Region 1: EPA New England
College and University Initiative
An Integrated Enforcement and Assistance Strategy
Campus RainWorks Challenge
Create an innovative green infrastructure design for your campus
Registration Opens September 4
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WasteWise Program
Free EPA program helping partners meet their waste reduction and recycling goals.
For more than a decade, EPA New England has worked with colleges and universities to improve their environmental performance, promote sustainable practices, and create a mentoring network at the more than 300 institutions of higher education in New England. Our goal has been to identify barriers to compliance and develop strategies to overcome those barriers. We started by creating the College & University Initiative – a strategy that included enforcement actions, regulatory compliance workshops, and use of EPA's Audit Policy. We also developed a regional website that featured a wide range of compliance resources, including inspection reports and lists of common violations on college campuses.
The Region developed an Environmental Management Systems Guide tailored to colleges and universities and, through an EPA grant with the University of Massachusetts - Lowell EMS Service Program, provided training to assist colleges and universities in implementing and sustaining their own Environmental Management System. Finally, the region compiled a Best Management Practices (BMP) Catalog, a collection of case studies presenting strategies for promoting environmental stewardship at colleges and universities.
For more information about the College & University Initiative contact Josh Secunda (secunda.josh@epa.gov or (617) 918- 1736).