Project Green initiates SCAD recycling program

Photo courtesy of Project Green
Members of Project Green work to rebuild a greenhouse on May 12 in the MLK community garden, located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 31st Street in Savannah.

By: Seth Michalak

Published: Friday, June 1, 2007

On May 23, at the final Project Green meeting for the 2006-07 academic year, the group’s leader had some great news to share with members. During a meeting with Savannah College of Art and Design administration representatives the day before, the college committed to reinstating a recycling program at the Savannah location starting Fall 2007. The proposal was made by Project Green president Brian Bessenaire, vice president Andrew King and former president Paul Schwartzkopf.

Formed in 2002, Project Green is a SCAD student group that focuses on sustainability education and outreach.

The group boasts a mailing list of 200 members who represent many different majors, and the group’s meetings generally attract 20-30 attendees. Bessenaire said he welcomes new members. “All people need to do is show up and want to participate,” he said.

Project Green is an independent organization, not affiliated with any other group or governed by a strict set of national bylaws. But this independence doesn’t keep it from having ties to major national organizations. The president has a permanent seat on the United States Green Building Council’s Savannah chapter, the group responsible for the LEED Green Building rating system. Project Green also serves as the Savannah chapter of the USGBC’s Emerging Green Builders program for college students. The group’s close ties with the USGBC have allowed them to conduct LEED accreditation training sessions. According to group members, these sessions have resulted in 10 SCAD students passing the exam and receiving their accreditation.

Project Green’s commitment to education and outreach on sustainability is evident in numerous other activities. The group sets up a booth at Savannah’s annual Earth Day celebration, where they provide recycling and sustainable building tips. They have arranged lectures by sustainability experts and tours of green building sites in Savannah. A relationship with the Union Mission has resulted in a proposal for a network of community gardens throughout Savannah to provide fresh produce to under­privileged families.

It was the recycling program Project Green started at Eichberg Hall that resulted in the college’s commitment at the recent meeting. On May 22, Bessenaire, Schwartz­kopf and King sat down with SCAD Executive Director for Physical Resources Ricardo Gonzales, Dean of Communications Bruce Chong, College Resources Manager Martin Smith and Dean of the School of Building Arts Crystal Weaver to attempt to identify areas of possible collaboration.

When the students raised the issue of recycling in academic and administrative buildings, Gonzales, whose department oversees refuse removal from all SCAD buildings, committed to reinstating a recycling program for these facilities starting this fall. At the meeting, Gonzales also discussed materials SCAD already recycles and mentioned an initiative to sort and recycle the refuse generated at the college’s New Alumni Concert June 1 in Forsyth Park.

Gonzales said he was pleased with the results of the initial meeting. “I look forward to more interactive involvement with their group,” he said. “The group appears to be well-organized and very passionate about this just cause.”

Members of Project Green were equally enthusiastic about the meeting and its results. “I was almost speechless. This is something that everyone has been working so hard for, and it is truly amazing to see something come of it,” said Bessenaire.

Project Green has already begun planning a recycling rally this fall to generate excitement for the new program.

“Recycling is fundamentally a simple first step in a long journey,” King said. “The act of separating one’s refuse signifies a moment of personal agency — of taking responsibility for one’s footprint on the world. Affirming this connection, the possibilities of a positive impact are endless.”

To be added to the Project Green mailing list, e-mail progrn­@scad.edu.


Michalak is assistant director of internal communications.