Bates has a long tradition of environmentalism. The College was founded on principles of freedom, civil rights, and a strong connection with the natural environment. Throughout decades of development the College has maintained its environmental character and has taken steps to grow sustainably. Here are just some of the College’s significant environmental achievements:
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1919
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Stanton Bird Club founded in honor of Bates professor Johnny Stanton. (In 1864 Stanton helped to establish and develop Bates and taught for over 40 years. He had a profound love of nature and rare ability to inspire the same in others.)
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| 1920 |
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Bates College Outing Club formed. (Second oldest collegiate Outing Club in the nation.)
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| 1936 |
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Edmund Muskie graduates from Bates and goes on to author landmark environmental legislation including the national Clean Air, Clean Water, and Resource Recovery Acts.
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| 1947 |
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Bates Chemistry Professor Walter Lawrence appointed "River Master" of the Androscoggin by the Maine Attorney General, starting the decades long process of cleaning up the Androscoggin River.
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| 1980 |
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Bates is one of the first schools in the Northeast to install a solar heating system, using sixty-four solar panels to heat water used by Commons.
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| 1991 |
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Recycling program created at Bates. |
| 1995 |
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Environmental Policy adopted by President Donald Harward.
– Dining waste minimization program started. (Dining now diverts over 80% of its waste through recycling, compositing, donating pre-consumer waste to a local pig farmer, and donating leftover meals to local foodbanks.)
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| 1996 |
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Student Environmental Coalition formed.
– Environmental Issues Committee created. (First committee of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to working on environmental issues.)
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| 1997 |
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First part time Environmental Coordinator hired
– Environmental Studies program started.
– Environmental Confederation (EFed) of faculty, staff, and students was formed out of the Environmental Issues Council.
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| 1998 |
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Bates’ first Green Action Plan (GAP) was developed, detailing recommendations for improving conservation efforts across campus.
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| 1999 |
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Bates Dining program awarded the Renew America National Award for Sustainability and Christopher and Dana Reeve Award for Environmental Leadership.(Bates was the only collegiate foodservice to be recognized for its environmental initiatives.)
– Bates commits to buying chlorine-free paper with minimum post consumer recycled content standards incorporated into all contracts.
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| 2000 |
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First annual Clean Sweep event held.
– Bates’ first Greenhouse gas Emissions Inventory completed.
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| 2002 |
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Bates completes its first Energy Audit. |
| 2005 |
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Bates signs a five year contract to use 100% renewable electricity for the main campus.
– Physical Plant experiments with using a biodiesel blend (B5) in twelve small houses on Frye Street.
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| 2006 |
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First full time Environmental Coordinator hired.
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