Around 90 students discussed

De Anza sustainability concerns and services at the “Talking Green” event held inside conference room B on Oct. 17.

The event, organized by the DASB Senate Environmental Sustainability Committee, addressed the Bicycle Program, Eco Pass, Kirsch Center, and waste management system.

“The committee met over the summer, and realized we didn’t have the input of the student body,” said committee chair Karla Navarro.

Students learned De Anza was the first California community college to implement the Eco Pass, allowing students unlimited rides on Valley Transportation Authority bus lines.

“De Anza is already such a green campus, but a lot of students don’t really know it,” Navarro said Students also learned about De Anza’s waste management system.

“Instead of having two trucks coming in every week, we changed the system to have one truck come every two weeks,” said committee member Vinay Kowshik. “It sends recyclables and garbage that De Anza produces to a transfer station where everything is sorted, then becomes new, recycled product.”

Chris Lepe, a community planner from non-profit organization TransForm, deliberated on urban planning issues and Bus Rapid Transit, an upcoming form of public transportation.

Lepe said Bus Rapid Transit will combine the features of a bus system and a light-rail system, and run on dedicated lanes to avoid traffic.

The committee and guest speakers emphasized the role students played in implementing sustainability services.

“When we set policy in place, it allows you, the students, to have more power than anybody else on this campus,” said Kristin Sullivan, environmental science professor. “You just have to organize and make it happen, like we’re doing right now.”