The WSTF Sustainability Initiative Team (WSIT) leads a grassroots effort to establish and nurture a culture of environmental sustainability across the site. The group was established in 2005 and plays multiple roles at WSTF. The team represents the WSTF community’s environmental conscience by gathering and disseminating information on the various aspects of sustainability, advocating for employees’ ideas, providing a mechanism for implementing change, and challenging the WSTF community to choose “green” options whenever possible. WSIT has established a sitewide “Green Team” comprised of interested volunteers from across the site who share ideas and support WSTF sustainability programs.
Two new recycling programs were established in 2006. Both employee-initiated efforts have been successful and are currently in work. WSTF began recycling plastic bottles in the summer of 2006. Wholly a volunteer effort, employees place the bins across the site, coordinate the collection, weigh the recyclables, and transport the materials to the Las Cruces Recycling Center. In the last year, WSIT recycled more than 32,000 plastic bottles, which is about 45 bottles per person on the site.
The Shiny Paper Recycling (SPR) project was initiated in October of 2006 and is made possible through. a partnership with the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Solid Waste and Recycling program. NMSU provides WSTF with a large container (gaylord box) in which to collect the materials. WSTF periodically transports the full gaylord to the NMSU recycling center. In turn, NMSU includes WSTF materials with the recyclables they transport to a recycling firm in El Paso, Texas.
The partnership with NMSU has allowed WSIT to initiate two new programs in 2007. NMSU will take used HDPE hardhats and telephone books to the El Paso recycling contractor. WSTF has also partnered with the Lions Club "Recycle for Sight" program. Used eyeglasses (including safety glasses) are collected for refurbishing and distribution in communities globally. In addition, WSIT recycles coarsely shredded paper, which is donated to the Las Cruces Animal Shelter for bedding.
