Housing Sustainability
GO FOR THE GREEN
Go for the Green is a month-long energy-saving competition between residential communities at Western. From January 9 to Earth Day (April 22), communities compete to see who can reduce the most energy consumption compared to previous years. Learn more at Go for the Green!
OUR MISSION
The Housing Sustainability program aims to provide on-campus residents with educational programming and initiatives that value and prioritize sustainability in the residential experience. In alignment with Western’s Sustainability Action Plan and University Residences Initiative for Student Engagement (URISE), our programming is designed to prepare students for life after on-campus living, educate students on sustainability, reduce on-campus waste, and help students save money through programs like the Resident Checkout Program.
Western's Sustainability Action Plan
"Western inspires graduates who create a sustainable world by integrating social, economic, and ecological justice (SEE) practices into their lives..." and fosters "an appreciation and understanding of the impact of human choices on people around the world and the planet itself."
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EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Western’s Sustainability Action Plan, adopted in September 2017, guides action and promotes accountability for sustainability initiatives around campus. Residence hall education aims to improve student's understanding of wellness in line with the Sustainability Action Plan’s four “pillars”, by expanding student's awareness of how local actions can impact global ecology, social equity, economic vitality, and human health.
The goal of Housing Sustainability's educational programming is to prepare on-campus residents for life beyond Western by providing resources that can build habits to save money, make a positive impact on the environment, and promote personal wellness. By combining educational and interactive activities, we offer on-campus residents a holistic sustainability education alongside their residence hall experience.
Education and engagement in the residence halls use sustainability education to build inclusive communities through interactive activities, aid in career preparedness by promoting critical thinking and promote personal wellness, all in line with URISE's goals for on-campus communities.
Event Calendar for 2024-2025
Fall 2024
Winter 2025
Spring 2025
Plant It Forward
WHEN: January 22nd, 5pm
WHERE: Viking Union MPR
Bring an upcycled container to repurpose into a planter, take home a free plant, and learn how to reduce your footprint while pledging to Go for the Green! Earn points for your residence hall by pledging, attending events, and putting energy saving habits into action!
Clothing Swap & Sew
WHEN: April 17th, 5pm
WHERE: Viking Union MPR
Celebrate the Go for the Green finale and combat fast fashion! Join us for our annual Clothing Swap & Sew; bring your clothes to trade for new-to-you favorites! Bring worn items for free mending! RSVP for a free gift!
Awareness Tabling
WHEN: October 29th & 30th, 5-7pm
WHERE: Each Dining Hall Location
Find us in the dining halls around campus to learn about how we support residents! Earn candy and enter our raffle by participating in our interactive poll.
Go for the Green Tabling
WHEN: February 24 at 11am, Spring 2025 TBD
WHERE: Viking Commons Dining Hall
Pledge to Go for the Green and join the conversation about sustainability with our HFA's. The more you engage, the more points you earn for your community! All pledgers receive a pledge poster and sticker pack to display on their door.
Earth Week Fair
WHEN: Monday, April 21st, 11am-2pm
WHERE: Red Square
Learn how you can get involved in resource conservation and ecological restoration initiatives at the annual Earth Week Fair! Find FREE WATER BOTTLES, resources for water conservation and its impact, and more information on upcoming ecological restoration and community recreation events!
Green Your Gathering
WHEN: November 18th-22nd
WHERE: Housing Sustainability IG
Follow along on our Instagram to learn about ways to make your gatherings more sustainable this holiday season! Answer the prompts in the caption of our daily posts to enter the raffles for gift cards to local businesses!
Room to Recharge
WHEN: February 19, 2025 at 5pm
WHERE: Viking Commons and Ridgeway Commons
Reset and take care of your living space to recharge your mental space. Take care of your mental health with our tips for creating Room To Recharge. Create your recharge routine to boost your mood and improve your well-being.
Water Wise Week
WHEN: May 27th-30th
WHERE: Little Squalicum Park & Lakewood (see below)!
Participate in community restoration and recreation events (see below)!
LITTLE SQUALICUM BEACH: THURSDAY, MAY 29TH @ 3 PM
Discover your new Happy Place! Join us for a guided bike ride (no bike necessary!), 45-minute Beach Clean-Up, & scavenger hunt to find hidden local treasures and explore PNW beaches & wildlife!
Snacks and equipment will be provided! RSVP to win prizes--links coming soon!
LAKEWOOD BOATHOUSE: FRIDAY, MAY 30 @ 4-7PM
Housing takes on Lake Whatcom! Enjoy an afternoon of soaking up the sun, crafting, a guided bike ride (no bike necessary!) / paddle, and more! Explore sustainable transit & WWU's FREE Lakewood Boathouse.
Snacks and equipment will be provided! RSVP to win prizes--links coming soon!
Past Events in 2023-2024
Food & Recovery Drive
WHEN: June 2nd-13th
WHERE: TBD
Don't toss your unwanted items when you move out! Donate them to the Food and Recovery Drive to help future residents and support the community. We collect room essentials, food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies for others to reuse. Remaining items are donated to WWU's WHOLE Pantry, Soap for Hope, and other local nonprofits.
RESIDENCE HALL REUSE PROGRAM
Visit our Resident Checkout Program page to learn more!
Choose to Reuse before buying new and keep unwanted items out of the landfill. The Residence Hall Reuse Program (RHRP) increases the accessibility and affordability of higher education for underrepresented residents. RHRP prioritizes access to free rentals of donated room essentials for high-need students (first-generation, etc.).
