Environmental Stewardship (ES)
Webster’s Dictionary defines a steward as “one who acts as a supervisor or administrator, as of finances and property, for another or others.”

Under this definition, everyone is a steward of the environment around us. We do not own the environment—no one can. We are simply caretakers of the resources that we use in our daily lives, and it is our responsibility to administer those resources to the best of our abilities so they are available for the use and enjoyment of others, including future generations. Stewardship is what we do.

Environmental Stewardship
The U-M has established several vital programs that continuously assess our impact on the environment and implement new strategies to reduce that impact. The Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) ES program is one of these key programs of the university. We act as a focal point for coordinating existing programs and developing new environmental strategies throughout the University. The focus for the Environmental Stewardship program is diverse, and includes energy conservation, alternative fuels, sustainable building design, and “green” purchasing. The ES program also implements new initiatives to reduce environmental impact through positive efforts by our students, faculty, staff and visitors who utilize our campus.

Pollution Prevention (P2)
A key component of Environmental Stewardship is to reduce waste generation and our overall environmental footprint. Though P2 initiatives, we focus on source reduction and product substitution, as well as reuse and recycling, providing cost-effective alternatives to traditional waste disposal options. ES manages ongoing P2 programs such as recycling fluorescent light bulbs, computer monitors, batteries, and ballasts. We currently are working to develop new P2 initiatives such as silver recovery, solvent recycling, micro-teaching techniques, environmental product substitution, mercury reduction, and chemical redistribution. Other P2 programs are included in a Pollution Prevention Manual and are highlighted on the P2 web page (www.p2000.umich.edu).

If you have any questions regarding OSEH’s Environmental Stewardship program contact Andrew Berki at 647-3120 or aberki@umich.edu.