ENVR 290 Recycling on Campus: Student Interest at SUNY Potsdam (2025)

For this project, our group gathered data documenting students’ recycling habits at SUNY Potsdam, as well as their overall interest in the topic. The goal was to understand specific motivations or de-motivators for recycling, education on the topic, as well as how often and how much people recycle. A survey consisting of twelve IRB-approved questions was designed to learn whether students felt knowledgeable about what items can and cannot be recycled, and if misconceptions or lack of resources might be reducing participation. Currently, the campus accumulates approximately ten tons of recyclables per month, but the question is, Could there be more? What is stopping us? Identifying patterns of behavior and attitude can help us enhance campus sustainability efforts.