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Eckerd College reduced the use of single-use items across its St. Petersburg college campus by educating students on marine debris, providing access to alternatives to common debris items, and working with the college administration.
Type of Project: Prevention
Region: Florida
Project Dates: July 2018 – January 2021
Who was involved?
Eckerd College, with support of the NOAA Marine Debris Program, grew a community of environmental stewards who are acutely aware of their personal role in the generation of marine debris. Surrounded on three sides by Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida, Eckerd College was an ideal location for such a project, as academic and recreational activities on campus can directly influence the health of Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
What was the project and why is it important?
Plastic water bottles and their caps are the most common plastic debris collected during on-campus beach cleanups, suggesting that at least some of the thousands of single-use water bottles consumed on campus are directly washing into Boca Ciega Bay. While Eckerd College, with its ‘Think Outside’ motto, has a long standing commitment to sustainability, there remains room for improvement in day to day practices on campus. This project acted as a catalyst to shift the focus of the campus community to the adjacent marine environment and the importance of marine debris prevention.
From offering topical courses and hosting engaging speakers to providing the community (students, faculty and staff) with their own reusable alternatives for common single-use items, this project encouraged self-reflection and positive change.
What were the results?
Over the course of the projects, ten types of reusable items were provided to students, such as metal straws, reusable bottles, and bamboo plates, cups and toothbrushes. Ten water bottle filling stations were also installed around campus that refilled over two-million bottles during the project period. Students also saw their impact first-hand by conducting fifteen campus clean-ups removing almost 500 pounds of debris.
For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.