From lights off to recycling, here are sustainability efforts you can get involved in on campus

If you’re looking for ways to get involved with sustainability efforts on campus, it can be as simple as flipping a switch or tossing your trash in a different container. 

"There are ways to influence sustainability everywhere on campus,” says Max Driscoll, assistant director of sustainability with Purdue’s Campus Master Planning and Sustainability department. “The important thing to remember is that small actions, when aggregated, can have a huge impact. It’s a little like voting.”

That impact has shown over the years. Driscoll says energy consumption has stayed flat since 2011, despite climbing enrollment numbers and adding more square footage across campus. Carbon emissions from the Wade Utility Plant are down by 40 percent over that same period. He attributes that to a combination of different sustainability initiatives across campus.

“The thing I love about Purdue’s approach to sustainability is that it is rooted in finding practical, deployable solutions that solve a few problems at the same time. These are the type of solutions that are scalable to other campuses and cities,” Driscoll says.

One of the latest efforts is a redesigned recycling program at Ross-Ade Stadium during football games. Those large gold and black barrels – one for waste and one for recyclable items – on the concourse are designed to be eye-catching for patrons. Though the eventual goal is to have a zero-waste football game, Purdue is first looking for success by improving the recycling rate to 30 percent as compared with 12 percent during the 2017 football season. This season's new efforts have shown promise; the recycling rate for the home opener was 20 percent, compared with 7 percent for last year’s home opener. 

“We hope it encourages people to take a second and consider if what they’re throwing away can be recycled,” Driscoll says.

Here is a list of additional sustainability efforts faculty, staff and students can get involved in across Purdue’s campus. More details about sustainability efforts can be found on the Campus Master Planning and Sustainability website.   

* Friday Night Lights is a volunteer program that is run by the Student Sustainability Council. Volunteers spend an hour going room to room in academic buildings turning off lights on Fridays to help reduce energy waste.

* Driscoll says recycling continues to be the easiest way to get involved with sustainability on campus. Side-by-side waste and recycling receptacles can be found across campus.  Purdue’s recycling program is “single stream” – meaning that recycled materials do not have to be separated – making it as easy as possible for the campus community to recycle. Driscoll also says that  Campus Master Planning and Sustainability is in the process of redesigning recycling signage for campus buildings with the goal of encouraging people to recycle more often. 

* The Tailgate Recycling Program, which launched in 2012, has helped significantly reduce waste prior to football games. The program features a Purdue-developed recycling innovation in the form of an aluminum hoop that hooks to the rim of a trash can to provide an opportunity to recycle. During home games, student volunteers act as recycling ambassadors and engage with fans. Student volunteers also act as “goalies” at the recycling/waste stations inside Ross-Ade helping to improve performance and explain the program to fans.

* Campus Master Planning and Sustainability and the Student Sustainability Council are working with the Córdova Recreational Sports Center to make the Purdue University Dance Marathon a zero-waste event.

* Changes in everyday behavior, such as shorter showers in the Co-Rec and residence halls and being mindful of running faucets, also can have an important impact. Turning lights off, unplugging non-critical devices, or adjusting heating/air conditioning when leaving a room can also help tremendously, Driscoll says.

* Purdue’s bike share program, Pace, provided by Zagster, helps cut down on vehicle emissions and fuel consumption.

* Campus Master Planning and Sustainability sponsors sustainability events for Green Week in October and for Earth Week in April. Examples of past events include tree plantings, electric vehicle shows, and keynote lectures.

* Project Move Out takes place every year at the end of the spring semester. Students can donate items such as food, clothing, electronics, books, furniture, and luggage to families and organizations in need when they are moving out of the residence halls. Project Move Out is a collaborative effort between the Office of Civic Engagement and Leadership Development, University Residences, and Campus Master Planning and Sustainability.

Writer: Abbey Nickel, 765-496-1325, nickela@purdue.edu