Campus sponsors sustainability week activities

Discarded tires along state route 780 are among the "treasures" that may be mined during "Campus Cleanup Day."

RECYCLED ARTS AND CRAFTS
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT TEST; CAMPUS CLEAN-UP
Noon-1:00 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday, April 9, 11, 13
1:45-3:00 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, April 10, 12
Cafe 780, SGA Office

Continuing its efforts for a “green” campus, Penn State New Kensington will sponsor a week of sustainable activities, April 9-13, to highlight reusable materials and campus’ ecological footprints.

“Sustainability Week” features daily activities during common hour--noon-1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 1:45-3 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday—including “Recycled Arts and Crafts,” creating projects out of the reusable items, and “Ecological Footprint Tests,” that estimate see how much of the world’s resources a person uses.

“The week is going to provide some excellent ecological awareness,” said Lauren Blum, student life coordinator.  “It is an opportunity for the campus community to make different fun crafts from everyday items that would typically be thrown away. Participants can complete their projects in one day or they can take all week and return each day to work on and finish the crafts”

In addition to the two daily activities, a campus-wide clean-up is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to walk around campus and adjacent roads to clean up any discarded items. “Campus Clean-Up Day” is sponsored by the Student Government Association and Office of Student Life. The Campus Activities Board will dish out free ice cream in Café 780 during Wednesday’s common hour.

“Sustainability Week” is a part of Penn State New Kensington’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. The campus has becomes more environmentally friendly during the past three years by installing water bottle refilling stations and  implementing single stream recycling. Complementing the traditional drinking fountains, the hydration stations are attached to the back of regular units. When a water bottle is placed under the dispenser, an electronic sensor detects the bottle and chilled, filtered water fills the containers. The stations have decreased the use of plastic bottles, and alleviate the amount of trash that winds up in landfills. Single stream recycling allows end-users to discard plastics, paper, and cans into one container.

Penn State has been the leader in sustainability initiatives among colleges and universities. The Campus Sustainability Office, established in 2008, promotes and ensures environmentally-safe activity at Penn State. Its initiatives protect and enhance the financial, human, and ecological resources of the University, and the planet.

For more sustainability activities contact Blum at 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu via email.

Hydration refilling stations on campus save thousands of of plastic bottles.

A single stream recycling, adjacent to the back parking lot, allows end-users to discard
plastics, paper, and cans into one container