What We're Doing

SUNY Potsdam is committed to creating a sustainable future by taking steps to reduce negative environmental impacts.


Recycling

Zero Sort Recycling is becoming a standard across campus. Research is currently being done on effective recycling techniques and how to make recycling productive.


PACES

  • Lehman Dining Center is tray less eliminating water and food waste.
  • High efficiency washers and dryers were installed on campus by PACES.
  • Becky's Place uses compostable to go containers , made of 100% biodegradable material.
  • Becky's Place has initiated a New Enviro container program. Purchase a reusable container and eliminate the need for "to go" containers.
  • Enviro Mug program- reusable mug for hot beverages, available for purchase at any dining unit.
  • Elimination of plastic to go bags at dining units while providing customers the ability to purchase a Conserve Resource reusable bag.
  • Dexter's Cafe packages it's to go lunches in bio pack brown boxes, made from recycled craft paper.
  • The College Store sells recycled notebooks, office supplies, and speciality items.


Residence Halls

Here’s what’s going on in the dorms starting the fall semester of 2009:


SUNY Potsdam will install CFL light bulbs in all of its college owned lamps, and place a strong recommendation to all residential student that they use only CLF light bulbs in all non-college owned lamps. Halogen light bulbs will remain prohibited in the Residence Halls. 

Resident life has included Sustainability programming into its Programming Model. Each Resident Assistant will be required to do one sustainability program per academic year.

There will be a “Refuse Station” in each residence hall that will include Trash, Zero-Sort recycling, plastic bags, Technology recycling, battery recycling, and Ink recycling. It will also have a “Swap Box,” for items that student’s may no longer need, but others may find useful.

The cleaning and janitorial staff will use more environmentally friendly cleaning products.

In response to an outpour of support for campus wide sustainability efforts Residence Life will be providing a Sustainability theme based floor. This floor will live by a series of environmentally friendly lifestyle agreements and look at its impacts on the environment to try and minimize their impact. The students will assess and assist in educating the rest of the campus as to the challenges and successes of living greener on campus.