Zero Waste
Join the UCCS Zero Waste Pledge!
Together, we can make a big impact by choosing small, everyday actions that reduce waste and protect our campus environment. By pledging, you commit to simple changes—like reusing, recycling, and rethinking what you throw away—that help move UCCS closer to a zero-waste future. Let’s lead the way toward a cleaner, greener campus!
- Reuse and Rehydrate: I pledge to carry a reusable water bottle and not buy disposable water bottles.
- Choose to Reduce: I will reduce waste by reusing items and making the most of what I already have.
- Recycle Right: I will clean food containers and plastic bottles before placing them in the appropriate bin to eliminate contamination.
Types of Waste
Zero Waste Programs
Race to Zero Waste
Under construction
Creek Clean Ups
Join us on Saturday, October 4th to help cleanup the Templeton Gap Floodway. UCCS adopted a segment of the creek through the City of Colorado Springs' adopt-a-waterway cleanup program. Three times a year, we invite volunteers to help us cleanup this precious resource.
Waste Audits
Building waste audits tell us a lot about the habits of the occupants. It also helps us better understand what kind of educational campaigns we should focus on and what kind of infrastructure is needed. Building waste audits led us to focus our efforts on reducing coffee cups! Espresso Yourself!
Move Out Donations
Moving out of the residence halls in May? Plan to donate your unwanted items! We partner with local organizations to accept clothes, appliances, furniture, canned goods, and more! Check the UCCS calendar for our move-out donation event dates.
Waste Education
Help us put waste in the right place! It can be difficult to know where to throw your trash. We try to keep it simple (Is it cardboard? aluminum? glass? paper? Recycle! Is it food? Is it from our Coffee Shops or Cafe 65? Compost!) And when in doubt, throw it in the landfill. Better to landfill it then contaminate the recycling or composting.
Clyde's Closet
Clyde’s Closet is a free, gently used professional clothing closet for UCCS students and alumni to utilize for interviews, career fairs, special events, and everything in between. Students can select up to 7 items per semester (free of charge and no requirement to return the clothing). Clyde’s Closet carries hundreds of clothing items great for any career development event.
Bring Back the Tap
Our goal is to promote and instill the importance of Take Back the Tap as well as create awareness of the Hydration Stations around campus to Freshman students. The main focus will be Freshman seminars, where we will give each participant a top quality reusable water bottle and travel mug after a brief introduction to sustainability and ways to get involved.