FGCU Sustainability

☀️🦅 Welcome back, Eagles!
It’s the first day of summer classes at FGCU, and you know what that means - Southwest Florida heat is in full swing! 🌡️💧

Stay cool, stay focused, and stay hydrated sustainably by bringing your reusable water bottle to campus. Refill at our hydration stations and help reduce single-use plastic while keeping yourself refreshed all day long.

Let’s make this a strong and sustainable start to the summer semester! 🌱



Alt-text:
Person filling a blue reusable water bottle at a hydration station.

Transcribed Text:
Stay hydrated sustainably!
Use a reusable water bottle and refill at our campus hydration stations.

🌧️ Rainy season is starting soon.
Throughout this week, we’ve be sharing Stormwater 101 - a daily look at where stormwater goes, how it can become polluted, and why managing stormwater is important for protecting local water resources.

How You Can Help
✅ Small actions make a big difference.
You can help protect water quality by:

🐾Picking up pet waste
🪴Using fertilizer responsibly
🗑️Keeping litter and yard waste out of streets
🪠Reporting clogged storm drains

🌧️ As rainy season approaches, every action counts.

🌧️ Rainy season is starting soon.
Throughout this week, we’re sharing Stormwater 101—a daily look at where stormwater goes, how it can become polluted, and why managing stormwater is important for protecting local water resources.

🏞️ How do we manage stormwater?

Our landscapes use systems like:

Retention ponds – hold water and allow pollutants to settle
Detention ponds – temporarily store water and release it slowly
Swales and green spaces that help water soak into the ground

These systems help reduce flooding and protect water quality.

🏞️ Retention | ⏱️ Detention | 🌱 Green Infrastructure

From our friends in FGCU's Physical Plant:
FGCU continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainability by improving recycling practices across campus. Here’s what students, faculty, and staff should know about how to properly dispose of waste and recyclables at the university.

FGCU’s Single‑Stream Recycling System
FGCU follows Lee County’s single‑stream recycling guidelines, which means all approved recyclables can be placed into the same blue recycling bin, no sorting required. Every floor of every campus building includes a paired station with:

Blue bin: Recycling
Black/gray bin: Trash

If your area needs additional bins, the Work Management Center can assist.


✔️ What You CAN Recycle -Approved items include:

- Paper (office paper, mail, magazines)

- Cardboard (flattened)

- Plastics #1– #7

- Aluminum cans

- Steel/tin cans

- Glass bottles and jars

*All items must be clean and empty to avoid contamination.*

✖️ What You CANNOT Recycle in campus recycling bins (Remember: When in doubt, throw it out — contaminated bins may be treated as trash.)

- Food waste

- Plastic bags or film

- Styrofoam

- Liquids

- Contaminated or soiled items

- Batteries or electronics (Contact WMC for proper disposal instructions)

Electronic Waste Recycling
FGCU partners with Lee County Solid Waste to properly dispose of university electronic equipment. Before requesting pickup:

- Remove the item from your department’s inventory.

- Contact Business Technology Services to clear memory.

- Submit a request to the Work Management Center for collection.

FGCU’s Sustainability Commitment
Physical Plant supports the university’s mission to:

- Reduce solid waste

- Increase recycling participation

- Promote environmentally responsible operations

- Reuse and repurpose university property through surplus programs

Together, we can help maintain a cleaner, greener campus.

Questions? Contact Phone: 239‑590‑1370 |
Email: [email protected]

Work Management Center Campus Support Complex, WMC Room 30

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Promotional graphic with text "FGCU Waste and Recycling: What You Need to Know" on a palm leaf background.

🌞 Did you know? Florida Gulf Coast University harnesses the power of the sun to support a more sustainable campus! Through solar energy installations, FGCU reduces its carbon footprint and promotes clean, renewable power - helping protect our environment for future generations. 🌱⚡



📸Credit: FGCU 360
Photo one: Rooftop solar panels with industrial air conditioning units under a blue, cloudy sky.
Photo two: Rows of solar panels with a background of tall pine trees under a light sky.

☔ Florida’s rainy season is approaching!
When it rains, where does all that water go? This week we’re breaking it down with Stormwater 101 - simple facts, local impacts, and easy ways to help keep our waterways clean.

