Sustainability Committee
About Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee’s core mission and function are to organize and facilitate outreach opportunities allowing the members of the East Central Branch to stay informed and promote sustainable engineering practices.
If you would like to join the ECB Sustainability Committee, please reach out to our Committee Chair Steve Sommerfeldt. The committee typically meets (virtually) on the last Tuesday of the month during lunch to plan out future activities and ideas related to sustainability. We welcome any new and/or seasoned individuals interested.
The Committee has developed an Event Sustainability Venue Guide to assist in adding sustainable practices into Branch Events.
Click here to download the latest version!
Ever wonder how to recycle common household items?
Click here to download the Sustainability Committee Recycle Guide.
Want to hear more? Join the Sustainability Committee mailing list today!
Steve Sommerfeldt, P.E.
Chair
Sustainability in Action
The ASCE East Central Branch Sustainability Committee is making sustainability practical, starting with composting. Since 2022, the committee has partnered with local vendor O-Town Compost to divert food waste at major events, including the annual ASCE Icebreaker and Officer Installation Luncheon.
This initiative began as part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of our events while raising awareness among members. By incorporating composting into our sustainability strategy, we’ve not only prevented over
385 lbs. of food waste from reaching landfills, but helped transform it into nutrient-rich soil instead.
The impact is growing. Icebreaker events alone have seen food waste diversion nearly double by 2024, an encouraging trend that reflects greater attendance, stronger member engagement, and enhanced composting practices.
Did you know that at least one-third of landfill waste could be composted? Composting is just one piece of our sustainable event planning puzzle. The committee also emphasizes sustainable venue selection and continues to seek out educational opportunities that empower our members to practice sustainability in their work and everyday life.
If this initiative inspires you or sparks ideas of your own, we invite you to join us. The Sustainability Committee meets monthly, and we welcome new voices and fresh perspectives. Attend a meeting to see how you can get more involved in making a tangible difference in our community.
Upcoming Events
28 days to the event
