Florida A&M’s Environmental Health & Safety Department takes the lead in cutting the university’s carbon footprint. There are more than 200 recycling bins in various administrative offices, classroom buildings and other convenient locations across campus.
Senior Environmental Specialist Ryan Mitchell said that their department works with a tight budget.
“We work with a very limited budget to facilitate every request to be accommodated by the program,” Mitchell said. “As the FAMU community becomes more eco-conscious, there are more and more requests for recycling bins and service.”
The university’s recycling program an initiative the Environmental Health & Safety Department has been doing since the program started three years ago.
Marcus Pickett, 22, a fourth-year criminal justice student from Pensacola, said he is pleased with FAMU’s initiative to “go green.”
“Personally, I think we should have always pushed for green initiatives, but I’m glad its big now on campus. I’ve been recycling since I was little, and I try not to drive when I don’t have to,” Pickett said.
The Environmental Health & Safety Department partners include the FAMU Green Coalition, The Environmental Sciences Student Organization (E.S.S.O), the Caribbean Student Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the City of Tallahassee : Garbage-Trash & Recycling Service program, Marpan Recycling, Sustainable Tallahassee Coca-Cola and others.
Mitchell said assistance from other organizations would be helpful.
“Recycling is perhaps the most basic action we can take as individuals in being green,” Mitchell said. “The benefit is not only to the environment, but the less trash we divert from the landfills, which goes to be recycled, the lower our waste disposal costs.”
Plant Operations is also developing a plan monitor unnecessary idling of FAMU’s fleet vehicles.
According to Mitchell, FAMU is serious about going green.
“Every attempt is made to reach out to students through email, media and even events such as the series of lectures hosted by the Environment & Sustainability Council,” he said. ” Our students get it. There is a very strong and vibrant green streak in FAMU’s orange and green.”
The Environmental Health & Safety Department has some upcoming events to increase awareness about living eco-friendly. Friday April 23, from 11am-2pm is the Idle-Free Tallahassee-Leon launch downtown Tallahassee. The Environmental Health & Safety Department supports the Environmental Sciences Student Organization’s Earth Day event this Saturday. On May 6 and 7, the Sustainable Communities Summit will be held at the Florida State Turnbull Center.
For questions about green initiatives, contact Ryan Mitchell at 850-599-8108.