Written by Marie York '26.
As Colgate's Custodial Operations Manager, Michelle Butzgy manages core elements of campus recycling and green cleaning, in addition to participating in the employee Sustainability Passport Program. She has been involved in campus sustainability since beginning at Colgate, first within Environmental Health and Safety while also earning a master's degree in geology on campus. Michelle answered a few of our questions about where her interest in sustainability started and how she incorporates it into her current role.
My interest in nature and the environment in general started at a young age while I was growing up on my family’s dairy farm. I then went to Alfred University to study environmental studies, and that is where my true understanding of sustainability started. In my current role, sustainability is a daily thought as we work through our daily operations, planning, and programming for the team.
1. What inspires you to be involved in sustainability on Colgate's campus?
As I have progressed through my life, the environment and sustainability has always been a core value for me. In my role here at Colgate, I feel that the work both myself and my team do on a daily basis can have a meaningful impact on sustainability here at Colgate. Our team sees and handles recycling and waste on a daily basis and also provides a daily service to buildings across campus that utilizes chemical and cleaning materials, so we are able to make a reasonable impact with the tools and processes we choose to use in our daily operations.
2. What is one challenge or barrier you wish people knew about your work?
One of our biggest challenges is related to recycling. Since everyone on campus produces some sort of garbage or recycling in their time here, we rely on everyone to properly dispose of materials either designated for landfill waste or recycling. When recycling isn’t done properly and items are either discarded in the wrong bin or overly contaminate the recycling, it is difficult for the team because we have to handle the waste differently than we would like to.
3. What is an aspiration that you have for sustainability on Colgate's campus?”
I feel that Colgate has a pretty robust sustainability program, so my aspiration would be for that to continue to improve and for more people to become aware of, and interested in, the different aspects of sustainability that they can participate in here on campus.