Earth Week Celebration a Success

Keene State College proudly announces another successful Earth Week celebration this year. Throughout the week of April 21, Keene State Eco Reps, a group of students who promote environmental stewardship, organized several activities demonstrating Keene State’s commitment to sustainability.

• Students conducted a trash audit from receptacles across campus on one particular day. The results were revealed immediately after, which indicated that 53 percent of the materials in the trash on campus could have been recycled or composted. Keene State Eco Reps will leverage this information to educate students on how their choices affect the environment. The College continues to take on the challenge of reducing wasted resources.

• Speaker Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland, gave a talk on food waste, enjoyed breakfast with some Eco Reps and spoke in several classes. The event was co-sponsored by Campus Ecology, Keene State Dining Services, the PCSF and a Pepsi grant.

• A clothing swap was held, during which quality clothes were shared and many senior-class students were particularly happy to have some “professional” clothing to take away.

• Keene State hosted an Earth Week fair, which included students from various student clubs. Attendees learned about worm composting, making seed planters from recycled bottles, starting seedlings and they sampled local, organic and fair trade foods.

• Three bikes were given away from the Green Bikes program on campus. Many minor repairs were made to student bikes.

• The College planted a tree in honor of President Huot’s inauguration. Keene Mayor Kendall Lane, President Huot and members from across campus joined the ceremony.

• Scott Evans, one of the College’s Grounds crew, received the Earth Week R.O.C.K.S. (Recycling On Campus, Keene State) award, for acting as an extra set of ears and eyes for the recycling program, which led to improvements in safety, cleanliness and quality. Scott understands campus sustainability and recycling goals and strives to accomplish them.