How COVID-19 has affected sustainability on FSU's campus

Suwannee Room

Ella Hechlik, Staff Writer Published 10:35 a.m. ET Sep. 20, 2020

Suwannee Room. (Photo: Matthew Paskert/FSView)

With COVID-19 taking over not just the media, but everyday life the past few months, sustainability has been pushed to the back burner in a lot of ways, even on Florida State University’s campus. Almost always, the garbage cans outside Suwannee can be seen overflowing with the single-use plastics used in the dining hall, and students can be spotted carrying plastic grocery bags from the dining locations on campus.

According to Seminole Dining’s website, “Seminole Dining is aligned with Florida State University’s Sustainable Campus Strategic Action Plan to incorporate sustainable practices into all programs, reduce our ecological footprint and foster a culture of environmental consciousness.” The plan is said to focus on “waste minimization” and “sustainability education.” 

The website also mentions events such as Fresh Market, the Food Recovery Network (FRN) and Green To-Go containers, all of which do not fit into the new COVID-19 restrictions in terms of crowd size, logistics, and safety.