Each year, Emerson competes in the Campus Race to Zero Waste (CR2ZW), a friendly competition between colleges and universities to identify the leading institutions in waste diversion. The 2025 competition runs from February 2 to March 29.
In alignment with our participation in CR2ZW, Sustainability staff host WasteNot Emerson, a series of events and activities to raise awareness about waste reduction and uplift low-waste practices being taken every day on campus!
Get Involved
1
Certify your event as a Green Event
Events are an integral part of the Emerson experience and there are many ways to make them more sustainable and reduce our event waste! Visit the Green Event Certification Program webpage to learn more and to submit your event.
2
Sign the Pledge
Sign the pledge to commit to properly recycling and composting on campus. Signing the pledge will enter you in a drawing for a 7-pack starter kit of reusable Stasher bags!
3
Practice Zero Waste
Reduce the amount of items that get thrown in waste bins in your daily life. To help do this, we love referring to Recycle Smart MA’s Reframing the Waste Hierarchy.
Events
February 3 – March 29
Sign the Recycling and Compost Pledge
Sign the pledge to commit to properly recycling and composting on campus. Each person who completes this pledge will be entered into a drawing for a 7-pack starter kit of reusable Stasher bags!
February 3 – March 29
WasteNot Emerson Art Competition
Submit any art that you’ve created that relates to sustainability for a chance to win a grand prize. Any medium, any sustainability topic! Read the competition description for more details.
February 5, 3:30-4:30pm
Little Building, Rm.224
Teach-In on Race: Environmental Justice 101: How BIPOC communities are adversely affected by environmental impacts and what’s being done about it
Presenter: Maria Belen Power, Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity, Healey-Driscoll Administration
Facilitator: Nejem Raheem, Marketing Communication Department Chair and Professor, Emerson College
February 10-14
Office Recycling Competition
Sign up to compete against other offices for the highest diversion rate. The winning office gets a pizza party. Read the submission form for more details.
February 19, 7pm
Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym, 150 Boylston St
Go Green Game: Men’s Basketball
Join us reducing waste at the Emerson Men’s Basketball game against Wheaton College! We’ll be hosting activities, trivia, and weighing our waste after the game.
February 27, 4-5 PM
Beard Room, Piano Row 202
Low-Waste Art for Healing: Finger Knitting
Knit with your fingers using found yarn! The Art for Healing Series is a eight-week series of workshops hosted by the Healing & Advocacy Collective exploring different forms of creative expression that can support healing. Listen to music, hang out, and create something you enjoy. No experience needed, no need to RSVP, all materials and instructions provided.
February 27, 6-8pm
Dining Center, 122 Boylston
Weigh the Waste
Strive to be in the Clean Plate Club as we help you sort and weigh dinner-time waste. Check the sustainability mural in the Center Stage in the following days for results.
March 5, 12-2pm
Dining Center, 122 Boylston St
Lunch Film Screening
Watch a screening of Sustainable (2016), a farming documentary about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations.
March 20, 4-5pm
Beard Room, Piano Row 202
Low-Waste Art for Healing: Suncatchers
Create your own suncatcher using up-cycled materials! The Art for Healing Series is a eight-week series of workshops hosted by the Healing & Advocacy Collective exploring different forms of creative expression that can support healing. Listen to music, hang out, and create something you enjoy. You’re welcome to come one time or every time!
March 27, 6-8pm
Dining Center, 122 Boylston
Weigh the Waste
Strive to be in the Clean Plate Club as we help you sort and weigh dinner-time waste. Check the sustainability mural in the Center Stage in the following days for results.
March 12-16
Robert J. Orchard Stage, Paramount
559 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
The Seasons
Boston Lyric Opera & ArtsEmerson / From USA presents Vivaldi’s best known work colliding with a modern, urgent libretto addressing creativity in a time of climate crisis. Join us in attending the show where waste sorting guidance will be provided at featured showtimes and events. See the ArtsEmerson website for more details on the show.
March 27
Dining Center, 122 Boylston St
Weigh the Waste
Strive to be in the Clean Plate Club as we help you sort and weigh dinner-time waste. Check our blog post afterwards for results.
