Sustainable Living on Campus

students walking around florham's campus

Purpose

The purpose of the Sustainable Living on Campus Working Group is to raise awareness amongst Fairleigh Dickinson University students, faculty and staff of tangible and impactful practices that foster sustainability on campus.

Working Group Membership:

Craig Mourton, Metro Deputy Campus Executive, Chair

Jennifer Noon, Florham Director of Athletics

Darshan Shah, Florham Director of Disability Support Services and Academic Resource Center

Michael Avaltroni, Dean, School of Pharmacy

Alice Benzecry, Professor, Natural Sciences

Harald Parzer, Associate Professor, Biology and Allied Health

Greenspaces
The greenspaces on FDU’s campuses draw an abundance of wildlife including deer, foxes, raccoons, and a great diversity of avian life.
Greenspaces

Dedicated to supporting wildlife on campus, FDU’s Green Club members gathered this fall to set up ten nest boxes around the Florham campus, inviting native birds species such as the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), the Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), and the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) to nest.

Promoting Sustainability on Campus
Building Sustainable Campus

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University has taken the following measures to have more sustainable dining operations:

    • FDU implements trayless dining to help reduce food waste, energy consumption, and water costs.

  • The Sustainable Living on Campus Working Group is currently working on the following initiatives:

    Reduction of Balloon use at Events

    In an online article The Environmental Impact of Balloon Releases and Suggestions for Eco-Friendly Alternatives the authors stated:

    In a 2016 report issued from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the World Economic Forum, it was stated that if the current rate of plastic pollution continues, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. This prediction has elicited alarm throughout the global community and increased calls for bans on plastic bags, straws, and other single-use items, including Mylar, latex, and ‘biodegradable’ balloons, which still take years to break down.

    It is recognized that many university events and traditions that utilize balloons as a key component of the programing at various times of the year (i.e. Admissions, Athletics, Orientation, student events), the Sustainable Living on Campus Working Group is confident that there are alternatives to the use of balloons for these events. For example, the Metro Office of Residence Life recently purchased in-ground “feather” flags that are used during residence hall check in and other events to line the roadways as direction finding signage rather than using lawn signs with balloons attached to them. These new flags are reusable by design.

    Green Move-Out

    Green Move-Out, a major university initiative that will be premiered at the end of the spring 2022 semester, will make the residence hall move-out process more environmentally- and community-friendly through a multifaceted donation drive. During move-out, students will drop items such as bedding and linens, non-perishable food items, clothing, and books in boxes in residence halls labeled with a Green Move-Out sticker. These items will then be bagged and donated to local charity partners, including the campus food banks and career closets.

  • The sustainable habits you make when you move into your first residence hall room will stick with you for life. Make sustainability part of your lifestyle from day one by reducing your footprint and participating in sustainability programs in your residence hall. For more information about residence life at FDU, visit the website: Metro, Florham

    Here are some specific ways you can promote sustainability in the residence halls:

    1. With your roomates
      • Coordinate before move-in to avoid purchasing duplicate items
      • Compost your food waste
      • Keep trash and recycling separate
    2. With your hall
      • Make it a habit to turn off lights in common areas
      • Hold a clothing swap to refresh your closet or get a new Halloween costume
    3. Participate in Green Move-Out
      • Green Move-Out, a major university initiative that will be premiered at the end of the spring 2022 semester, will make the residence hall move-out process more environmentally- and community-friendly through a multifaceted donation drive. During move-out, students will drop items such as bedding and linens, non-perishable food items, clothing, and books in boxes in residence halls labeled with a Green Move-Out sticker. These items will then be bagged and donated to local charity partners, including the campus food banks and career closets.

  • The Sustainable Living on Campus Working group has provided the following guidelines and checklist to assist in planning and holding zero waste events.

  • What can we do to reduce the amount of waste generated on campus? The answer is “a lot”. 

    Reduce and Reuse: Reduction in waste sources is the best solution. It saves money and reduces waste. 

Contact Information
Craig Mourton
mourton@fdu.edu