Why Stormwater Matters

🐟 Stormwater affects our waterways.
Polluted runoff can cause flooding, erosion, algae blooms, and harm fish and wildlife. What washes off our streets today can impact rivers, estuaries, and beaches tomorrow.

🌎 Clean stormwater = healthier ecosystems for everyone.

This week, we’re talking about where rain goes after it hits the ground - and why it matters. Join us for Stormwater 101, a daily series exploring how stormwater affects our waterways and what we can all do to help protect water quality.

What Is Stormwater Pollution?

🚯 Stormwater pollution starts on land.
Fertilizer, pet waste, oil, litter, and yard debris can be washed by rain into storm drains. Storm drains usually lead directly to nearby waterways - without treatment.

🌊 Remember: Only rain down the drain.

🌴 As rainy season approaches, it’s a great time to think about what happens to rain after it falls.

This week, we’re sharing Stormwater 101 - daily tips and facts about stormwater, water quality, and how everyday actions can make a difference.

🌧️ Rain → 🏠 Rooftop → 🛣️ Road → 🌀 Storm Drain → 🌊 Waterway

✨ Glitter Is Litter ✨
What we leave behind on campus doesn’t just disappear - stormwater carries it straight into our lakes, waterways, and wildlife habitats.

We’re inviting you to help us choose the message that says it best.

👇 Vote for your favorite tagline 👇

1️⃣ “We live and learn alongside protected wildlife - what we celebrate with matters.”

2️⃣“Only rain down the drain.”

3️⃣ “Leave nothing behind but Eagle pride.”

4️⃣ “Our lakes don’t need glitter.”

5️⃣ “Stormwater carries our choices.”

6️⃣ Got a better idea? Drop your slogan in the comments!

🎉 Let’s celebrate smart - and protect what makes FGCU special.

👉 Don't Forget! You can pick up a complimentary packet of Blue & Green Ecofetti from the FGCU EH&S MOD during regular business hours.

Move out. Clean up. Give back. ♻️

Don’t dump—DONATE!

Find donation stations throughout FGCU Housing during move-out.

🌍 Green Greetings!

We are celebrating with a full day of events and activities on Wednesday April 22nd!

All students, faculty, and staff are invited to drop in, attend one or many campus events, and engage in hands on, creative, and relaxing opportunities throughout the day. Whether you have just 10 minutes or several hours, there is something for everyone!

🌿 7:45 a.m.
Guided Service‑Learning Trip: Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Clean‑Up

🗑️ All Day | Self Guided
🌎 Earth Day 2026 at FGCU – Solo Sweep Clean Up
Participate in a self guided campus litter clean up anytime throughout the day. Contribute to a collective data gathering effort using the Litterati app.
Join the challenge with code: SWEEP

🎨 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Nature’s Canvas: Works of the Southwest Florida Environment
University Archives & Special Collections Exhibition
📍 Wilson G. Bradshaw Library, 3rd Floor, Room 322

🌿 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Wings of Hope Earth Day Activities
Drop in for a series of calming and creative, nature inspired activities

🧘 1:30 p.m.
Sound Bath & Meditation at The Nesting Place
A collaboration between FGCU RecWell and FGCU GIDDI to help participants de stress and reset as finals approach

🍽️ 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Weigh the Waste | SoVi Dining
Stop by SoVi Dining to learn about food waste in campus dining and how uneaten food contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as wasted energy and water resources.

🌿 6:00-8:00 p.m.
ECOFGCU Evening Nature Walk
Join ECOFGCU and FGCU’s campus naturalists for an evening nature walk exploring campus ecosystems. This experience may include a “wet walk,” so come prepared to get your feet wet.

🧠 6:30 p.m.
The Lorax Trivia Night
Hosted by University Rec & Wellness

🌅 6:30 p.m.
Earth Day Celebration: SWE Sunset Picnic
6:30–8:30 p.m.

🪨⛏️Earth Day Celebration: Geology Club Night
AB9-207
Join the Geology Club for an Earth Day celebration featuring geode breaking, flower pot painting, and refreshments. 🍕
https://getinvolved.fgcu.edu/event/12429390