AASHE STARS - Operations: Grounds


Tier 2-1: Native Plants
We have 118 acres of college woods, considered to be a forest, located on campus. It consists of native mixed pines and hardwoods. We also have several programs to eradicate non-native plants (identified as English Ivy, Privet, and Japanese Honeysuckle) from campus, mainly in the college woods. The efforts consists of: using environmentally safe herbicides on marked trees and surveying their effectiveness, groups volunteering to pull up and cut away the non native plants, and resources available to dispose of the detached and unearthed plants. There are also native trees scattered around the campus grounds; most of the beautification of the campus is done through native plants. 

Tier 2-4: Snow and Ice Removal
We use a “salt like” material to melt any ice buildup.  This is a material that has a very low concentration of sodium chloride.  It is mostly Calcium Chloride.  We have had no problems with it affecting the sidewalks, soils, or plants to date.

Tier 2-5: Compost
We have two debris piles; one is for tree limbs and thicker stocked shrubs and the other is for softer tissues, such as grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and spent flowers.

*not all credits being pursued for AASHE STARS rating are listed on this page.  for further information about any STARS credit information, contact MC STARS Administrator, Adrienne Schwarte at adrienne.schwarte@maryvillecollege.edu