A sustainable campus improves economic efficiency, protects and restores natural systems, and enhances the well-being of students, faculty and staff. It is not the work of one office, one department or one initiative, but the collaboration across disciplines that makes Florida State University a sustainable campus.

The traditional definition is "development that meets the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs", but how does this look on a campus as large and diverse as ours? Sustainability at Florida State University is about balancing societal, economic and environmental aspects for our current and future health. Responsible resource management of these three areas ensures that future generations of Noles will have what they need to drive innovation and have a high quality of life. 

Students can get involved by volunteering with our programs, fellowships, initiatives, and events! Information pertaining to each program, fellowship, initiative or event can be found on the individual pages. Our general interest form for volunteers can be found here. Additionally, you can contact student-run programs by messaging their program page on Facebook or by e-mailing sustainablecampus@fsu.edu. Students can also connect with us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As a faculty/staff member, please consider making your office a “Green Office”! Find out how here. You can also form a sustainable committee within your department. E-mail sustainablecampus@fsu.edu to get started!

Alumni and FSU fans can help keep campus beautiful by being sure to properly recycle their waste when visiting campus. Labeled waste stations are located in every building on campus, and cans and bottles recycling can be found alongside garbage bins around the outdoor areas and walkways of Florida State University. They can also help keep Doak Campbell Stadium beautiful during home games by recycling their cans, bottles and Solo cups. Be on the lookout for our Garnet and Gold Goes Green (G4) volunteers in the gold tanks. They will be collecting recyclables at tailgates and at the stadium gates. Also, look for recycling bins near the stadium and in the parking lots.

Alumni and FSU fans can also get involved by making contributions to FSU Sustainable Campus at different points throughout the year, such as the Great Give at the end of March!

Check out our Sustainable Course Guide!

Continue to look for ways to make sustainable actions a part of your routine: recycling; using a reusable water bottle or coffee mug; shutting off the lights when you leave a room; turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hands; walking, biking or taking the bus; using eco-friendly products, and voting!

The FSU Green Fund is an opportunity for those in the campus community to gain assistance in helping realize their sustainability ideas at FSU. Grants are awarded to projects that help push campus closer to achieving the sustainability goals set in FSU’s Sustainability Strategic Plan. More information on how to apply and what qualifies can be found here.

You can find information about recycling at recycle.fsu.edu. FSU Solid Waste & Recycling recycles cans and bottles, Solo cups, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, construction materials, electronics, and  ink and toner cartridges. Cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, emptied Starbucks cups and lids (no straws!) and emptied plastic to-go containers can all be recycled in the black bins labeled “Cans & Bottles”. Cardboard (broken down and flattened) can be stacked next to the bin. Paper recycling bins can be found inside FSU’s buildings. Thank you for recycling!

There is no composting program currently available on campus at FSU. However, Leon County has resources available for municipal composting, including a compost drop-off site and a program to offer composting bins at a discounted rate to interested individuals and organizations. More information on those programs can be found here. The City of Tallahassee also offers guides with information for beginning composters on best practices, needed materials, and more information that can be found here. 

Sustainable Campus and Facilities Maintenance have developed a streamlined process for installing hydration stations around campus. Funding is available to support requests from departments seeking to upgrade their equipment. Please note, there are numerous water fountain models throughout campus and not all current types can be replaced with a hydration station.

Program criteria:

• Currently available only for E&G funded departments.
• Ability to support requests depends on the availability of funding. If funding is unavailable, a waiting list will be created.
• Support is only for 1 unit/department. Departments seeking additional hydration stations are responsible for the full cost of each additional unit.
• Costs (equipment and labor) will be split 50-50 between the Green Fund and the requesting department.
• New installations and costs are dependent on the system currently in place (and how it is attached to or set into the wall).
• Requests can only be made for units in high-traffic, easily accessible locations open to all building occupants.

• Hydration stations will be set at an ADA-compliant height.

Program costs (dependent on replacement needs of current unit):

• Retrofit kit, $425 cost to department
• Single full-unit replacement, $1,300 cost to department

• Hi-lo full-unit replacement, $1,600 cost to department

If your department is interested in installing a hydration station, please email a photo of the current unit and a description of its location to Elizabeth Swiman (eswiman@admin.fsu.edu).