■ Environment
Continued From Page 8
◾ Partnering with PSE & G to conduct an energy audit that will influence future building improvements ;
◾ Reconvening a collegewide sustainability committee ;
◾ Treating roads with brine instead of salt to protect groundwater during winter ;
◾ Replacing 36 traditional water fountains with “ bottle fill ” stations ;
◾ Doubling the number of on-campus electric vehicle charging stations ; and
◾ Becoming a Center for Workforce Innovation renewable energy training site .
Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System was celebrated by the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP27 ) on November 10 , 2022 for pledging to decarbonize the healthcare sector and make healthcare facilities more resilient to the effects of climate change . Atlantic Health System has formally committed to pursuing the Biden administration ’ s climate goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 .
The pledge was developed to help focus industry response to climate challenges , reducing carbon footprints , and to produce plans to prepare facilities for catastrophic climate impacts . Atlantic Health System recognizes that climate change is the number one threat to global public health and that the healthcare sector accounts for approximately 8.5 percent of U . S . domestic emissions .
Atlantic Health System signed the pledge alongside other healthcare organizations representing approximately 15 percent of U . S . hospitals .
Recycling
AnythingIT LLC
Electronics ( e-waste ) is now the largest form of municipal waste in existence and considered one of the greatest threats to our environment due to the existing amounts globally . E-waste can be toxic , is not biodegradable and accumulates in the environment , in the soil , air , water and living things . AnythingIT is celebrating its 30th year as an e-steward certified electronics recycler and secure data destruction vendor for enterprise and government IT organizations . AnythingIT mission is focused on compliance and environmental sustainability . Since 2020 we have ensured that over 419,415 IT devices = 2,482,840 pounds of e-waste has avoided landfills or illegal export to third world countries and been properly de-manufactured / recycled . This has resulted in a total of 38,253,179 total pounds of CO2 levels being reduced . Our efforts continue to be concentrated on maintaining environmental compliance in line with all federal , state , and local regulations to support our clients .
PSE & G
At PSE & G we are committed to the environment and believe that all actions , big and small , can have big impacts , and that big changes always start with small actions . So we tasked our crews to brainstorm innovative and creative solutions to increase our recycling efforts . They noticed that while we have recycling bins at all of our locations , our trucks were only outfitted with garbage bins , and sorting this trash bin once they returned from a long field day was a seldom occurrence . In an effort to aid in the separation of recyclables at the point of generation , we piloted a program and added over 100 blue recycling bins to our vehicles . Reviews were positive from all involved , they loved the ease of the program and the feeling of making a positive impact . Small efforts like this add up , and contributed to PSE & G recycling over 600,000 tons in 2022 .
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen Countyy
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County is greatly contributing to changing the way Bergen County handles recycling . Habitat Bergen ’ s affiliate offices handle the building of affordable homes , and the Bergen ReStore , which is a resale shop carrying gently used furniture , home goods and building supplies . The ReStore is creating positive impacts on our climate and natural environment by participating in the recycling process . The ReStore partners with corporations and individuals who donate furniture , office supplies , home goods and building supplies . These items in turn are sold to the public for a fraction of the cost . This recycling process diverts items from the landfills and contributes to waste minimization within Bergen County . The Bergen ReStore currently sells a line of paints that is made from recycled products . The Restore as a business is cleaning up Bergen County ’ s communities and reducing the carbon footprint . Habitat for Humanity also uses green building practices in Hillsdale , and it focuses on green consciousness and sustainability . Habitat is committed to building energy efficient homes and making them fully affordable .
Electronics ( e-waste ) is now the largest form of municipal waste in existence and considered one of the greatest threats to our environment .
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / Mindful Media
Mikula Contracting , Inc .
Mikula Contracting , Inc ., a New Jersey-based Land Improvement Contractor , recognizes that all businesses can have a positive impact on the environment . With our Sustainability Policy , we are committed to continuously finding ways in which we can positively impact the environment with our demolition and drainage solution services .
Mikula recognizes the value of and focuses on increased recycling on each of our demolition projects . Our deconstruction process prevents usable materials from going directly to landfills . When we recycle materials , we know that used building materials can be brought back to life within the community . For example , wood , metals , concrete , asphalt , brick , and block are highly recoverable on many demolition projects . Once the material is sorted , it is loaded onto our trucks and taken to one of the many recycling facilities in New Jersey . Some non-hazardous materials , such as recycled crushed concrete , can even be reused on the same site .
Continued On Page 18
14 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com