71 MSU Sustainability Initiatives

Lily Kilmartin-Gath presented a series of student-led sustainability initiatives driven by the Maynooth Students’ Union, demonstrating the strong climate awareness and motivation among the university’s student body. A flagship project is the MSU Return Bin Charity Scheme, launched during Green Week, which encourages students to donate cans and bottles via four dedicated Re-turn bins across campus. These are collected and returned by MSU staff, with all proceeds donated to charity. Plans are in place to expand the scheme to the South Campus to maximise accessibility.

MSU has also worked to promote reusable practices, notably securing the introduction of a 20-cent reusable cup discount at MSU Londis coffee stations. A promotional campaign — including student-made social media content — has been central in raising awareness and shifting behaviours. Ms Kilmartin-Gath highlighted ongoing efforts to gather data on the uptake of reusable cups, recognising the value of evidence-based decision-making and potential integration with future student projects.

Further initiatives include MSU’s participation in the Clean Air Campus Project, a collaboration with Healthy Campus aimed at transitioning Maynooth to a smoke- and vape-free environment. Survey work and policy development are currently underway. MSU also co-organises regular litter picks with the Green Campus Committee, engaging students, staff, local volunteers, and community partners such as Kildare County Council. Green Week remains a major annual platform for awareness-raising, showcasing sustainable practices and encouraging active engagement. Collectively, these initiatives reflect a strong culture of student engagement, community collaboration, and practical climate action on campus.

About the author

name: Lily Kilmartin-Gath

institution: Maynooth University

Lily Kilmartin-Gath is the Environmental Officer in the Maynooth Students’ Union at Maynooth University.