KAB
Whenever I have had occasion to travel for work there are always windows for walkabout. Exploration typically strikes me on the second day, after weariness inherent with driving for hours evaporates following a good night’s sleep. Keep Nebraska Beautiful hosted its annual conference in Lincoln this spring. When I attended the previous time KNB picked our capital city, my early morning walk wound through the City Campus of the University of Nebraska. A few receptacles and signs hinted at UNL’s position on recycling. This year’s conference allowed affiliates from throughout the state to look behind the curtain – not just at Big Red recycling, rather we saw a comprehensive and evolving commitment to sustainability.
Looking at the agenda the week before, “Sustainability at UNL” promised to be a highlight that Thursday. Organizers paired an interesting topic with a tour, hard to go wrong with that setup. Faculty members Morgan Hartman and Madeline Yeatts highlighted advancements centering on progress since 2020. The mission of UNL’s Office of Sustainability: We want to make UNL more sustainable, efficient, and resilient by leading and implementing practices that positively impact the environmental, social, and economic prosperity of the UNL community and the larger world.
Morgan, who has taught Environmental Engagement and the Community and was hired as campus recycling coordinator in 2020, touted achievements such as a Tree Campus designation, Foam Free (no Styrofoam) Campus, and 2022 gold rating within the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System…