UCSD - University of California - San Diego

04/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2026 16:25

6 Easy Ways to Go Green This Earth Week

Published Date

April 21, 2026

Article Content

Everyday, each of us can make small choices that add up to a larger collective impact. As we celebrate Earth Week at UC San Diego, here are some tips to incorporate sustainable actions into the way we live and work.

1. BYO Container

Bring your own mug, water bottle, container or use the Triton2Go containers at campus dining locations or retail locations to reduce single-use waste. Some locations offer discounts for bringing your own container.

Campus dining offers many plant-forward options.

2. Choose Plant-Forward Meals

All campus-run dining locations offer plant-forward options. In fact, 57% of the meals offered by campus dining are vegetarian and vegan! Most retail campus restaurants also offer vegetarian and vegan options. Eating plant-forward, even occasionally, can help reduce carbon emissions.

Surplus Sales has a bit of everything.

3. Use Surplus Sales to Decorate Your Space

UC San Diego Surplus Sales offers excess and decommissioned university property at bargain prices. A great alternative to buying new, Surplus Sales has furniture, decor, electronics, office and lab supplies and many other items. Whether you are looking to decorate a dorm or purchasing office equipment, buying used saves money and helps reduce the university's environmental impact.

Arranging for food to be served buffet-style is one way to make an event more green.

4. Host a Green Event

Any campus event can be a green event by incorporating sustainable practices into its planning and execution. Use compostable cutlery and plates, encourage attendees to bring reusable beverage containers or contact the Zero Waste team to more fully integrate sustainability practices into your event.

5. Move Out Sustainably

Students who live on-campus can donate unwanted clothes, housewares or small appliances in Disabled American Veterans (DAV) donation bins that are distributed across campus for move-out. Off-campus students, faculty and staff are encouraged to donate unwanted items to local thrift stores or charities. Non-perishable, unopened food items can also be donated to the Triton Food Pantry through food donation bins at dining facilities and markets.

The trolley, buses and shuttles are all sustainable transit options.

6. Rethink Your Commute

The MTS UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley has three convenient stops near campus and bus services for students, faculty and staff who commute from off campus. Triton Transit shuttles are a great way to get around campus, as are micromobility options like bikes and scooters. For those who drive electric vehicles, UC San Diego has one of the largest EV charging networks in the San Diego region.

The small steps we take toward sustainable living and working can add up to meaningful change across our campus and beyond. Whether you're bringing a reusable mug, trying a plant-forward meal or opting for public transit to get around, every decision brings us closer to a more sustainable future.

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on April 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 21, 2026 at 22:25 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]