Sustainability

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting human health and environmental sustainability.

One of the School’s six overarching strategic goals is, in part, to operate as an “effective, sustainable, and inclusive organization…”.

CUNY SPH practices environmental sustainability by following, among other measures, the New York State Executive Order 4 (EO4) Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability in purchasing products that maximize the use of recycled content and by following New York State Executive Order 18 (EO18) Restricting the Use of Bottled Water in eliminating the purchase of bottled water. The SPH Environmental Sustainability Committee, comprised of faculty, students, staff and senior administrators has spearheaded several efforts to become more sustainable and improve the environment.

The SPH Environmental Sustainability Committee, comprised of faculty, students, staff and senior administrators has spearheaded several efforts to become more sustainable and improve the environment.

Water Fountain Locations

In-line water dispensers were installed and water bottle refill stations are conveniently located on each floor of the School, in the areas listed below

– 1^st floor hallway

– 5^th floor hallway and 5^th floor staff pantry

– 6^th floor hallway and 6^th floor staff pantry

– 7^th floor hallway and 7^th floor staff pantry

– 8^th floor hallway

Water bottle refilling stations have diverted the equivalent of approximately 1,292 20-oz water bottles from landfills per month. The estimated cost saved per month is $941.21.

Source Separation

SPH practices source separation of waste, into 1) metal, glass, plastic and beverage containers; 2) paper; and 3) garbage. Centralized locations for recycling and garbage disposal are conveniently located throughout campus in the following areas:

– 1^st floor pantry

– 5^th floor pantry and lounge

– 6^th floor pantry

– 7^th floor auditorium, outside computer lab 707, and in 7^th floor staff pantry

– 8^th floor lobby, 8^th floor east offices, 8^th floor pantry.

All recyclables and garbage must be properly sorted and disposed of at one of the centralized locations. (No individual trash cans are provided at workstations, which saves the use of thousands of individual trash can liners each month.)

The SPH Environmental Sustainability Committee continues to look for ways to improve sustainability practices. Please contact louie.cao@sph.cuny.edu to join the committee as student or staff member.

Sustainable Food Businesses

While CUNY SPH does not have a cafeteria on campus, there are several local food retailers that incorporate sustainable practices into their services.

SPH does not endorse, recommend or guarantee that businesses are practicing sustainability. Marketing claims have not been verified or analyzed for accuracy.

Business	Address	Sustainability Documentation
787 Coffee	60 W 129th St, New York, NY 10027	https://www.787coffee.com/10-reasons-why-you-should-drink-787-coffee
Chipotle	72 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027	https://www.chipotle.com/about-us/sustainability
Clay	553 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10027	https://www.claynyc.com/sourcing
Harlem Seafood Soul	125th Street & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, New York, NY 10027	https://www.facebook.com/HarlemSeafoodSoul/posts/3144391102475323
Just Salad	56 W 125th Street, Unit #5 New York, NY 10027	https://www.justsalad.com/sustainability
Panera Bread	452 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018	https://www.panerabread.com/content/dam/panerabread/integrated-web-content/documents/press/2020/panera-bread-csr-2020.pdf
Shake Shack	1 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027	https://shakeshack.com/stand-for-something-good
Starbucks	83 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027	https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/planet/
Whole Foods	100 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027	https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-in-action/environmental-stewardship

Additional Resources

Find the nearest food scrap and composting location at GrowNYC: https://www.grownyc.org/compost

Find out how to dispose other items from the Department of Sanitation of New York (DSNY): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/howtogetridof