Waste Reduction on Campus and Beyond
Columbia strives toward zero waste through our comprehensive recycling program, including in-person recycling training called "Know Where to Throw," as well as the consistent expansion of compost collection in partnership with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and private carting companies. Waste management is a central tenet of Columbia's sustainability plan.
Recent News: Waste
Campus as Lab Project Launches Sustainable Procurement Framework for Columbia
By integrating sustainability metrics with business risk indicators to inform strategic procurement decisions, the Office of Sustainability’s first Columbia Business School intern, Ting-Ting Chou, has set the University on a path to reduce costs and lower its supply chain’s environmental footprint.
Furniture from Interchurch Finds a New Home at a New York Construction Firm
During a gut renovation of the 500 and 800 levels at the Interchurch Center earlier this year, Columbia rehomed some of the gently used office furniture from Interchurch to KCM Contracting, a Yonkers-based small business.
Clean + Go Green - November 20 to 21, 2025
There’s no better time than the present to... clean! Cleaning your office or living space creates more space and can also help the environment. Columbia University Facilities and Operations and our partners across campus want to help. As part of our award-winning “Clean + Go Green” program, we will make large bins available across the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses at no cost to you for the recycling, reuse, or proper disposal of large, unwanted items.
We Recycle Columbia-owned Office Furniture
The ReUse Program is a network for exchanging University-owned office furniture and other items among colleagues. The program is a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, department administrators across campus, Columbia Community Service, and Facilities & Operations.