground Coffeehouse in the Viking Union on May 10.

The Western Associated Student Bookstore, the Underground Coffeehouse and Dining Services Viking Commons Administration all won awards based on their involvement with sustainability.

The bookstore recycles all unused boxes, gives students reusable bags when they purchase a number of books and gives students a place to recycle batteries.

Dining Services has multiple bins for students to distribute waste properly, among other successes.

The Underground Coffeehouse uses reusable silverware, plates and glasses. If a costumer wanted a to-go cup they would be provided one but without specification the default is a glass cup.

Before the awards were handed out, a Western student gave a presentation on the importance of local farming. Kamea Black, majoring in Holistic Agriculture and Food Distribution Systems at Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, talked about her experience with working with The Outback Farm in Fairhaven. She also discussed her involvement with CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). She informed attendees of CSAs and encourage them to consider getting offices together to go in on a CSA plan. In a CSA subscribers pay for a share of the anticipated crops and they receive boxes of produce periodically throughout the harvest season. There are multiple farms in Bellingham and Whatcom County that support CSAs.

After Black’s presentation, Carol Berry Western’s campus conservation and sustainable program manager gave the three awards to the respective offices.