Since its start in Fall 2020, the Residence Hall Reuse Program has equipped over 600 residents with more than 1,100 items diverted from the landfill. Non-returning residents are encouraged to donate their room essentials during move-out for future residents.
Participants understand:
- How circular borrowing can impact their consumption habits
- Why diverting unwanted items from waste streams can improve the well-being of our community and planet.
New to RHRP: Bikes abandoned within University Residences are reclaimed and repaired to working condition through the WWU Outdoor Center, equipped with grant-funded helmets and locks, and then rented to residents at no cost for the academic year.
WASTE DROPOFF AREAS
Not sure where the nearest waste sorting area is to your residence hall? Click from the menu below for a map of garbage, compost, and recycling depots.
RESIDENCE HALL COMPOSTING
Western's program is one of the first residence hall composting programs in the nation. All on-campus residents are supplied with the resources, education, and support they need to compost effectively.
There are several outdoor compost waste “toters” located in each residential community Waste Dropoff Areas, where residents can deposit their compostable materials. We recommend that you empty your composting bucket once a week and before session breaks and ends.
Additional education and engagement activities for composting etiquette and food waste will be provided throughout the year to facilitate effective composting within the residence halls. Events like the Sustainability Extravaganza, UR Facilities Amenities and Offerings, and DIY(Do It Yourself) low-waste swaps Makerspace activities are offered to provide community-oriented learning spaces for students to expand their knowledge about food waste reduction. In addition, weekly audits of compost toters determine compost contamination levels in each residence hall and inform composting curriculum for the year.
Each resident's room/suite is equipped with a composting bucket, an instructional sheet, an instructional sticker, and a roll of biodegradable liners. Birnam Wood and Buchanan Towers house one compost bin per apartment/suite to be kept in the kitchen area of each apartment/ suite. Students are supplied with 25 liners per bin each quarter, so it is recommended that students use liners only for their compost bins. Residents can contact their front desk staff to acquire additional liners if needed.
COMPOST 101
Composting correctly is important to create a sustainable world. If our compost is too contaminated, the load will be thrown into the landfill, negating the benefit to the environment and our urban spaces.
| Compostable | Not Compostable - Contaminated Materials |
| Vegetables, fruit (all parts) | PLU stickers (labels on vegetables & fruits) |
| Meat, bones | Fat, grease, excessive oil |
| Tea bags, coffee filters | Rubber bands & twist ties |
| Coffee grounds | Plastic, metal |
| Dairy | Plastic-lined paper (paper cups, some takeout containers) |
| Compostable plates, utensils, takeout boxes with proper labels | Food soiled plastic |
| Food soiled paper towels & cardboard | Cardboard & paper without grease stains |
Look for this poster to help you compost!
Not all 'compostable' advertised materials are actually compostable. When determining if a material is compostable or not, look for food stains & these labels.
Food scraps & soiled paper can be composted, see chart above for specifics
All cups & containers from campus dining locations are compostable EXCEPT FOR STARBUCKS
RECYCLE 101
Recycling supports our path to a sustainable future. If recycling is sorted incorrectly, it damages our crucial solid waste systems, slowing our progress to a clean and livable world.
Recycling is Now Single Stream!
Due to AS Recycle Center's temporarily suspended operations, interim recycling services are transitioning to our Landfill and Compost provider, Sanitary Services Company (SSC).
What is single-stream recycling? Same recyclables, but less sorting for you!
- All plastic, tin, aluminum, glass (PTAG) & mixed paper go in one drop-off container
- Flattened, corrugated cardboard goes in a separate dumpster for cardboard only
Refer to recycling signage around the waste drop-off areas for help sorting your waste. Just like in any other place, food is not recyclable. Cleaning your recyclables by washing them thoroughly reduces contamination. It is also important to separate different materials in a single product, like removing plastic from envelopes, removing bottlecaps, and removing plastic pumps. If the recycling is too contaminated, it gets thrown into the landfill.
Unsure of where to sort an item? Don't see it pictured on any Recycling or Compost signs? Use the Waste Wise Guide to search for items and find out which container to use.
Commingled
In the commingled recycling bins, place your:
- Plastic: clean, rigid plastic bottles, cups, jugs and tubs
- Tin & aluminum: clean aluminum & tin cans
- Glass: clean glass bottles & jars
- Mixed paper: paperboard, paper bags, newspaper, office paper
Cardboard Only
In the cardboard only dumpsters, place your:
- Flattened cardboard: only corrugated (thick) cardboard that has been flattened/collapsed
Landfill
Place everything that you cannot compost or recycle into the landfill dumpster.
- Styrofoam, plastic binding and plastic bags are landfill, so be sure to place these in the trash.
Program Benefits
- Develops practices that build autonomy and prepare students for off-campus living.
- Promotes a consistent culture of sustainable waste management across campus.
- Pairs with educational programming to increase awareness on the social, economic, and ecological benefits of composting.
- Reduces landfill waste, which diminishes greenhouse gasses released by landfills and protects ecosystems near landfills.
- Converts potential landfill waste into a useful product sold in local communities.
Opting Out:
Residence hall composting is an “opt-out” program, which means all residents will automatically be supplied with the resources to compost successfully on campus. However, if residents choose not to compost, they are encouraged to keep their clean, empty bin stored in their room, such as in a closet or under a bed. Damage or loss of compost bins will result in a fine to your Western Account.
Contact Us
Have questions about our programs or offerings? Email us at residencesfacilities@wwu.edu.
Follow our Instagram @wwuhousingsustainability for regular program updates!