The Washington University Green Ambassador (WUGA) program launched in 2013 and gives students the opportunity to become sustainability leaders across campus. First-year impacts included making numerous orientation events near-zero waste (over 90% diversion from landfill); recycling 100,000 pounds of cardboard; and distributing hundreds of Eco To-Go reusable box program memberships.
Ingrid Archibald, Alex Symes, and Lily Schroeder are serving as this year’s WUGA program Student Directors. Under their guidance, an additional 27 WUGAs completed training and are volunteering across residence halls, dining facilities, and at large events to help first-year students with waste sorting and to provide sustainability resources. Each WUGA is assigned to a residential college floor to further facilitate the transition for new students. WUGAs are also working on one of four teams: Compost and Recycling, Energy Usage and Efficiency, Water Conservation, and Food and Dining. Each team will create and execute a project related to their team’s focus over the course of the semester.
The WUGAs have already helped achieve near-zero waste at several major events, including Celebration in the Quad, the Graduate BBQ, SUp All Night, the Student Union Activities Fair, and Taste of St. Louis. WUGAs will manage waste stations at this Friday’s First Floor Dinner and at an upcoming picnic event in Forest Park, as well.
To learn more about the WUGA program and how to get involved, contact Jennifer Thomas, Sustainability Coordinator, at jlthomas@wustl.edu.