Is Sustainability at AUBG a Real Thing?

How many people are needed to create a sustainable university campus? As it is, AUBG's Board of Trustees has hired a single person - Aelita Khusnutdinova (AUBG Class of ‘24), Presidential Fellow for Sustainability. 

 

“All the research, all the findings, all the analysis…that is me. From surveys to proposals, to organizing events, catering, budgets, everything. Hopefully, in the future there is going to be at least an assistant, or an office,” explained Aelita.

 

 

Even without an official workplace, Aelita said she is trying hard to turn AUBG into a more sustainable university.

 

“In comparison with other American universities, we are really behind. They already have a Sustainability Studies major, they are CO2 neutral, they have had sustainability plans since 2003, 2004, etc.,” said Aelita. 

 

Up until now, the Sustainability Committee, (formed in 2021 and consisting of faculty, students, and staff) has been meeting once a month for an hour. Therefore a simple act such as reducing plastic straws on campus, has taken 3 years.

 

“It should have taken around 3 weeks,” said Professor Winton, Chair of the Sustainability Committee.

 

 

Since Professor Winton became Chair in 2023, the Committee also increased the water refill stations, moving faculty monthly reports from paper to digital, and becoming part of AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). 

 

However, there is still a lot of work to be done. Whether it will be with the help of the Sustainability Committee or not, Professor Winton and Aelita are determined to turn things around. 

 

The first step is already completed - a survey, answered by 720 members of the AUBG community, related to their current attitudes and habits regarding sustainability. The results are yet to be announced.

 

Next is a Waste Education Campaign, which includes a Pilot Waste Audit on campus. On February 26 and 27 2025, volunteers will gather the waste from campus and display it on the ABF lawn or the underground parking lot depending on the weather. Then they will assess the amount of AUBG’s waste as a first step to reducing it. During the Fall 2025 semester, another “real” audit will take place for a whole week. 

 

“Let’s not fool ourselves. Plastic does not get recycled. Maybe around 10% only. We should work towards reducing,” explained Professor Winton. 

 

 

Nevertheless, the Sustainability Committee is also planning on purchasing new recycling bins and offering workshops on how to use them properly during the Fall 2025 semester. 

 

“We are working closely with the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. They have their own person in the sustainability department and are interested in AUBG’s initiatives as an open-minded community,” shared Aelita. 

 

“Our Waste Audit, for example, is going to be a first for them as well.”

 

She disclosed that the Municipality will provide containers for the storage of the Waste Audit and take care of the university’s biowaste in the near future. Negotiations are being held for a piece of land for AUBG’s future Community Garden. This will be a place for “experiential learning” (part of the Sustainability minor) and an opportunity for growing organic food. 

 

Another future project is the Sustainability Education Action Lab. It will serve for environmental science work and creative research projects. 

 

“For now we are working on a virtual lab until we find a suitable space. The idea is that students would be able to receive research grants that combine natural and social sciences,” said Professor Winton. 

 

At the same time, the campus sustainability proposal is in the early stages of development. Its goal is to provide a long-term (from 5 to 10 years) sustainability plan for the university and to create a feeling of accountability.

 

“When I started getting involved in sustainability I thought we have time. We don’t have time. People should start doing things right, or at least try,” said Aelita. 

 

She and the members of the Sustainability Committee encourage all students to follow the newly created Instagram page for updates on all things sustainability at AUBG and sign up for the upcoming Waste Audit.

 

 

Editors: Niya Manditsch and Spasiela Gizdova