Spring Break
It's O-Kaye to be Green
Elyssa Brogdon
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
Kaye Johnston's life seems to revolve around environmental issues. She is UMKC's coordinator for solid waste and recycling and a geosciences major.
"I coordinate recycling and waste reduction activities," Johnston said. "That includes the overviews of our waste contracts and recycling contracts and making sure we can handle all the waste in the most efficient manner on campus."
Johnston has also been designated as the chair for the sustainability sub-committee for the new Student Union.
Johnston stepped into the coordinator position at UMKC last September. She said she was already a full-time student at UMKC, so taking the job made a lot of sense.
"I'm a geosciences, environmental science major," Johnston said. "I'm not a traditional student. I'm going back to school. I have an arts degree. And, now I'm going back to school for a science degree, because I have been working in the line of environmental science, environmental work and environmental consulting going on 12 years."
For 10 years, Johnston worked at Bridging the Gap, a not-for-profit environmental organization.
According to Johnston, the biggest challenge she has had to face at work is the lack of funding.
"The absolute biggest setback so far is that we don't have all the money to do what I want to do," Johnston said. "[But] Assistant Vice Chancellor [for Campus Facilities] Bob Simmons basically told me 'Kaye, don't let me get in your way.'"
Johnston doesn't only think Green at work; she also lives her personal life environmentally consciously.
"It's about living the lifestyle you want to see happen," Johnston said. "I use reusable bags … I try to use green cleaners, I try to make sure things are reused. … The location of my house was a conscious decision, we try to make sure everything in our house is within a 500-mile radius and that they are recycled content."
Recycling is important to Johnston today, but the awareness began long ago.
"I coordinate recycling and waste reduction activities," Johnston said. "That includes the overviews of our waste contracts and recycling contracts and making sure we can handle all the waste in the most efficient manner on campus."
Johnston has also been designated as the chair for the sustainability sub-committee for the new Student Union.
Johnston stepped into the coordinator position at UMKC last September. She said she was already a full-time student at UMKC, so taking the job made a lot of sense.
"I'm a geosciences, environmental science major," Johnston said. "I'm not a traditional student. I'm going back to school. I have an arts degree. And, now I'm going back to school for a science degree, because I have been working in the line of environmental science, environmental work and environmental consulting going on 12 years."
For 10 years, Johnston worked at Bridging the Gap, a not-for-profit environmental organization.
According to Johnston, the biggest challenge she has had to face at work is the lack of funding.
"The absolute biggest setback so far is that we don't have all the money to do what I want to do," Johnston said. "[But] Assistant Vice Chancellor [for Campus Facilities] Bob Simmons basically told me 'Kaye, don't let me get in your way.'"
Johnston doesn't only think Green at work; she also lives her personal life environmentally consciously.
"It's about living the lifestyle you want to see happen," Johnston said. "I use reusable bags … I try to use green cleaners, I try to make sure things are reused. … The location of my house was a conscious decision, we try to make sure everything in our house is within a 500-mile radius and that they are recycled content."
Recycling is important to Johnston today, but the awareness began long ago.
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