The University Library, Ecological People in Action (EcoPIA)

The Library and EcoPIA are being recognized with the first Campus Sustainability Recognition Award for helping to reduce the environmental impact of the University’s landfill waste. Michael Hohner, Acting University Librarian, working in partnership with members of EcoPIA, a campus student sustainability group, organized a series of Book Rippin parties. This process diverts journals and books that are removed from University collections from going to the landfill by removing book covers. Pages can then be recycled. 

Diverted an Estimated 2.5 tonnes of Paper
This proactive initiative by both parties has diverted an estimated 2.5 tonnes of paper from the landfill, and has now become an established process on campus. 

Hohner has also been an active advocate of establishing duplex printing in the University library. Hohner established duplex printing as the default for copiers and printers in the library, which automatically prints on both sides of the paper, further reducing use (and waste) of paper.