Achieve Zero Waste
What is Zero Waste?
- Conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health (Zero Waste International Alliance).
- Achieved when 90% of waste is diverted from the landfill or incineration.
- A whole-systems approach to rethink and redesign resource life cycles to mirror those found in nature.
Ways You Can Help Get to Zero
These programs provide ways for you to help us stop needless waste.
BU Sustainability Reusables
On February 1, 2023, Boston University Dining is launching a new program at the GSU called “Choose to Reuse.” The program makes checking out a reusable container a lot like checking out a library book and allows the BU community to have their food served with a reusable container instead of disposables. The program is open to students, staff, and faculty, and available at CRBC, Greens and Grains, Halal Guys, Open Kitchen, Panda Express, and Rhett’s. The disposable to-go fee at the locations listed will increase to $2.50 once the program is launched. To learn more, click here.
Throughout the year, the BU community is able to win prizes such as reusable mugs, water bottles, bamboo utensils, or notebooks at events such as Sustainability Festival, Earth Week, Sustainability App Challenges, and more.
BU has numerous bottle-filling stations across campus and is installing more. To find the closest one to you, please refer to the interactive campus map.
Surplus Furniture Program
University departments can browse available surplus or remanufactured furniture or donate gently used furniture for reuse within BU. This convenient and cost-effective option allows departments to outfit spaces while reusing furniture.
Goodwill, Not Landfill
Boston University students donate items to Goodwill during move-out. Donation bins are located in the largest residence halls across campus. This program has successfully diverted hundreds of tons of clothing, household items, and more from the landfill.
Paper Reduction
Paper reduction includes reducing student printing quotas, eliminating cover sheets from printing stations, and implementing paperless payroll for all employees.
Sustainability Ambassadors
During undergraduate orientation, Sustainability Ambassadors help new students learn how to incorporate reusables into daily life and engage in proper waste sorting.
Student Programs
BU Sustainability supports a variety of student groups with their initiatives throughout campus. Examples include:
- Questrom Mug Spot, which provides reusable mugs at the Questrom Starbucks
- Paper straws in retail locations
- Food waste diversion at the Medical Campus
- Zero Waste event consultation
- Enhanced recycling in residence halls
Cardboard Recycling during Move-In Week
Every year at Move-In Week, BU designates areas at residence halls across campus to facilitate recycling of cardboard boxes.
Shredding Day with IS&T
Each semester, BU Sustainability and IS&T work together to collect surplus e-waste, paper, batteries, lightbulbs, toners, and more from the Boston University community to facilitate secure disposal and promote recycling.
Learn more
Read BU’s Zero Waste Plan and meet the Zero Waste Implementation Task Force.
Follow BU’s progress on waste diversion.