Mark Darling '97 Gets Governor's Award

Just a couple of months after his brainchild, the College's new composting facility (ICQ, 2000/no. 3), began operating, physical plant utility worker Mark Darling '97 (photo) won a prestigious statewide award. New York governor George E. Pataki recognized Darling with one of five 2000 Governor's Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards for Achievement of Excellence; he was the only individual to be so honored (the other recipients were groups).

Darling manages the College's day-to-day composting program, which since 1992 has been processing a portion of dining hall food wastes. With partial financing from an Empire State Development grant for which Darling wrote the proposal, the College recently built the new composting facility. It already composts 100 percent of the food scraps --- totaling nearly 450 tons each year --- from the dining halls, giving IC the most comprehensive composting program of any higher education institution in the nation. The program has helped slash the College's hauling costs, reduced stress on its equipment and its waste contribution to landfills, and generated a useful product for the groundskeeping operation. The new building is also being used as an educational tool for IC and visiting students.

Besides his duties at the College, Darling volunteers in the community, teaching backyard composting. He also serves on the board of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling.