A More Sustainable Campus: Do Your Part

 

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the depth of sustainability initiatives at The University of Wyoming and the many opportunities for student involvement. We live in a world where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global issues, so sustainability efforts have become increasingly more prevalent. In honor of Earth Day, collaborating with Riley Ovard, an ambassador from the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, I delved into learning more about the avenues through which students can engage in campus sustainability efforts. Allow me to share the insights I gained with you!  

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UW Recycling Program 

Recycling plays a vital role in fulfilling sustainability efforts, and our campus has various options that make it easy for students, faculty, and staff to participate in recycling. Recycling bins for plastic, aluminum, and paper can be found in multiple locations around campus including the residence halls - look for the recycle signs! These bins are taken to the UW Recycling Center on 16th and Gibbon. Anything that is in the recycling bin and is recyclable will be recycled. Even plastics can be recycled if they are placed in the appropriate bin labeled plastics.  Not all items will be processed and recycled locally, however, the materials that cannot be processed in Laramie are shipped to a location that can process those materials.  

 

 

The Sustainability Coalition 

If you want to get involved in creating a sustainable campus, consider joining the Sustainability Coalition, a collaboration of students, staff, and faculty committed to prioritizing sustainability in decision-making at the University of Wyoming. They have started several projects to help make UW more sustainable including initiating an indefinite clothing drive in partnership with the UW Food Security Task Force. There are several donation sights across campus (The Bim Kendall House, Beta House, Washakie and the Wyoming Union) where campus community members can donate clothes which are then used to stock a clothing rack available at the UW Food Share Pantry where additional resources such as food and hygiene products are available for students at no cost. The coalition has also introduced recycling education efforts across campus and hosts various events throughout the year. 

 

 

The Sustainability Committee 

The University of Wyoming campus even has a sustainability committee that meets once a month to discuss ways to improve sustainability on campus and increase awareness of what sustainability efforts are available.  

Their main goals include:  

• Improve UW operations by funding sustainability projects through support from the Major Maintenance fund and a grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation 

• Support passionate students interested in sustainability by providing project ideas and facilitating communication 

• Complete an annual greenhouse gas inventory 

• Serve as a clearinghouse for sustainability information and resources 

• Host sustainability forums, workshops, and celebrations 

If you are interested in joining the Campus Sustainability Committee join them for their monthly Zoom meeting on the first Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. MST. 

 

 

ACRES Student Farm 

Another program that embraces sustainability on campus is the ACRES Student Farm located just a few minutes away from main campus. The farm is a 1.8-acre vegetable farm that is run by students and volunteers. They promote sustainability by supporting local agriculture and providing educational and research opportunities within sustainability and agriculture. If you are interested in ACRES, they hold weekly meetings every Thursday at 6:00 PM in room 4041 of the Agriculture Building during the school year.

 

  

Zero Waste Events  

There is also a waste reduction and recycling effort on campus that allows students, faculty, and staff to have support in hosting zero waste events. Students in the UW Sustainability Coalition developed guidelines for planning and executing events with 90% waste reduction. They created a document that outlines those guidelines and helps make it easy to plan zero waste events.  

 

 

Sustainability Courses 

You can even learn about sustainability in the classroom! Numerous courses at UW explore aspects of sustainability. You can even add a minor in Sustainability, through the HAUB School of Environment and Natural Resources, to any undergraduate degree program at the University of Wyoming to learn how to understand, analyze, and implement sustainable solutions. The minor provides insight on topics like systems thinking, civic engagement, and personal development rooted in sustainability for everyday challenges. 

 

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While UW has made good progress in its journey toward sustainability, there's always room to enhance our efforts further. Presently, we boast practical and achievable measures that have already positively impacted our community. By fostering greater involvement and commitment from more individuals, our campus could have an even more substantial influence on the environment. 

Upon learning about the many sustainable practices on campus, I am personally committed to playing my role by embracing recycling and supporting existing sustainability initiatives. I urge my fellow students to join in, even through small actions like sorting recyclables. Together, let's strive for a culture where everyone contributes to making UW a greener and more environmentally friendly community.