Meet Dilip Chhajed

ChhajedDilip Chhajed is a Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Business Administration in the Gies College of Business. He came to the University of Illinois in 1989 after completing his Ph.D. studies at Purdue University.

He believes that a sustainable campus provides inspiration and training to 45,000 students that attend the University. A living example of environmental consciousness makes students more responsible citizens who can help bring change in their own organizations, he says.

While Dilip usually declines requests to serve on specialty committees, he didn’t hesitate to join the Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam because the work is of personal interest to him.

Since starting work with the team, he believes he’s learned a lot about the campus recycling program and purchasing process. “Obviously this affects everyone on campus,” he says. “We are working on setting targets and developing strategies to meet the targets. The fact that we do not have a multi-bin recycling program on campus means there is a lot of room for improvement.”

Dilip believes that the right combination of incentives and persuasion is needed to push University units to do more, and he think campus could easily come up with ways to accomplish goals.

Before his time with the SWATeam is through, he wants to solidify a few official key strategies and set a framework for subsequent work. “It is a great team,” he says. “The student members are very passionate and knowledgeable. We can do it.”

 

Return to Zero Waste SWATeam page

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