This blog post was written by Winnie Lin, a 2024 EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassador

The Princeton Residential Colleges Sustainability Challenge is a project that brings together the support of the EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassadors Program and the University Student Government Sustainability Committee to spearhead an energy challenge that enables students and staff at Princeton University to contribute to a sustainable campus community. The project aims to reduce the use of plastic consumption through the implementation of compost-friendly materials in the dining halls and in the main campus center as well as larger initiatives such as different themed energy challenges each month to allow students to understand the impact of their carbon footprint. From February through May, the project is piloting a challenge where each one of the seven residential colleges will have a specific monthly theme to focus on such as “Water usage: Close the faucet as you brush your teeth!” or “Do your clothes need repair? If so, donate them or go to MEND, to save your clothes from fast fashion!” The residential college with the most “points” will receive a grand prize experience that is currently TBD! We are currently thinking the prize will be inviting an artist to perform for members of the specific residential college. 

For part 1 of the project, which involved reducing plastic consumption in the dining halls and tackling compost on campus, I worked alongside members of the USG Sustainability Committee to conduct outreach with the dining staff at the residential college dining halls. We also spoke with dining staff at the main campus center where compost is already present, of which the dining halls could implement a similar system to increase compost and facilitate sustainable practices. I learned that it was particularly challenging for the residential colleges to implement compost due to the lack of compost machines and the price of the machines that would be needed for each one of the residential colleges. In terms of reducing plastic usage in the dining halls and the main campus center, we learned that dining staff have been proactively purchasing compostable utensils, but we are currently working with the dining staff to reduce plastic packaging from the sources and vendors that food has been purchased from. 

For part 2 of the project, which is the residential college energy reduction challenge, we spread information about the challenge through media outlets and large posters at main locations where students come and go to gain awareness of the issue and raise support for the challenge. We are further working alongside the Residential Colleges Leadership Team to more directly disseminate information to students, particularly underclassmen, who live in the colleges. As such, through the February challenge of clothing and its impact on the environment, over 2000 students have learned about MEND, a student-led group teaching students and faculty how to mend their own clothes. In collaboration with the group, the campus community has learned strategies to reduce their clothing waste, consumption, and environmental footprint. With more challenges to come in the next couple of months, students will directly contribute to a more environmentally-friendly campus while gaining points for their residential colleges. 

With this ongoing project, we are working to continue sustainable practices on campus through the challenge and perhaps continue this project on an annual basis. Although the project does not take place in the Great Lakes region specifically, it will benefit neighboring states that do identify with the Great Lakes region such as NY or PA. As we continue to receive positive feedback from students and staff, this will be an event that we look forward to facilitating each year and bringing together the campus community to learn about sustainability through interactive means. 

For more information and for interested individuals: please visit sustain.princeton.edu for updates on the current project and ways to get involved in your local community or help this growing project!

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