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Planning, Sustainability and Project Management is seeking 100 members of the UIC community to be part of a compost pilot program that is beginning this semester. Participants will collect their own food scraps and bring it to a compost bin located near the south entrance to the Commons West residence hall. A short online training is required.

A 2019 waste audit showed that about 30% of what is currently thrown away at UIC is food waste and other compostables. By composting on campus, you can reduce landfill, cut greenhouse gas emissions and turn food scraps and certified compostables into nutrient-rich soil.

The program will run for the rest of the 2025–2026 academic year and will help UIC test how a campus compost system could work. The program will explore how to recruit and train participants, how often compost should be picked up and whether the bins are easy to use and manage without odors or pests.

To join the program, please take this short quiz. Upon passing, you will gain access and be able to start disposing compost in the bin. 

For more information, please visit go.uic.edu/compostpilot.

This April, PSPM will organize and support a variety of events to celebrate Earth Month at UIC. All university departments, organizations and community members are invited to participate.

Groups planning sustainability-related events or activities during Earth Month should email sustainability@uic.edu to be included in PSPM’s Earth Month calendar, which will be posted online in late March.

Earth Month provides a great opportunity to showcase campus commitments to sustainability and broaden campuswide engagement in sustainable activities. Please help make this year's Earth Month both impactful and inspiring.

The Sustainability Fund is a student-led initiative that aims to reduce the university's environmental impact and support its goal to become a carbon neutral, zero waste, net zero water, biodiverse and transformative scholarship university. The fund is supported by a fee assessed on tuition each semester.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit proposals for sustainability-oriented projects supported by the Sustainability Fund. Funding proposals must align with the goals of the UIC Climate Commitments, involve substantial student involvement or leadership and reflect the solutions of the university’s Climate Commitment Action Plan 2024 CCAP 2024.

Proposals for less than $5,000 are considered on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time by completing an application form. Project proposals over $5,000 will require an initial letter of inquiry. To submit a letter, please complete an application form by Friday, March 6.

After reviewing the letters, the Sustainability Fund Advisory Board will invite applicants to submit final proposals by Friday, April 4. Please email sustainability@uic.edu if you’d like to discuss a specific proposal before submitting a letter of inquiry. 

The start of a new semester is a great time for students, faculty, and staff to rethink their daily commutes. The CTA has expanded its Frequent Network, a group of key bus routes that run every 10 minutes or sooner during the day. This makes transit more reliable for UIC commuters across the city.

Several important routes serving the UIC campus are now part of this network, including the #9 Ashland, #12 Roosevelt and #60 Blue Island/26th buses. These improvements mean more frequent buses and shorter waits, helping make your commute to campus or into the city easier and more convenient.

For more information about the Frequent Network, please visit the CTA website.

Reduce Waste Chicago’s annual Holiday Lights Collection Campaign is offering free holiday light recycling at more than 40 locations across Chicago through January 31.

Before recycling, try replacing bulbs and fuses first, as extra parts are included with most light sets. Please separate lights from garlands, wreaths or other decorations and note that plastic bags and cardboard packaging are not accepted.

Learn more about holiday light recycling on Reduce Waste Chicago's website.

Assistant Director of Conservation Action - Shedd Aquarium 

Illinois Green Jobs Database

Connect with us via Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to stay updated about sustainability-related events, news, jobs and involvement opportunities.

Become an EcoVolunteer
EcoVolunteers help eventgoers properly sort waste, set up and run annual events like the Great Stuff Exchange, talk about UIC’s sustainable initiatives and spread the good word at campus events. EcoVolunteers also help plant trees and native plants on campus.

More information can be found on the EcoVolunteer web page

Join EcoReps
EcoReps act as liaisons between their unit/department and Planning, Sustainability and Project Management. Group members attend webinars throughout the year to learn about sustainability issues and how to make their office space and culture more sustainable. They also share information with their organizations about upcoming sustainability events such as the Great Stuff Exchange, Campus Electronic Recycling Events and Earth Day.

You can find out more on the EcoReps web page.

The Chancellor's Committee on Sustainability and Energy (CCSE) focuses on implementing CCAP 2024 and achieving the UIC Climate Commitments.

Join a subcommittee!