Reuse at BU: Simple Ways to Cut Waste and Go Green
Sustainability is all about taking small, meaningful actions that add up to something big. Whether it’s grabbing lunch in a reusable container, using a reusable water bottle, or donating items at move–out, reusing helps cut down waste and keep our campus green.
Here are a few easy ways you can make reusing part of your everyday BU routine:
Choose to Reuse with BU Dining
Takeout doesn’t have to mean throwaway packaging! BU Dining’s Choose to Reuse program makes it easy to ditch single-use containers.
Here’s how it works: instead of paying for disposable packaging, you can get your meal in a reusable container – available at campus spots like the GSU Food Hall, Saxbys, and Fuller’s Pub.
While disposable containers cost $2.50 and disposable cups cost $1.00, reusable containers are free as long as you return them within 3 days of pickup. So, when you Choose to Reuse, you’re saving money and helping BU reach its Zero Waste goals.
Join the BU Reuse Community for Faculty and Staff
Ever wondered what happens to office furniture when departments move or renovations take place? Instead of tossing them, BU has a system to give those items a new home.
The BU Reuse Community helps campus departments repurpose furniture and office materials, so fewer items end up in the waste stream and fewer new ones need to be bought. This community is exclusively for BU departments and office-focused materials you would find on campus and not designed for personal use.
BU staff and faculty can either request for gently used items or, for those looking to reduce their materials, post items you want to give away. Join the group here.
Bring a Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration + sustainability = a win-win. BU has refill stations across campus so you can fill up your reusable water bottle instead of grabbing plastic. And don’t worry about water quality – Boston’s tap water is among the best of any major city in North America.
Not sure where the closest refill station is? Check out our interactive campus map for locations.
Move out Sustainably with Goodwill, Not Landfill
Before you toss that extra lamp, sweatshirt, or mirror at move out, consider giving it a second life through Goodwill, Not Landfill.
Since 2009, this program has kept tons of items, everything from clothes to kitchenware, out of landfills. Last year alone, BU donated thousands of items to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, a local Boston nonprofit.
So, when it’s time to pack up your dorm room or apartment, make a “donate” pile and drop your items off at one of the donation locations on campus.