The Suffolk University Employee Education program on waste reduction and recycling has earned a Gold Achievement Award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WasteWise Program for implementing an educational and promotional campaign that was well planned, comprehensive, and created awareness about the University’s waste prevention and recycling activities.

Since expanding its recycling program in 2006, Suffolk has launched a multi-pronged approach for informing its employees about campus environmental initiatives and involvement opportunities. The University is now focused on incorporating waste reduction and recycling into its everyday practices, as well as long-term decision making.

Through informational sessions, electronic communications, signage, workshops, and many participatory opportunities, Suffolk is pro-active when it comes to involving employees in waste reduction and recycling.

“Suffolk has taken many steps in recent years to institutionalize waste reduction and recycling education,” said Campus Sustainability Coordinator Erica Mattison. “We are committed to this important cause and earning recognition for our work is an honor that we greatly appreciate.”

According to Mattison, Suffolk employees acknowledge that the environmental awareness they have gained in the workplace has prompted them to make lifestyle changes that impact their household and family, such as refraining from buying bottled water and using more reusable products. “A cultural change is truly taking place,” stated Mattison.

Each year, the EPA recognizes outstanding achievements of its WasteWise program partners with awards in categories including business, government, and educational sectors. To qualify, partners must submit complete annual reporting forms that detail tonnage of waste reduced, associated cost savings, and promotion of the WasteWise program to employees, customers, and suppliers.

The University will receive the award at the WasteWise annual meeting and awards ceremony on March 22, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.