Sustainability at SSC

What is Sustainability?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.  Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.

Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have,  the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment."

SSC's Sustainability Statement:

South Suburban College strives to be a leader in sustainability efforts.  This mission is achieved in several ways.  College initiatives include, but are not limited to, renovating College buildings for energy efficiency, purchasing a percentage of renewable energy and eco-friendly products, encouraging campus programs that incorporate reducing, reusing and recycling, providing contemporary training for the green economy and supplying sustainability information and forums to the College district.  Our most important goal is to educate our staff and students to practice environmental stewardship at home and in the community.

What else are we are doing?

SSC is in the process of transitioning to recycled paper (where ever possible) in order to further reduce our carbon footprint.  Recycled paper is available, by the case, in the Bookstore.

This is another step in SSC’s ongoing sustainability efforts, reinforcing our commitment with neighboring institutions to going green.

Bronze Level Compact School

South Suburban College (SSC) has received recognition from the Green Governments Coordinating Council as a "Bronze Level Compact School" within the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact program.

SSC Bronze Certificate

SSC is a proud member of:

IGEN - Illinois Green Economy Network

Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact

SEED - Sustainability Education & Economic Development

ACUPCC - American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

HOW CAN YOU HELP ON CAMPUS?

• Dispose of things like junk mail, newspapers, magazines, plastic containers, glass bottles, and metal cans in appropriately marked containers throughout campus.
• Deposit your used markers and ink pens, batteries, and printer toner/cartridges in the recycling center just outside the Bookstore.
• e-Waste (if it ever plugged in or took a battery) must be recycled by law in the State of Illinois (415 ILCS 150/95). SSC employees should send an email to Purchasing to make disposal arrangements. Students should watch for special e-Waste collection days at the main campus.
• Join the SSC Green Club.

Have a suggestion?
Sustainability Taskforce