While Earth Day is an annual event celebrated worldwide on April 22, FIT is committed to sustainability year round.
So deeply committed, in fact, that it has been infused throughout the college’s long-term strategic plan and embedded into its institutional mission statement. So deeply committed that, when challenged by Mayor Bill DeBlasio to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2025, FIT succeeded — and exceeded — this year, seven years ahead of schedule with a 55% reduction.
And now, in addition to its myriad sustainability initiatives, the college has a new student-led one to look forward to — residence hall composting.
The three students who comprise The Compost Crew — Tessa Beltrano, FBM, Laura Leung, Interior Design, and Majlinda Qafa, FBM — did a Commitment to Action with Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) in which they outlined their plan to partner with GrowNYC and the New York City Department of Sanitation to place composting bins in trash rooms or near other trash receptacles in FIT’s residence halls. Integrating composting in the residence halls, they said, will impact more than 2,200 students, further the campus efforts to divert food waste from entering landfills, and promote sustainable living across the residencies. The project will encourage students to develop healthy, environmentally-conscientious habits they will carry with them after they leave FIT.
The students held an event on Tuesday, April 17 to raise awareness of the compost project and encourage other students to bring their compostable items for collection.
“As a college that prepares students to create, produce and market the consumer goods that make up so much of our abundant lifestyle, FIT has a special obligation regarding issues of sustainability,” said FIT President Dr. Joyce F. Brown. The decisions our students make once they are professionals—just a few years down the road—will help shape our planet’s future. As it happens, our students—many, if not most, of them—are helping to lead the way.”