University of Alberta Students' Union

Category: Youth

Project: The Environmental Coordination Office of Students (ECOS)

Contact Information

Contact Name: Ian Moore

Email Address: ecos@su.ualberta.ca

Website: http://www.su.ualberta.ca/ecos

The Recipient

The Environmental Coordination Office of Students (ECOS) is the sustainability office for the University of Alberta Students' Union. Since 2003, ECOS has been working both independently and in collaboration with other campus-based groups to improve the ecological integrity and the environmental and social accountability of campus activities. They provide services such as the Bike Library, the Campus Garden, the InfoLink E-Waste Recycling Centers, a Reusable Dish Program, and they host sustainability-related presentations, discussions and workshops. ECOS also researches and develops policies for the Students' Union that make large scale changes to enhance the sustainability of their $10 million operations. Some of these changes include the development of compost boxes in the Student’s Union Building food court, the opening of a ‘green’ section in one of the retail shops, and the integration of environmental practices in the Student Group Services and First Year Orientation.