The Office of Sustainability works to improve ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ's sustainability through its work in the following areas: education and outreach, landscape and natural features, supporting LEED-certified buildings, and waste reduction and recycling.

About Us

What We Do

The Office of Sustainability at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ pursues campus-wide sustainability goals through collaborating with Facilities Management, ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ Dining Services, and student groups to organize and support various environmental sustainability initiatives and projects. The office works to:Ìý

  • Implement energy conservation measures across facilities
  • Develop a comprehensive approach to energy conservation and water managementÌý
  • Coordinate a recycling and composting program across campus
  • Incorporate and maintain natural features across campus
  • Identify potential sustainability opportunities
  • Measure and report on annual progress toward sustainability goals

Meet the Team

Sang Sherpa, Sustainability Program Assistant/Intern, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences ‘26

Sang is a senior at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ majoring in Biology and minoring in Environmental Studies. Her favorite outside activity is going to the beach with friends or going on walks to the park. Sang's favorite sustainability initiatives include composting and mindful purchasing. Sang loves interning at the Office of Sustainability because she gets to work with the ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ community in its efforts for a more environmentally sustainable world for all! A fun fact about Sang is that she loves to read Greek mythology.

Elleen Kim, Summer ‘25 Intern, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences '26

Elleen is a senior at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ majoring in Economics with minors in Environmental Studies, Finance, and Hispanic Studies. She loves gardening, hiking, and exploring swimming holes. Her favorite sustainability initiative at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ would have to be thrift shop events where students can give their clothes a second life. Outside of the classroom and office, she is also a violinist.Ìý

Alessandra Veveiros, Sustainability Program Assistant/Intern, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences ‘26

Alessandra is a junior at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in International Relations and Management/Leadership. The Office of Sustainability is special to her because she gets to be involved with making a positive environmental impact on campus. She gets to collaborate with both administration and student groups across campus, which means a day at the Office is never the same. Alessandra finds this Office special because it is so dynamic!

Morgan Bleakley, Summer ‘25 Intern, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences '26

Morgan is a senior at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Accounting for Finance & Consulting. She loves to spend time outside going on hikes, runs, reading, and painting. Her favorite ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ Sustainability initiative is the weekly farmers market in the fall, as she is very passionate about food-related sustainability. A fun fact about her is that she studied abroad in Switzerland, interning for the International Institute for Sustainable Development in the Spring of 2025.

Sustainable Update

Suscribe to the Office of Sustainability's listservÌýfor updates about the latest environmental events around campus and the Boston area including events from ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ's green clubs, campus lectures, and the latest Environmental Eagle newsletter.Ìý

Sustainability Newsletter

Read about the latest sustainability inititatives, activites and events taking place on campus in the newsletter from the student group EcoPledge and The Office of Sustainability.

Environmental Eagle Newsletter

Academic Programs

The interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Program is currently researching ways to conserve the environment, discovering engineering alternatives, and energy efficiency practices.

Offered through ɬÀï·¬ÏÂ﯉۪s Center for Corporate Citizenship, this Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability Reporting Certificate teaches you how to create credible, high-quality sustainability reports using leading frameworks like GRI, CDP, and Integrated Reporting. The program includes five courses that cover reporting standards, ESG metrics, and stakeholder engagement.Ìý

Campus Groups

Join the green community.

Charity: Water

ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ Charity: Water is an initiative started by students whose goal is to bring awareness to the global water crisis and raise money to support charity: water campaigns. Since its inception, ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ charity: water has been able to raise thousands of dollars and fund the development of a drilling rig and wells in two different villages.Ìý

EcoPledge

EcoPledge is ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ's largest student-run environmental club that works toward making ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ more sustainable. EcoPledge educates the ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ community about environmental issues by showing films, presenting lectures, and hosting annual celebratory events like Harvestfest and Earth Day. EcoPledge members often go beyond the campus, participating in local community clean-ups, national environmental conferences, and hiking and camping outings throughout New England.

