Student Sustainability Projects
Student Projects
Clarkson students are turning ideas into action through a wide range of sustainability projects that protect the environment, inspire change, and shape a more sustainable world. Here are some of the projects that students have worked on. Jump to a project below to learn more:
Food & Solid Waste Management
Clarkson runs an on-campus food waste collection program in collaboration with Sodexo, Whitten Family Farm, and our on-campus anaerobic digester. On our campus, post-consumer food waste from dining halls is scraped by students into buckets for pick up by Whitten Family Farm where it is turned into compost. Students living in apartments participate in our apartment composting program, collecting their own food waste and depositing it into designated toters. Pre-consumer food waste from kitchen prep areas is sent to an anaerobic digester, supporting student and faculty research. Anaerobic digestion effectively recovers energy and produces fertilizer-grade effluent, provided the waste stream remains uncontaminated. Successfully diverting food waste from the solid waste stream requires a cultural shift to ensure a clean, high-quality organic waste stream.
Bike Rental Program
If you live off campus, don’t own a car, or simply enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of riding a bicycle, then this program is for you! Started by ISE interns, the Bicycle Loan Program is a collaboration with Clarkson Libraries. Bicycles are available for long-term rental periods, at an affordable cost for students and faculty.
Take it Or Leave It
At the end of every spring semester, ISE interns and other campus volunteers run our annual “Take it or Leave it” program. Students are encouraged to donate dorm supplies, clothing, school supplies, and anything else they have left behind. These items are then available for other students, community members, and local nonprofits. Interns work to properly recycle unusable textiles, and to participate in take back programs (such as sending old toys back to Mattel).
Rainwater Collection Systems
In 2025, a team of Clarkson students, in collaboration with the Construction Club and assistance from Army ROTC, designed and constructed a rainwater collection system at our Lean-To in the Clarkson Woods. The water collected is used by students to extinguish fires in our firepits. A new system will be built at the observation deck during the Fall 2025 semester.
Meadow Restoration & Birdhouse Installation
To enrich our campus ecosystem, Clarkson has designated several areas as No-Mow and Low-Mow zones, with a goal of reintroducing natural habitats and promoting local wildlife. In collaboration with our Facilities team, ISE interns continually work to reestablish meadow areas on campus. Students have assisted with prepping soil & planting wildflowers, as well as installing birdhouses and signage. Benefits of these low-mow zones include:
- Reduced maintenance: These zones save time and energy by reducing the need for mowing and using fewer resources like fuel.
- Increased biodiversity: These areas provide valuable habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
- Aesthetic value: Many in the Clarkson community have expressed a desire to see meadow aesthetics incorporated into the landscape, creating vibrant, natural spaces on campus.
Forest Stewardship
Clarkson’s Outing Club, Mountain Bike Club, and ISE interns work with Facilities staff to maintain our several miles of campus trails, including the Clarkson Woods and the Munter Trail. The Clarkson Woods is a 350 acre forest on campus that has a variety of hiking, cross country skiing, and mountain bike trails. The Bill Vitek Observation Deck overlooks a large beaver pond and is a popular destination for people who use the trails. Go explore!
Arboretum & Tree Planting
Clarkson has been a certified Tree Campus USA since 2017. As part of this commitment, students volunteer to plant trees on our campus every year on Arbor Day. In 2025, students in the Honors Program established an Arboretum along the Munter Train and Raquette River. This work was recognized with Level I Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. In 2025, students in the Honors Program established an Arboretum along the Munter Train and Raquette River. This work was recognized with Level I Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens.
Greenhouse & Garden
Clarkson students designed and constructed a 650 square foot greenhouse to grow produce and houseplants in northern climates. The garden just outside is managed by the student-run Garden Club, and produce is donated to our on-campus food pantry.
Get Outside & Nature Rx
Our campus has so much to offer in terms of outdoor spaces. Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) partnered with the ISE in 2025 to create a Nature Rx program, offering nature-based therapy, and a website stocked full of wellness activities and information about our outdoor spaces on campus. This program is recognized by the national Campus Nature Rx Network.