Awards presented to faculty, staff for commitment to environment
By Bryan Roth

Faculty, staff and students gathered in April to recognize and celebrate a campus-wide commitment to sustainability as part of Duke’s annual sustainability awards.

Sustainable Duke and Duke Sanitation and Recycling, co-sponsors of the event, honored community members nominated by peers for “green” actions that support a commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality by 2024. Initiatives range from recycling programs to donating reusable medical equipment to health organizations around the world.

“If we are going to solve global problems, we all have to start with ourselves,” said Tim Profeta, director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, who offered closing remarks at the event. “We have so start where we live and where we work, and thats why all we do what we do at Duke.”

Outstanding Leadership in Waste Reduction
Sarah P. Duke Gardens Green Team

Comprised of seven employees from Duke Gardens, the Green Team leads a waste reduction program. Some accomplishments include donated the wood of fallen trees, installing recycling bins, reusing leaves for compost and chipping brush for mulch. Last year, the group led an effort to recycle 4,578 pounds of waste metal.

John Lohnes, physician assistant, Duke Orthopaedics

For more than 10 years, Lohnes has helped run REMEDY, a volunteer program that recovers usable surplus medical supplies from Duke Hospital for distribution to local and global areas of need. With the help of student volunteers, supplies are donated to Duke affiliated and non-profit global health organizations and programs.