Georgia State University Sustainability Initiatives

Hey there panthers!! Hope summer semester is treating you well 💙

Today we took 40 LBS of PantherDining uniforms to to be upcycled into GSU swag!! 🌎

We also got a chance to pick up lots of new swag items such as pillowcases, mug rugs, dog leashes 🦮 yoga mat straps and more!!!

As you can see, we added some vibrancy to the bunch, so you could have the option of getting GSU themed goodies or something in a different color way! 🙌🎨

In slide 5 you’ll see one of the weavers making a lanyard using a t-shirt!! 👕 How awesome!

We’re so excited for you to get your hands on these!!

Georgia State University will receive nearly $22.3 million in federal funding to take its Panther Express bus fleet fully electric. This grant will allow GSU to reduce emissions and improve the environment. Read more: https://t.gsu.edu/3JUQ6N9

We’re introducing a new series called ECO-Entrepreneur where we highlight GSUs own panther-preneurs who have companies tackling issues in the sustainability & environmental space.

First up: Our very own Sustainability Initiatives Engagement Coordinator, Alicia Blount 🎉💙🙌 She is CEO & founder of Yellow Blanket .co , a sustainable fashion company that’s on a mission to give second hand clothing & textile waste a new lease on life !👕🌎

Alicia loves to up-cycle and is passionate about finding ways to reduce her waste. One of her dreams is to achieve a capsule wardrobe of no more than 30 pieces and be able to help others do the same in order to prevent overconsumption ♻️.

☝️ Swipe until the end for a little surprise🫢 (Find out where to shop .co in person!!)

And if you enjoyed this post and want us to highlight more ECO- Entrepreneurs be sure to comment a “👍” !!

Meet our new team member, Justina Kim ⭐️She’s a nutrition graduate student working with us as part of her CP (coordinator program) rotation.

Today she’s helping José label and bag these blue slim Jim’s that will go in the Student Center Faculty break rooms.
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Happy Tuesday 💙

RCE Greater Atlanta is currently looking for student organizations that may be interested in joining a multi-institutional Student Advisory Council!

RCE Greater Atlanta is one of over 170 United Nations University networks around the globe working to translate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into the context of local communities. The Student Advisory Council will meet monthly to share information, collaborate, and discuss upcoming opportunities for involvement.

If interested, please email [email protected] for more info.

Early voting is at GSU! (Yes, I know you already voted but there’s a run-off for Senate so you gotta get out the there again if you want to have a say). Lucky for you, GSU is offering early voting in Veterans Memorial Hall on Atlanta campus for anyone registered in Fulton county.

Veterans Memorial Hall is located in Dahlberg Hall at the corner of Gilmer and Courtland. No campaigning is allowed within 150 feet of the outer edge of the entire building of Dahlberg Hall in compliance with state election laws.

More information is available at vote.gsu.edu.

Happy America Recycles Day everyone!

Thank you for following us on our sustainable journey to make GSU a green & blue campus ♻️💙. We hope that we can inspire you to reduce waste and give back to the environment in little meaningful ways!

Do you have an idea to advance sustainability at GSU? Consider applying for 💵under the Campus Sustainability Grant Program. Applications are due November 11.

Swipe ➡️ for a quick tutorial on how to apply for funding under this program.

Link in bio access to program web page + application form & budget template.

Do you have an idea to advance sustainability at GSU? Consider applying for funding under the Campus Sustainability Grant Program. Applications are due November 11.

Swipe -> for a quick tutorial on how to apply for funding under this program.

Link in bio access to program web page + application form & budget template.

Come find us at Ray Day, where we are talking all things campus sustainability, including our campaign to , our push to encourage folks to use a when traveling to campus, and the Rooftop Gardens at Center Parc Stadium.

Thanks for the invite, !

Do you have an idea to advance sustainability at GSU? We want to hear it! Students, staff, and faculty are eligible to apply for funds under the GSU Campus Sustainability Grant program.

Successful projects will address Georgia State’s Four Pillars: Research and Innovation, Student Success, College to Careers and Identify and Placemaking.

Additional consideration will be given to projects that address the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Drawdown Georgia climate solutions.

Applicants are highly encouraged to submit a pre-proposal by Oct. 21 (link in bio) in order to get constructive feedback prior to submitting a full proposal.

Please share with your network!

One of the many perks of a downtown campus is views like this!

This overlooking Park Place and Woodruff Park is an excellent place to study, catch up with friends, and get a dose of greenery. It’s also a great reminder that you don’t always have to travel far to enjoy nature.

What’s your favorite downtown Atlanta greenspace? Share in comments.

Georgia State University and Georgia Commute Options have paired up to make the GA Commute app available to students, staff, and faculty. This program will help make getting to campus by bus, train, carpooling, biking and walking even more rewarding.

🚍🚎🚊🚲

How it works:

Rack up points for every non-drive alone commute trip to and from school that you log

Cash in the points you earn toward rewards—including nearby discounts and deals for dining, shopping, entertainment and much more

Plan trips to and from campus

Find rides from nearby students headed in your direction

Download the App Today for Your First 1,000 Points

GA Commute is available for download in Apple and Google Play stores. When you sign up, you’ll automatically earn 1,000 points. See link in bio to get started.

The Residential Recycling Center at Piedmont North has a new bin! This teal bin is for collecting clothing for !

