Plastic Free Zone bottle & can collection increases sustainability on campus

SUNY Geneseo embraces sustainability as a core value on campus while encouraging students to do the same. Students have taken on this core value so much so that sustainability was launched as a new major within the Department of Geography and Sustainability in the fall of 2021. At the end of the fall 2021 semester, 32 students had already declared and become sustainability majors. 

Since the fall 2021 semester, the presence of sustainability efforts has greatly increased and expanded into different areas of student life, including the creation of many on-campus clubs and groups. One of these initiatives is the Plastic Free Zone Student Task Force (PFZ). Their first meeting took place in Mar. 2022, and they have produced a variety of activities since, including their current bottle and can collection initiatives.

The bottle and can collection currently happening on campus has been ongoing for multiple weeks and is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability to raise money for the office. Collection bins can be found all around campus in various academic buildings and other on-campus areas. 

The collection will continue over the next couple of weeks, giving students ample time to place their single-use plastics into the bins. PFZ is currently trying to address the question of “How might we reduce single-use plastics at SUNY Geneseo and in the Genesee Valley?” and this collection is a step in the right direction. 

While the collection is not eliminating the usage of single-use plastics currently, it is a convenient display for students to view the large number of single-use plastics that are being used on campus. In academic buildings, for example, while vending machines provide convenient drinks and snacks to students in between classes, they also produce a plethora of single-use plastics. You may ask, “How can this be avoided?” 

Having snacks in between classes is very important for students to stay energized and focused during lectures. Keeping snacks in your backpack is a great alternative to buying food from vending machines, and reusable plastic bags can also be filled with snacks from home and then enjoyed at any point throughout the day. 

The same can be said for drinks on campus. Water bottle refill stations are frequently seen around the college, making it very convenient for students to bring and refill a reusable water bottle. Refillable water bottles are not only better for the environment, but they can also be very fun! From picking one out in your favorite color to adding stickers from your favorite band, reusable water bottles are better for everyone. 

Sustainability on campus is an ongoing issue that concerns both students and faculty alike. Groups like PFZ are helping to create ways for sustainability to be more accessible for all while also providing new solutions to other ongoing problems.

Plastic Free Zone often collaborates with other groups on campus when hosting activities. In the past, they have collaborated with Peace Action, Beekeeping Club, Green Environmental Organization, and many other student-led organizations. Be sure to keep your eyes out for any events hosted by these groups, or PFZ, to help make Geneseo a more sustainable community for all.

Thumbnail Photo courtesy of Lamron Photo Editor FP Zatlukal