Office of Sustainability

SLU Environmental Action Organization (EAO): EAO is an environmental advocacy organization with three main focuses: reducing the university's carbon footprint, promoting sustainability initiatives on campus, and environmental education. EAO achieves this by taking on various projects around campus and in the wider community related to the many environmental issues our world faces today. EAO also hosts educational events to better inform the local community and press for sustainable change. 

SLU Close the Loop & Barn Goods Thrift Store: We are an initiative aiming to reduce waste on campus through education and creating a culture of exchange! We collect donations of pre-loved clothes, host swap events and workshops, and hope to help cultivate intentional consumption at St. Lawrence. The Barn Good Thrift Store is St. Lawrence University's very own thrift store! Completely ran by students affiliated with Close The Loop, the store provides people in the SLU and Canton community with a chance to participate in circular, sustainable exchange with the goal of reducing waste and expressing your individuality and style at very cheap prices.  

The Green House Low Impact Living Theme Cottage: The Green House seeks to foster and encourage a low-impact, local lifestyle on the St. Lawrence University campus and beyond. We host vegetarian and locally sourced dinners every week, run sustainability and food-focused workshops, and work farm hours at Birdsfoot farm as a part of our community shared agriculture (CSA) program. We throw Pumpkin Palooza in the Fall and the North Country Folk Festival in the Spring!

Sustainability Program: The Sustainability Program gives the next generation of thinkers and leaders the tools to tackle the globally important challenges of sustainability. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and diversity of thought within our definitions and analyses of sustainability. Beginning in Fall 2024, after many treasured years working out of the farm site at 1894 State Highway 68, the Sustainability Program will be moving to the main campus at St. Lawrence University. Students will participate in a living-learning community in an on-campus residence and take core courses including a one-credit academic and half-credit practicum course each term focused on sustainability-related issues, experiences, and skills. 

Adirondack Semester: The Mission of the Adirondack Semester is to enable students to study nature and human relationships with nature through academic classes enriched by direct experience. The Semester takes place at Arcadia, an off-the-grid yurt village in the heart of the Adirondacks. The goals of the program are to foster a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the natural world, to create a vibrant living and learning community at Arcadia, and to cultivate a strong connection to the Adirondack region.

Campus Tree Advisory Committee: The campus tree advisory committee includes students, staff, faculty and members of the community. We welcome all tree enthusiasts and meet to coordinate Arbor Day celebrations, campus research, and support management needs. Reach out to Professor Sara Ashpole for more information!

Nature Up North: Nature Up North is a community-based organization based at St. Lawrence University whose mission is to foster a deeper sense of appreciation for, and connection to, the North Country environment and in doing so to create a bioregionally literate community that is committed to protecting the wild things and wild places that define this place we call home.

The Campus Committee on Sustainability and Climate Neutrality: The Campus Committee on Sustainability and Climate Neutrality will consider means to move the University toward environmental sustainability and review the University's progress toward this goal and the goal of climate neutrality. Specifically the committee will review and approve revisions to the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and successive Work Plans for the implementation of the CAP. Meetings are open to others (students, faculty, and staff) who are interested in tackling sustainability and climate neutrality issues on campus.

Village of Canton Canton Sustainability Committee: The Canton Sustainability Committee was established in the spring of 2014. A student participating in SLU’s Sustainability Semester undertook the coordination of the new committee as the community-based learning (CBL) component of the Semester. Prospective committee participants were identified and general plans plans for getting the committee off the ground were set. The first meeting was held on April 22, 2014 – Earth Day.

Casella collects SLU's Recycling. Cycling is zero-sort, meaning that plastics, glass, cardboard, and paper can all go in the same bin. Things to keep in mind:

• Do not bag your recycling. Plastics bags are NOT recyclable in our bins. They can, however, be recycled at local grocery stores.
• Make sure that plastics are clean of food residue before placing them in recycling bins. Dining hall take out containers are not recyclable. Use Dana's reusable take out containers when you can!
• Follow Casella's guide, pasted below.

