![Photograph of front of the School of Medicine and Dentistry in summer](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2013-08-19_campus_sculptures_017-scaled.jpg)
News
Check out the latest news and updates related to sustainability at the University, including University-wide news and updates from our office.
Our office’s news and updates
![Photograph of front of the School of Medicine and Dentistry in summer](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2013-08-19_campus_sculptures_017-scaled.jpg)
February 13, 2025
The Sustainability Office is pleased to announce a refresh of the recycling program currently underway at the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD). This initiative, run in collaboration with SMD…
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Zbrozek_3-scaled.jpg)
February 10, 2025
Sustainability Office welcomes new sustainability programs specialist
![University of Rochester's Meliora Hall](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2014-09-26_Meliora_hall_006-scaled.jpg)
December 2, 2024
Energy efficiency project expected to save $290,000 and 669 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually
![Team Green student employee tables at an event during Welcome Week.](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ZeroWasteLunch_03.jpeg)
November 19, 2024
Student employment teams strengthen sustainability objectives
![UR-branded safety glasses for viewing the April 8 total solar eclipse are photographed February 6, 2024. // photo by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-02-09_eclipse_glasses_0009-scaled.jpg)
October 18, 2024
Solar eclipse glasses repurposed for others
![Cam Schauf receiving the David R. Prentkowski Distinguished Lifetime Member Award](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NACUFS-3037.jpg)
September 23, 2024
Former dining director recognized for accomplishments in food services
![Outside of the Kornberg Medical Research Building](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2018-05-24_Kornberg_letter_045_resized.jpg)
August 11, 2024
URMC undergoes retro-commissioning project to increase efficiency
![A trash and recycling bin](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Transit.jpg)
July 19, 2024
Three decades of going green at URMC
![A large collection of recycled goods in boxes on the University's campus](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Events_Moveout.jpg)
June 17, 2024
Year-end collections and donations divert tons from landfills
![Cars lined up at the University's annual Shred Fest event](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Shred_Fest_setup-2048x1152-1.jpg)
June 3, 2024
Gather personal documents for Shred Fest!
![Two University of Rochester students wearing sunglasses indoors. One is holding a cardboard cutout of a sun, and the other is holding a sign of the Earth that says "Love your mother"](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Events_CR2ZW.jpg)
May 20, 2024
Campus waste reduction partnerships blossom
![An eyeglasses donation collection box, hand-painted and decorated to look like a vegetable garden](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/eyeglasses-collection-box.png)
May 6, 2024
Eyeglasses collection results sets new records on its tenth anniversary
![A Goodwill clothing donation box located on the University of Rochester campus](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Goodwill-donation-box.jpg)
April 29, 2024
End of year programs help students moveout without throwing out
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2021-12-14_power_plant_339-scaled-1.jpg)
April 22, 2024
University awarded nearly $3.9 million from NYSERDA for energy efficiency projects
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2022-10-24_campus_Fall_colors_0227-scaled-e1711133643232.jpg)
March 25, 2024
University Students’ Association reinstates the Student Sustainability Council
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2018-09-11_acorns_152-scaled-1.jpg)
March 11, 2024
University performs high in renowned sustainability global ranking
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-02-23-162401.png)
February 26, 2024
University leaders co-create decarbonization guide for New York hospitals
![A pair of eyeglasses being held up, reflecting a forest through the lens](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Glasses-scaled.jpg)
February 16, 2024
Eyeglasses collection and competition begins!
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_4067-scaled-e1707835673850.jpg)
February 12, 2024
Power plant pilot concludes with strong energy savings results
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/clothing-exchange.jpg)
January 29, 2024
15th annual Campus Race to Zero Waste begins
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2023-09-05_Conesus_computer_0031-e1705423604985.jpg)
January 16, 2024
Supercomputer advances fusion research and efficient energy production
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/monika-stawowy-Jfj8TLJoqJg-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg)
December 18, 2023
An ever-green season for an ever-better holiday
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bike1-scaled-1.jpg)
December 4, 2023
University collaboration provides free bikes to Rochester residents
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/phillandscape-scaled-1.jpg)
November 20, 2023
Sustainability Office staff to focus on waste minimization
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_0073-1-scaled-1.jpg)
November 6, 2023
Another successful E-Cycle Day
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/rain3.jpg)
October 23, 2023
Facilities staff and hydrology students expand Witmer House rain garden
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV3-e1696647673260.jpg)
October 9, 2023
Electric vehicles add to growing options for sustainable transportation
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2023-06-13_Orthopedic_center_drone_0191.jpg)
September 25, 2023
New URMC building on-track to receive LEED Certification
![A volunteer sorting through boxes of recycled electronics at the E-Cycle Day event](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_9140-2048x1152-1.jpg)
September 11, 2023
Announcing the 16th annual E-Cycle Day
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2019-05-16_flowering_tree_147-scaled-1.jpg)
August 14, 2023
Four big ways the University’s environmental stewardship and sustainable practices meet the mark
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/13th-Annual-Shred-Fest-scaled-1.jpg)
July 31, 2023
13th annual Shred Fest results
![picture of small yellow flowers blooming](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2008-09-18_UHS_Ribbon_Cutting_6989-1.jpg)
July 17, 2023
Sustainability Office welcomes new staff
![A truck loading documents to be confidentially shredded onto it](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ShredFest-scaled.jpg)
May 22, 2023
Announcing Shred Fest 2023
![](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LLE-Omega-Lab-2.jpg)
January 23, 2023
Latest fusion milestone could hint the future of sustainable energy
![Giant letters that spell out "Meliora" in front of Rush Rhees Library](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2023-10-07_MW_candids_0483.jpg)
January 9, 2023
Rochester receives bike friendly campus award
![A stack of old newspapers](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-146360943.jpg)
August 25, 2021
Ways to reuse newspapers
![A pile of wood chips](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1286694610.jpg)
June 9, 2021
Wood chip driveways
![A woman in a suit in front of a government building, referencing her notepad](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1410256634.jpg)
June 7, 2020
An overview of federal environmental agencies in America
![Two University of Rochester student volunteers pictured with a group of primary school kids](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EWB.jpg)
March 16, 2020
University earns first Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
![Two pens and two pencils](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1471268834.jpg)
March 11, 2020
6 ways to use old pens and pencils
![Flowers petals and leaves forming brain shape inside head silhouette made out of grass on yellow background.](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1397973635.jpg)
June 5, 2013
Five definitions of sustainability
![A water pitcher and cold glass of water on a kitchen countertop](https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-577960160.jpg)
August 11, 2010