These campus sustainability practices enable participants to actively contribute to sustainability successes on campus:

  • Place recycling bins next to:
    • Desk side (paper)
    • Copy area (paper)
    • Kitchen area (Co-mingled Containers and paper)
    • Lounge (paper & Co-mingled Containers)
    • Dock (Paper, Co-mingled Containers, Corrugated Cardboard)
  • Collect special materials for recycling:
    • Laser printer toners and inkjet cartridges ((209 UCB if they are sealed in a plastic bag or box or to the E Center or to the IPF (2290 Stadium Drive)))
    • Disks (Send in small quantities to Recycling, 209 UCB)
    • Tyvek envelopes (Send in small quantities to Recycling, 209 UCB)
    • Transparencies (Send in small quantities to Recycling, 209 UCB)
  • Post recycling signs near all bins
  • Post recycling information
  • Discuss recycling procedures at staff meetings and train new staff on your office’s environmental practices
  • Contact Property Services to dispose of big office equipment and see if they can be salvaged
  • If you have events, make them Zero Waste 

Recycling Resources:

​Zero Waste Resources:

  • Turn off computers, printers, and copiers over night and especially on weekends & breaks
  • Activate sleep mode on computers, instead of screen-savers
  • Activate energy savers on copiers, fax machines, & printers
  • Replace old equipment with EnergyStar® equipment
  • Replace monitors with flat-screen displays Eliminate standalone machines including desk-side printers, fax machines, and scanners (utilize multifunction devices)
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL or LED Post signs/stickers near lights and appliances to remind people to shut them off
  • Post signs/stickers near windows to shut them
  • Regulate thermostats: 68° or below in winter and 75° or above in summer
  • Set refrigerator temperature to 37° F and freezer to 3-5° F
  • Turn off equipment and lights when not in use (small appliances still use energy if any sort of light is on) *Using power strips makes this easy
  • Eliminate unnecessary equipment

Energy Resources:

  • Use recycled (100% recycled or high post-consumer content) and tree-free papers in copier, printer, and fax
  • Make the switch to 100% recycled content as it becomes more affordable
  • Use recyclable paper (no bright, dark or plastic coated)
  • Purchase recycled content, non-toxic, remanufactured office supplies
  • Purchase non-toxic and/or biodegradable cleaners
  • Purchase energy efficient and/or reused office equipment
  • Purchase furniture that is reused or made with recycled-content materials and/or certified wood
  • Ask about options for environmentally friendly products (i.e. paints, carpet, lighting) if you are planning to renovate or remodel
  • Shop CU before going off-campus

When using MarketPlace for purchasing:

  • Entering the specific vendor's site 
  • Utilize the Search box
  • Type in specific inquiry (i.e. 'recycled' , 'eco-friendly', 'compostable', etc. ) to aid in finding a product that matches the above criteria

Purchasing Resources:

  • Memos, forms, and newsletters are sent electronically, while other documents are printed only when necessary
  • Opt out of receiving unwanted junk mail
  • Make double-sided copying/ printing a standard practice
  • Reuse items rather than throw them away when possible
    • Set aside an area for one sided scrap paper and reuse it in printer/copier when possible for informal documents 
  • Have a designated area for sharing office supplies
  • Use reusable cups/mugs, plates, and silverware
  • Do not use bright/ dark paper and/or plastic covers in copy/ print jobs
  • Print only necessary quantities of copies, catalogs, brochures, etc.
  • Minimize packaging
    • Consolidate orders to once or twice a week (or less!) 
  • Reuse plastic grocery bags
  • Avoid using bottled water at events and meetings

Waste Reduction Resources

  • Post carpool, bus, bike, & pedestrian information (Zimride is a great carpool network!)
  • Make a bicycle available for running errands, making deliveries, etc.
  • The CU Bike Station lends out bikes for 2 days, located on the east side of the UMC 
  • Request hybrids or right sized vehicles when renting from Transportation Services/Avis
  • Purchase offsets from department travel (airplane travel, bringing in guest speakers, rental vehicles etc.) 
  • Participate in commuter challenges (bike-to-work-day, etc.)

Transportation Resources

  • If you have pest occurrences, call Facilities Management for Integrated Pest Management – least toxic treatment and prevention methods

  • Request faculty and staff to review how CU Buffs Live Green
  • Participate in sustainability training via the Green Office Program or online through CU Skillsoft

Training and Engagement Resources