In Our Nature

As we look toward the Fall quarter, I’m encouraged by our accomplishments of the past academic year and even more excited about what’s to come.

Over the past few months we’ve completed UW’s first comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Inventory, introduced a proposal to reduce the University’s emissions from air travel, started the process of creating the next Sustainability Action Plan and much more.

Our team has also grown over the past few months. I’m pleased to introduce three new UW Sustainability staff members: Campus Sustainability Fund Program Director Danny Arguetty; Planning...

UW students living in the North campus neighborhood can get rid of unwanted items for free during the Husky Neighborhood Cleanup. On Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24 trucks will be on site accepting items for recycling or disposal.

A UW student Husky card will be required to drop off material. Items can be taken on those days to the median at 17th Ave NE & NE 47th St. from 1 to 5 p.m. or until the trucks are full.

Accepted items include:

• Recyclable materials, including scrap metal and painted or unpainted wood
• Disposal...

When we talk about sustainability, we need to zoom out to recognize the deep connections we as a people have with our environment. If we only think about practicing sustainability from a traditional environmental perspective, focusing only on ecosystems and conservation, it is easy to lose sight of these connections. Keeping a primarily ecological view such as this one makes it easy to fall into the trap of thinking that nature exists separately from people, and ignoring the perspectives and realities of much of the world. 

This thought process neglects the distinctly social...

The UW is recognized as a national leader for its deep commitment to sustainability on our campuses and in the community.

Looking forward to living on campus? Follow these tips to make move-in easier and reduce waste.

1. Bring only what you need

Don’t let those MUST HAVE shopping lists distract you - only get the basics that you’ll need. Before you start shopping, take note of all the things you use in your everyday life and will continue to use.

Ask yourself: Will I actually use this? If you don’t know, wait to buy the product. Save your money and help the...

Cleaning out an office is not an easy task. UW Recycling has some guidelines to help you get rid of your unwanted items.

Following these procedures help your department:

• stay compliant with surplus and waste regulations
• avoid messes that could impact other occupants’ work
• keep custodians safe by not overloading the waste bins they collect

…and minimize items that could be sent to the landfill!

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Even when we do our best to reduce food waste, it's inevitable some scraps will need to be disposed of. It’s important to ensure that this waste ends up in the proper receptacle - your compost bin!

The benefit of composting is twofold; it prevents food from entering landfills and emitting methane, while also allowing for the material to be reused to increase soil nutrients. By diverting food waste from landfills we are preventing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing transportation costs and creating a beneficial resource...

Emily Adams has joined UW Sustainability as the Project and Engagement Specialist. In her role, Emily will focus on engaging students and staff around sustainability. Emily comes to the University of Washington from Vici Health Sciences, a research and development focused pharmaceutical startup, where she served as the Business Development Manager. Emily brings a strong and diverse skillset to UW, including a comprehensive background in sustainable strategy, project management, and collaborative engagement. Prior to her work at Vici Health Sciences, Emily worked as a Product Manager at...

The inaugural National Sustainability Society (NSS) conference will be held this Fall at the University of Washington on September 9-11, 2024.

The National Sustainability Society is a community for everyone in the field of sustainability: researchers, students, policy-makers, and practitioners alike. This national conference will bring together academics, students, and practitioners within the field of sustainability to build consensus on...

Danny Arguetty has joined the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) as Program Director. CSF, housed within and closely collaborating with UW Sustainability, is thrilled to welcome him. Danny is excited to co-lead the fund with CSF’s student staff and committee, championing the mission of justice-centered sustainability, recognizing the disproportionate negative impact of climate change on communities of color, particularly Black and Indigenous peoples.

Previously, Danny supported international students at Northeastern University–Seattle through mental...

The 2024 Husky Sustainability Awards have been awarded to six recipients, as well as a Husky Sustainability Legacy Award honoree.

The winners will be recognized at an award ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 at 3 p.m. in the Burke Museum Cascade Room. All are invited to attend, and the ceremony will be followed by an informal reception with light snacks.

This year's winners include students, faculty and staff who have demonstrated impact, leadership, initiative and dedication to sustainability. This is the 15th year the ...