👕All clothing collected here helps the charity’s mission to support treatment, education, and prevention of kidney disease

👜 You can donate any clothing item, including accessories like hats, belts, bags, and jewelry

✅ Make sure that clothes are clean and in good condition before donating.

Here at GSU, no bin stands alone! ♻️😉

Centralized Waste Stations part of our makeovers that are taking place across campus! As we transition to multi-stream recycling, creating these Centralized Waste Stations makes it easier for you to ! Have you seen one in your favorite building yet? 🤔

We had so much fun building Centralized Waste Stations with the Honors students from Dr. Black’s Environmental Advocacy class.

Students provided these recycling makeovers for faculty in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies on Marietta St.

It’s all part of our campaign to .
gsu

Happy Fri-yay! Have you checked out the newly renovated (and beautiful) Hurt Park?

A friendly reminder from your local sustainability office about the importance of parks and greenspace.

They provide habitat for birds, play a role in reducing urban heat islands, and have a positive impact on mental health and focus.

Oh, and the make great picnic spots for meeting up with friends! 🧺🥗🥪

See you there!

We had so much fun attending Pounce Around Perimeter at the lovely Clarkston campus!

Have you seen our reverse vending machines? These high-capacity bins use technology to reduce contamination, sort, and compact recyclables on site.

Some fun ♻️facts:
1. They are capable of holding 2,000 plastic bottles and cans between servicing.
2. Plastic bottles from these machines are clean enough to be considered “food grade plastic,” which means they can be used to make more plastic bottles.
3. The cans can be recycled infinite times and be back on shelf as new cans within 60 days.
4. We have five of these machines across two campuses. Tell us which one you like to use in the comments.

A huge thank-you to Dr. Blake for stopping by the recycling station at Piedmont Central. We loved showing him how we are keeping cardboard, styrofoam, and plastic bags out of the landfill during this busy move-in.

Before our ➡️ After installing our new multi-stream bins! ♻️

Did you know we bale plastic bags and plastic film like bubble wrap at the Recycling Center on campus? This means we can keep this traditionally material out of landfills and bring it to Nexus right here in ATL for ! That’s what we call ! 🐾

We’ll be collecting and baling plastic film next week during Move-In too so make sure you bring your bags to a station! ♻️🐾

🏅GSU’s sports teams are helping the community during Move-In! Add your organization/club to the amazing list of volunteers with the link in our bio! Meet new students, introduce them to your club, and help divert waste from landfill!

♻️ All volunteers will get a t-shirt, reusable water bottle, and a free meal as a thank you!

Help us during Move-In! Sustainability Ambassadors are needed Wednesday, August 17 - Saturday, August 20 to help students while moving into the dorms.

♻️ All volunteers will get a t-shirt, reusable water bottle, and a free meal as a thank you!

🔗 Sign up now: https://gsu.givepulse.com/event/305507-Move-In-Sustainability-Ambassadors

The Office of Sustainability needs your help making Move-In green! 🐾

Sustainability Ambassadors will direct residents and families to Recycling Stations, help families sort their Move-In waste into proper bins, educate new students on Residential Recycling Centers, and assist with breaking down cardboard and bagging plastic foam and film for recycling. ♻️

All volunteers will receive a Sustainability T-Shirt, a reusable water bottle, and a free meal at Piedmont Central Dining Hall as a thank you! 💙

Sign up here: bit.ly/GreenMoveIn2022

The app, EcGo, was first introduced at GSU's Piedmont North in March of 2022. EcGo and the Office of Sustainability Initiatives collaborated to organize table presentations in front of the housing facility to increase awareness of GSU’s recycling program and current garbage diversion practices.

EcGo, formerly Conserve, is a helpful tool for informing individuals about recycling on campus and rewarding them with points for doing so. EcGo is to be used as a reference to determine what is recyclable and what isn't. To get started, first download the app from the Apple or Android store.

Have a question about recycling? Take a picture of the material, and EcGo will inform you if it is recyclable.

Ever wonder where recyclables from GSU go? This Materials Flow Chart, created for our Materials Management Plan, is displaying the various recycling streams collected on campus and our disposal strategies for each.

The Office of Sustainability Initiatives at GSU collects, sorts, and transports over ten distinct types of recyclable materials including cardboard, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic bottles. We even accept products such as plastic film and electronic e-waste that are difficult to recycle.

Our recycling team transports materials, like cardboard, directly to its market end-user, SONOCO (tag them in the caption). Prior to being transported to their market end-user, other materials, such as paper, are taken to the Recycling Center to be sorted and baled.

Have you seen any of our waste centralized stations on campus? Still have questions about where and what recyclables are accepted by GSU? Feel free to ask below.

Yup, we can recycle these too!

These floppy disks are older than some of our students

♻️💾

Want to improve recycling infrastructure on campus? Looking for some summer community service hours? The Office of Sustainability and are co-hosting recycling makeover volunteer days every Tuesday in July from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Volunteers will help to label recycling bins, create centralized waste stations, and place them into designated buildings. This is a great way to learn about recycling, connect with like-minded students, and – of course – get community service hours through Paws for a Cause.

Recycling makeover volunteer days will take place every Tuesday in July from 9:00 a.m. – noon at 75 Piedmont Ave NE, ste. 750.

A huge thank-you to ‘s Sustainability Chair for reaching out to collaborate on this summer sustainability project!

Sign up with the link in bio. We hope to see you there!