Florida Gulf Coast University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

The Respect the Nest Litter Clean Ups employs a phone app called Litterati that allows participants to collect photos and info on the litter found in order to not only make our campus cleaner and safer for the ecosystem, but also to help us figure out solutions to prevent the pollution in the first place. Using the app, participants take photos of litter where it is found, tag it (with object, material, and brand) and properly dispose of any litter they find. This litter is also geotagged and mapped.

Not only can litter be unsightly, but much of the litter is made of plastic that does not biodegrade – it only breaks down into smaller bits of plastic that eventually washes out to our waterways. Preventing litter is especially important here on campus because FGCU is located on a regional, interconnected watershed system that spills into the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve and joins the Gulf of Mexico. Preventing litter and pollution helps make sure that our waterways remain clean to protect the environment and wildlife. Keeping our stormwater system free from debris also prevents flooding and makes our campus more resilient.

Through our nearly monthly litter clean ups since 2021, we have cleaned up over fifty-thousand pieces of litter on campus and throughout Florida communities. The data collected is used to educate students on the types of litter they found (mainly single use plastic and plastic packaging) and the reasons why we have this litter. This data and outreach has also been instrumental in helping to bring about change on our campus from strategically locating receptacles that prevent wind and wildlife from dispersing garbage into our environment; adding in receptacles where needed; as well as changing the types of straws on campus to paper wrappers and compostable straws that will not break down into microplastics in our waterways.

FGCU takes it's stormwater very seriously, and uses a multifaceted approach to educate our students, staff, faculty and visitors of the importance of stormwater pollution prevention as well as flood prevention. Stormwater outreach begins with new employee orientation and subsequent online safety training employees are required to complete. Students are introduced to stormwater issues at their orientation both at tabling events and as part of the transportation sessions (learning why car washing and car repair are not allowed on campus and leaning about our anti-glittering efforts). Until recently, students also saw student made PSAs as part of the movie streaming service in student residences. These random PSAs had be viewed in their entirety before the movie would play. This campaign is also included with our other tabling events through the year. Students could stop by these tabling events or into the Environmental Health and Safety office to pick up a packed of ecofetti, as sustainable alternative to plastic confetti and glitter, to throw in their graduation photos.

EH&S Specialists regularly monitor and assess the condition of our campus stormwater system in order to understand the positive impacts of outreach efforts. In our Glitter is Litter efforts we went from dozens of reported cases each semester of glittering and using confetti for outdoor photos to nearly zero.

GREEN EAGLE MOVE OUT
FGCU's Move-Out Campaign is another noteworthy outreach program that yields measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability. The Office of Residence Life (OHRL) partners with local non-profits such as Goodwill and the Kiwanis Club to minimize the amount of waste occurring during move out. OHRL sets up bins in each of the residential villages a few weeks prior to move out and encourages residents to donate all useful items. They also help connect unwanted shelf-stable foods with our Campus Food Pantry.