Lancaster – Making less of an impact on the environment is the goal for so many organizations and now one local college is getting in on the action. Students at Franklin and Marshall College will notice a significant difference as they head back to class next week.
“We are eliminating the sale of bottled water on campus,” said Nic Auwaerter, Sustainability Coordinator.
What? No water on campus. Students at Franklin and Marshall College are going to notice some changes this fall and one of them comes at the fountain.
“If we can just cut plastic water bottles off at the head, and not have to use them all, it is even better than having to recycle them,” said Auwaerter.
The school has installed 22 filling stations around campus. Each of the 2,200 students will get a free water bottle. In return, plastic bottles are out.
“Students are always pretty happy with free stuff. We can hand out the free water bottles, build up the idea of sustainability and the camaraderie around that,” Auwaerter said.
The water bottles are part of a green initiative around campus. The idea is to lessen the carbon footprint on campus while saving students some green.
The sustainability measure continues at the trash can. Solar powered trash cans not only squash the trash but have a light sensor to show crews when they need to be emptied.
“In the past we would have to pick up those locations about three times a week, and now we are picking up once every week or once every other week,” Auwaerter said.
That saves the school on manpower hours and gas needed to empty the cans while dropping hauling rates. And while the initiative costs F & M tens of thousands of dollars to get up and running, the message will hopefully stay with students forever.
“They are lifelong lessons for sure in terms of what people can do to help their environment locally,” said Auwaerter.