Materials and Purchasing
Introduction
Do you know if the college tries to think and be environmentally friendly? Or is Marlboro college like any other institution and buys whats money efficient? Marlboro College does not have a purchasing policy necessary, but in this section we will take look at what and where, our community is purchasing.
Purchases
Purchasing Policy
As the college does not have a purchasing policy, the environmentally friendly products are chosen by the individual who suggests them. There is no standardization when buying products. The college would cut back on money in office supply products if the college would standardize and not make individual products under the college's budgets. If the individual who wants a certain personal pen, they could buy it on their own and bring it to work--instead of having the college buy their products.
There have been workshops to help the community be more environmentally friendly when purchasing any items. With faculty help and involvement students have made attempts in trying to cut back on the college’s environmental impact. Currently with the help from the alumni the sustainable camps fund will go to the construction of the OP building and then will hopefully go to other usefully ideas towards sustainability. The workshop only happened once and will not happen again because nothing evolved from the first workshop. In order of the workshop to happen again, there needs to be more participation throughout the community out of the workshop. Lastly the community needs to use the tools they learned from the workshop.
Main purchases
Depending on the season determines what the college is mainly purchasing. Most of the purchasing is in printing. The school prints a lot! When printing on outside facilities and the option of using recycled paper is available, the college takes advantage of the option.
Regular Purchases
Cleaning Products
- almost all cleaning products are environmentally friendly, except bleach.
Paper
- copy paper is 30% recycled paper
- paper towels and toilet paper are not recycled
Where we purchase
The purchases are purchased in different places. Some products are purchased locally and others are purchased from the local Staples. The price of the items being purchased depend on where the product is being purchased.
Electronic Purchases
Purchasing Policy
There is no uniform purchasing policy, because so many departments have diverse needs and use different things. If, at the end of their life cycle, which is around 8 years, computers are still functioning we donate them to non-profit organizations. We are less focused on recycling and more so on life cycle. There is a 4 year Capital Replacement Cycle. This means the budget allows for faculty and staff to have computers replaced every four years. Life cycle of laptops is shorter and all over the place.
Computers
- All computers we purchase are EPEAT certified gold.
- We use products from these companies: HP, APC, Apple, Dell
Other Questions
With any of the data you do not see and would like to know, please contact maintenance. Also, please take under consideration about the data that is on the page. When the data was collected timing for the information to certain questions were not answered due to the current construction and installation to buildings on campus. The precise numbers and percentages were not easily assessable to receive at this time. The information I would have liked to received:
- Amount of paper that is recycled
- What products are bought from where (locally and other stores)
- How much we buy from separate places
- List of purchases the school buys for regular purchases