Outdoor Adventures

Run by Campus Recreation, ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ offers students the opportunity to experience nature through day and weekend trips including rock climbing, hiking, sea kayaking, paddleboarding, and backpacking.

Real Food ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ

Real Food ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ is a student group on campus that strives for the establishment of a more sustainable food system by promoting the purchase of food from local, green, humane sources to support localized food production and to reduce carbon emissions that result from long-distance food shipments. Real Food manages a garden and hosts food-centered events to raise awareness about food sustainability.

Geology ClubÌý

The Geology Club is open to all students interested in geology, earth science, and the geosciences. The club hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, including career panels, networking nights, and informational sessions to help students explore opportunities in the geoscience field. The club also organizes trivia nights, paint events, and group hikes for fun!

UGɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ Environmental Sustainability (E&S) Division

The E&S Division of UGɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ engages the ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ student body by organizing a diverse array of sustainability initiatives throughout the year. E&S collaborates with student and faculty groups to promote environmental progress and a greener culture at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ.

Entrepreneurs for Social ImpactÌý

Entrepreneurs for Social Impact works to amplify businesses pursuing equity and justice around the globe, with special emphasis on the Greater Boston area. Among other social justice causes, they highlight companies working toward a more sustainable future.

Sea Eagles

Sea Eagles is dedicated to ocean conservation. The group focuses on beach cleanups, marine conservation projects, and environmental advocacy. Members participate in hands-on service opportunities like local shoreline cleanups and help raise awareness about ocean health and sustainability.Ìý

Plant Club

Plant club is a welcoming and encouraging environment for people with all levels of plant knowledge. Join plant club for plant maintenance meetings, propagation workshops, cutting swaps, bonsai workshops, terrarium events, foraging and species identification walks, and more!

Green Ambassador Program

Established in 2014, Athletics, Facilities Services, and the Office of Sustainability have partnered to make the Green Ambassador program to support ongoing campus recycling efforts. Green Ambassadors welcome fans to ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ at selected sites and offer information on game day activities and respond to recycling questions. For information about the Green Ambassador program, please email sustainability@bc.edu.

Climate Justice ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ

Climate Justice ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ aims to educate about the dangers of climate change and how students can be agents for change; unite with local and national climate activists to strengthen social support for climate justice; and to engage in activism within the ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ community.

Bike ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ

Bike ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ is a student-run bikeshare program serving the entire ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ community.Ìý

Student Guide to Sustainable Living at ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ

The Office of Sustainability created this book as reference guidelines for the ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ student body. These guidelines cover recycling on campus, conservation efforts, green cleaning, and how to join Environmental Clubs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us atÌýsustainability@bc.edu.

Ìý

Sustainability Guide 3.1

Student Sustainability Guidelines

How to Recycle and Compost

Single-Stream Recycling

ɬÀï·¬ÏÂÔØ uses single-stream recycling, which means you can throw all your recyclables in one bin without any need to sort them.ÌýHowever, make sure to rinse containers before recycling them, and do not recycle plastic bags.

What Can you Recycle?

Most recyclable items can be placed in single-stream recycling bins, including:

  • Plastics #1-7
  • Glass and plastic bottles
  • Empty, clean cardboard food and drink containers
  • Aluminum cans: soda, tuna, etc.
  • Empty, clean, plastic food containers, etc.
  • Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard

For information click on this !

Why Compost?

Composting helps prevent methane production through aerobic decomposition, reduces dependence on fossil fuels, and reduces landfill waste and incineration.ÌýCompost can be turned into a natural fertilizer, adding nutrient-rich soil to the land and promoting biodiversity.

Composting is a lot easier than recycling. Dining staff will compost for you in Corcoran Commons, McElroy Commons, Lyons Hall and Stuart Dining Hall. All food that you haven't eaten goes into the compost bin.

What Can You Compost?

  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Bones and fat trimmings
  • Dairy products
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds
  • Paper napkins
  • Tea bagsÌý
Back To Top