Suffolk Reporter

The Office of Sustainability is launching its Fill it Forward challenge at the start of Earth Month, aiming to encourage students to engage in environmentally friendly activities by using reusable water bottles. The campaign, in partnership with the Auxiliary Services Association (ASA), has been active since August 2018 and reported over 26,000 refills at Stony Brook's campus in recent years.

Erin Kluge, serving as the sustainability coordinator for Stony Brook’s West Campus, explains the initiative's goals: “raise awareness about eliminating single-use plastic, engage the SBU student body in sustainable initiatives, and create something fun for students to celebrate Earth Month.”

Participants can follow a straightforward process to join the challenge. With each scan, a $0.02 donation is made to charities that focus on providing clean water to underserved communities. Students can monitor the progress of these projects through an app, with updates provided upon completion.

More than 100 refill stations feature electronic counters across academic and residential buildings to track this month's plastic bottle savings. Additionally, the student with the highest number of scans by April 30 will receive a prize announced on May 1 through @sbu_sustainability. There is a separate challenge planned for employees as well.

Furthermore, the Stony Brook community is invited to participate in Earthstock during the week of April 21, a celebratory series of events highlighting environmental awareness. The New York Climate Exchange will also conduct its inaugural Climate Solutions Summit NYC at Governors Island from April 23-24.