Get Involved
What Can You Do?
Everyone on campus can become a part of the college's sustainability efforts. One of the easiest ways is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Americans recycle about 34 percent of all waste, up from 6.6 percent in 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. New York City lags behind this national average, diverting about 17 percent of recyclables from the landfill. We can do better! Brooklyn College has recycling centers across campus with info decals on how to recycle. Much of what we dispose of can be recycled — from plastic yogurt containers and food containers to the aluminum foil on your hot dog! Additionally, all campus offices have blue paper-only recycling bins. See here for more information.
If you have any questions or comments regarding recycling bins or if you need recycling bins for a special event, contact the Facilities Custodial Office, extension 5265.
Groups, Clubs, and More
Brooklyn College Campus Sustainability Committee
The committee has members from across campus and welcomes students, faculty, and staff with an interest in making our campus "greener." Contact Sustainability to find out the schedule for future meetings and how to get involved.
Compost Volunteers
Volunteers pick up green scraps several times a week from the campus cafeteria and bring them to the Brooklyn College Garden at the western edge of campus. Meet the director, learn the basics about composting food scraps, and enjoy the great outdoors. Volunteer with a friend! Send the garden an e-mail to sign up.
Bird Collision Survey Volunteers
Hundreds of millions of birds die every year in the United States as a result of collisions with building plate glass. Brooklyn College is on the Atlantic Flyway migration route, and some of the campus buildings, especially those with large, highly reflective or transparent windows, are prone to bird collisions. We seek volunteers to help us research this issue on campus. Contact Sustainability to log an observation of an injured bird or a bird carcass on campus or to find out more on this issue.
BC Sustainability Club
This student club aspires to promote the ideals of sustainability through cross-department, interdisciplinary relationships on campus while building relationships with members of the surrounding community. E-mail the BC Sustainability Club or visit their Bulldog Connection page for more information.
NYPIRG
New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is New York's largest student-directed organization. Its principal areas of concern include environmental protection, transportation alternatives, and public health. Get involved by e-mailing NYPIRG.
