Green Day at Bergen Community College
PARAMUS, N.J. – An upcycle clothing exchange, food composter demonstration and discussion on beekeeping represented just some of the events that comprised Bergen Community College’s “EarthFest” celebration April 19-22 in recognition of Earth Day.
College President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., has prioritized sustainability as part of the institution’s aesthetic and built environment, identifying this work as one of his 11 presidential focus areas. New Jersey State Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-38), Bergen County Commissioners Mary Amoroso and Germaine Ortiz and Glen Rock Councilman - and Bergen professor - Robert Dill each spoke at an April 20 event that outlined state, county and local initiatives aimed at making communities more sustainable. At the event, the College distributed reusable water bottles for use in 26 renovated on-campus fountains that feature filtered spouts activated by the presence of a reusable bottle. The fountains also calculate the number of plastic bottles saved over time, displaying the amount in a live counter on the device. Among other initiatives, the College recently reconvened its sustainability committee, has added new electric vehicle charging stations and retrofitted overhead lighting from fluorescent- to LED-based.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 13,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
Photo Caption: New Jersey State Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-38) answered Bergen Community College students’ questions during its EarthFest event.
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