MAINTENANCE - Grounds
The University Seattle and Bothell campuses utilize a Green Seal certified contractor to provide integrated pest management services which involves the use of non-toxic methods to control pests. In addition, a bee specialist is used to provide poison-free removal of stinging insects such as wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and honeybee nests and swarms.
Goats have been used at both Seattle and Bothell campuses for grounds maintenance and weed removal.
Since, 2005 the Bothell campus has had vermicompost bins and creates its own compost tea which is sprayed onto the flowers and plantings throughout campus. Bothell has its own storm-water system managed by campus staff which includes 6 oil-water separators and over 400 catch basins before storm water sent into the bio-swales of its 58 acre campus wetland.The UW Seattle has about 2,161,733 SF or 50 acres of high efficiency irrigation systems of the 643 acre campus. However, although we use a good mix of drought tolerant low water requirement plantings, we also use some plants with moderate and above average water requirements for feature landscapes and to maintain the diversity of the campus plant collection in support our academic and research missions.
At the Seattle campus, all landscaping waste is composted or mulched. (SEI report)
Custodial Services
The University’s Custodial Service Departments on the central campus and both Tacoma and Bothell branch campuses have established policies and procedures regarding the use of environmentally responsible cleaning products. Bothell uses only green cleaning products in cleaning the campus buildings. An official green-cleaning policy was established in 2004 and in 1986 the University stopped the use of Phenol-based disinfectants. Green Seal products are used for cleaning, the use of aerosols has been eliminated and liquid hand soap has been replaced with Green Seal foam soap, steam cleaning has replaced harsh chemicals and microfiber mops have replaced oil treated dust mops. In recognition of these achievements the University was awarded the Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities in 2007.
http://www.washington.edu/facilities/custodial/files/documents/GreenPolicy.pdfThe UW has received awards for its green cleaning efforts: http://www.washington.edu/facilities/custodial/files/documents/greencleaningawards2007.pdf
