December 15, 2010

New Contract with MarBorg Industries Seen as Boost for UCSB Sustainability

George Foulsham

A new four-year waste management contract with MarBorg Industries is being hailed by UC Santa Barbara officials as a significant step toward UCSB's goal of becoming one of the most sustainable campuses in the country.

The contract, approved recently by the UC Regents, will remain in effect until 2014. It stipulates that MarBorg will process all of UCSB's solid waste through its recycling facility in Santa Barbara. In addition, MarBorg will collect and compost all campus food waste.

In addition, MarBorg will purchase a compressed natural gas vehicle to haul away UCSB's waste. The company also will install 30 subterranean bins on campus in the next year to help divert the campus's green waste from the Santa Barbara landfill. Also, MarBorg will continue to pay UCSB $25 for every ton of commingled recyclable materials collected from the campus.

"The renegotiation of UCSB's waste management contract reinforces the campus's unwavering commitment to preserving Santa Barbara's natural resources and mitigating our environmental impact," said Ron Cortez, associate vice chancellor and co-chair of the Chancellor's Sustainability Committee. "This contract provides new resources to UCSB's already robust recycling programs."

According to Grant Keefe, UCSB's new sustainability coordinator, the agreement will help the campus achieve goals of 100 percent waste diversion by 2020 and minimizing its carbon footprint. "UCSB continues to excel as a leader in sustainability, with concentrations in waste diversion, energy efficiency improvements, water conservation initiatives, local food projects, alternative transportation programs, and environmental research," Keefe said.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.