SEED
What:
The Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED) is a student organization that works with residents and Housing & Food Services to bring awareness to sustainable issues that impact our campus.
Who:
Each Residential community has a representative on the SEED committee that is selected at the beginning of Autumn quarter.
Where:
Madrona Hall 311
When:
Thursdays 6:30-7:30 PM
Chair:
Dahlia Gietka
Director of Intersectional Sustainability
rcsasus@uw.edu
Projects
Reusable Containers
As one of SEED’s initiatives, SEED worked with HFS to bring the OZZI machine to both Local Point and Center Table. The machine provides an option for reusable containers when they order food to reduce single-use containers. Each resident receives an OZZI token upon move-in and can use the token to avoid paying the fee for compostable take-out containers!
Compost program
Compost Bins
SEED checks out in-room compost bins to residents who wish to compost in their own spaces. Compost bins are available to check out in the Madrona LPO and the Poplar RLO. SEED strives to educate residents on campus on how to practice correct waste sorting and reduce overall waste. For more information check out the resident compost guide!
Take a look at what SEED is currently working on here
History of SEED
More than ten years ago, several students were frustrated that the only place to recycle paper in the residence halls was the outside dumpsters – which could be as far as 11 FLOORS DOWN! They created SEED during the 2002-2003 school year in an effort to get recycling bins on every floor of the residence halls. In January 2006, the group achieved its goal. The members were now faced with an important decision: declare “mission accomplished” and disband the group, or continue to capitalize on the momentum they had worked so hard to create?
Needless to say, those SEEDlings chose the latter course, continuing to undertake new tasks. While some of our activities are one-time events, one of SEED’s greatest hallmarks is a willingness to take on large, long-term projects. Being part of Housing & Food Services grants us a unique level of influence and collaboration, increasing the likelihood of success for such initiatives. Though these projects are more difficult and risky, the scale and permanence of the change they effect is well worth it.
We are always looking for new ideas and input from residents in our communities. Our organization’s name has proven prophetic: just as a small seed grows into a large and productive plant, what began with a few students and a simple goal has become a powerful organization working on many different fronts.
