SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is part of the on campus Aggie experience.
Engage and explore the sustainability efforts supported by the Department of Residence Life. We strive to engage and educate our diverse student population about sustainability with the mission of making sustainability an Aggie tradition!
News & Announcements
Residence Life Partners with Students and Innovators to Create Sustainable Living Project
The Department of Residence Life, with support from the Aggie Green Fund, has launched a pilot project in Walton that allow students the opportunity to control their electrical outlets with an app-based button.
Sustainability Newsletter – May 2019
Do you have unwanted items (i.e. clothes, shoes, etc.) as you move out for the summer? Donate, Don't Dump!
Sustainability Newsletter Archive
Looking for older copies of the Sustainability Monthly Newsletter? Well, look no further!
Select the past issue you’d like to readUpcoming Events
Sustainability Information
What You Can Do
There are many ways students can engage with sustainability while you live at the heart of the Aggie experience. Levels of engagement vary from utilizing the recycling bins to being a leader in sustainability by joining a student organization. Please see the “Projects” tab for more information about these opportunities.
Utilizing Sustainable Resources
Recycle your recyclable material at any of the locations in your residence hall.
| Appelt | Aston | Clements | Davis-Gary |
| Eppright | Fowler | Haas | Hart |
| Hobby | Hughes | Hullabaloo | Keathley |
| Krueger | Lechner | McFadden | Moses |
| Mosher | Neeley | Rudder | Schuhmacher |
| Underwood | Wells |
Sustainability Awards
The goal of the Texas A&M University sustainability awards will be to reward Aggies with a sense of achievement for their efforts in facilitating sustainable education and habits in Texas A&M residence halls
U-Challenge (Utilities Challenge)
The U-Challenge will provide students the unique opportunity to gain access to the data about the residence halls here at Texas A&M University. Students will use this information, and draw upon the expertise of the staff from Utilities and Energy Services and Residence Life, to learn about the current proficiency of the buildings and propose ways to increase the buildings’ efficiency to a panel of staff, faculty, and administration. All majors and classifications are encouraged to participate. For more information, download the Utilities Challenge Outline. To apply, complete the U-Challenge Application online.
Aggie Eco Reps
Want to be more involved? Join the Aggie Eco Reps and represent your residence hall or apartment in this student organization that educates and engages students on campus while having fun!
Ride the Aggie Spirit
Reduce your carbon footprint by riding the Aggie Spirit bus system and not driving your car.
Don’t Dump, Donate
At the end of the spring semester, donate your unwanted items to Goodwill in our Don’t Dump, Donate program.
Trex Plastic Challenge
NOTE: From May 1, 2019 until further notice only the General Services Complex and Gardens Apartments bins will be open. All other locations will be closed until the official start of next year’s challenge in the fall.
What is Trex?
Trex is a company headquartered in Winchester, VA. They produce composite decking and outdoor furniture made from 95% recycled wood and plastic film. You can learn more by going to https://www.trex.com/why-trex/eco-friendly-decking/.
What is the challenge?
The challenge presented by Trex is to collect at least 500 pounds of plastic film within a six month time period. Plastic collected is then sent to a local retailer where it is then sent to a distribution center from which Trex purchases the plastic. If the 500 pound minimum is met, Trex provides a free bench to the institution.
What plastic can be collected?
Below is a list of all the types of plastic that can be recycled as part of the challenge. Please make sure that all plastic is clean, dry, and free of food residue.
Bread and cereal bags- Grocery bags
- Dry cleaning bags
- Newspaper sleeves
- Ice bags
- Ziplock and other re-sealable bags
- Produce bags
- Bubble wrap
- Packaging air pillows
- Food storage bags
- Salt bags
- Product wrap
Where are the drop-off locations?
Location maps can be accessed by clicking on the location links below or by going to aggiemap.tamu.edu and searching for the location(s). | View map of all 5 locations
- General Services Complex Lobby – Can be accessed by taking Bus Route 06 – 12th Man
- Gardens Community Center – Can be accessed by taking Bus Route 04 – Gig ‘Em
- CLOSED May 1, 2019 thru Opening of Fall 2020
- Hullabaloo Hall 24 Hour Desk (2 bins) – Can be accessed by taking Bus Route 01 – Bonfire or Bus Route 02 – Replant
- Commons 24 Hour Desk (2 bins) – Can be accessed by taking Bus Route 01 – Bonfire
- White Creek Activity Center – Can be accessed by taking Bus Route 03 – Yell Practice
Individual location maps can be accessed by clicking on the location links above or by going to aggiemap.tamu.edu and searching for the location(s).
Projects
Eco Aggies is a sustainability app that provides TAMU students the opportunity to learn about the environment, engage with other students from across campus, and earn prizes from our sponsor, Siemens, in ongoing challenges. The challenges highlight a new theme each month and encourages students to earn points by performing sustainable actions. For more information, please visit http://ecoaggies.joulebug.com/
Have you ever started preparing to move out of the residence halls in the spring and discovered you acquired more stuff than you remembered?
Instead of throwing away goods and contributing to the landfill, donate your material to the Don’t Dump, Donate program! TAMU ResLife partners with Goodwill during move out to give students that opportunity.
Locations include parking lot 32 by Haas Hall, beside the south side parking garage, the White Creek Activity Center, and near the Activity Center at the Gardens Apartments. Drop-off times will be May 2-12 at 8:30am-4:30pm everyday (weekends included). Accepted items include electronics, small appliances (not including microwaves or TVs), clothing, towels and rugs, shoes, and other household items.
If you have nonperishable food, you can also donate it to The 12th Can program at the Commons Front Desk, Hullabaloo and at the Goodwill trucks.
Partners
Residence Life graciously partners with various offices, departments, and units across campus in our efforts to make sustainability an Aggie tradition. The following departments and organizations are a few of the people with whom Residence Life coordinates our efforts to meet our goals.
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- Office of Sustainability
- Transportation Services
- Dining Services
- Utilities and Energy Services
- Department of Multicultural Services
- Aggie Eco Reps
- Howdy Farm
- Residential Housing Association (RHA)
- The 12th Can Food Pantry
- Sustainability & Environmental Management Committee
- Brazos Valley Recycling
- Environmental Health and Safety
Staff Picks
- The Ecology of Commerce (1993) (Paul Hawken)
- The Ecology of Commerce Revised Edition: A Declaration of Sustainability (2010) (Paul Hawken)
- Great Tide Rising: Towards Clarity and Moral Courage in a Time of Planetary Change (Kathleen Moore)
- The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (Elizabeth Kolbert)
- Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward (David Orr)
Resources
TAMU Sustainability Guide
Do you know what it means to have a green office? Maybe? Not really? This TAMU Sustainability Guide is a great resource!
Office of Sustainability
The Sustainability Office advocates many programs and ongoing projects. For all information related to sustainability at TAMU, they will be a good place to start.
Utilities and Energy Services
Are you curious about TAMU’s award-winning energy plant? Maybe you would like to schedule a tour of the plant? Contact them at utilities@tamu.edu.
Environmental Health and Safety
To report environmental concerns, please check out the Environmental Health and Safety website.
Aggie Green Fund
Do you have a great idea for sustainability initiatives around campus but you just don’t know how to acquire funding? That’s why the Aggie Green Fund exists! Check out how to submit an application for the AGF at their website.
Biennial Report
Are you interested about what TAMU’s broader goals are and how it pursues them? Check out the biennial report from the Sustainability Office and find out!