Pre-consumer waste (i.e. food scraps from food prep) are composted on campus. Scraps are brought to our aerated windrow, non-industrial, composting operation (by the stables).

Post-consumer recycling bins (where you can put your food waste) are located near North Star Cafe in the student center.

To avoid waste from dining facilities, participate in the reusable takeout container system. Pay $5 once during the semester to receive a container. Each time you use it, you can bring it back to the dining hall and exchange it for a clean one or a token that can be redeemed for a clean container at a later date.

Our Dining Services team works closely with our students and departments across campus on solutions that prioritize sustainability in all eateries, including:

• Offering trayless service and effectively reducing food waste by 23 tons and water waste by 100,000 gallons annually.
• Preparing meals with local produce.
• Partnering with local businesses and producers to feature their food on our menus.
• Instating a reusable container exchange program and offering discounts to those who use reusable containers like coffee mugs. 
• Serving fair trade, organic coffee sourced from New England.
• Providing biodegradable utensils and napkins. 
• Using food preparation techniques that include pre-consumer composting.

April 17, 2024 (11:30 am - 1:00 pm) - Campus Community Roundtable Luncheon

Clarkson University’s Cheel Campus Center, 2^nd floor Barben rooms

This event is organized by NoCoPEACS, Potsdam’s Climate Smart Community Committee, and Canton’s Sustainability Committee and is sponsored by the Associate Colleges of St. Lawrence Valley as part of the annual Sustainability Day events.

The Roundtable Luncheon component is a gathering of university and community leaders for focused discussion on issues related to sustainability. The theme of discussion this year will be Climate Change Adaptation/Resilience. With weird weather leading to recent power outages, high winds and local flooding, our region is vulnerable, especially when we have thousands of students on our campuses and in our communities. Yet at the same time, we are less vulnerable than many communities and may have an opportunity to be an attractive destination for climate refugees.  The goal of this event is to initiate Campus-Community conversation related to opportunities and challenges as we consider adapting to a changing climate.

 The lunch will include a brief introduction to the topic by Clarkson’s Dr. Erik Backus, who was one of the co-authors of the recently released NYS Climate Impact Assessment report. Facilitated discussions at tables with individuals with similar profession/interest/expertise -will forge relationships and promote a better understanding of each groups’ need to understand and prepare for a changing climate.

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April 15, 2024 - Rich Road Solar + Battery Storage Project

In early March, the NY State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) issued a draft permit for EDF Renewables' 240-MW solar project on 1,700 acres immediately south of the Village of Canton.

A public hearing for this project will be held at 6pm on May 7 at the Best Western University Inn at 90 E. Main St., Canton. Speakers will be allotted 3 minutes each for public comment.

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March 2024 - Solar Development Mapping Tool

The St. Lawrence County Planning Office has created and recently made available a Solar Development Mapping Tool in response to widespread solar development on prime agricultural land throughout the County.  This Tool is intended to be used as a guide for solar developers as they seek out property for future solar development and for municipalities, who may wish to restrict development in certain parts of their community.  This mapping tool may be accessed via the SLC Planning Office mapping webpage.

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March 2024 - LED Lightbulbs

As part of our Facilities Enhancement Plan renovations, our campus is transitioning to LED lighting, marking a significant step towards sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Installation work will commence in common areas such as hallways and restrooms in the Spring 2024 semester. Throughout the summer, the work will extend to student rooms, classrooms, and other spaces. 

March 2024 - SLU Green Guide & Sustainability Survey

An updated "Green Guide" with helpful information for students regarding living sustainably on campus, including how to recycle, saving energy, and getting involved in clubs, has been created by the Office of Sustainability. You can find the document here. 

The OoS also sent out a Campus Sustainability Survey in March to gauge the sustainability literacy & culture of SLU's campus. Please find the results of this survey here.