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April 1 marks the beginning of Earth Month at UIC, a time when Planning, Sustainability and Project Management as well as other campus organizations focus on the environment and sustainability.

To make it easier to find activities to participate in during April, PSPM has created an Earth Month at UIC web page that lists a variety of campus events, including personal electronics recycling collections, conversations about the severe effects of climate change and environmental pollution on low-income earners and communities of color. It also includes Heritage Garden events and Sustain to Summit, a unique Earth Day celebration that combines fitness, sustainability and community.

If your organization is hosting an event that you’d like included on the web page, please email sustainability@uic.edu. 

There are six opportunities to recycle outdated electronics in April at either Student Center East and Student Center West. PSPM has again partnered with PCs for People to collect used and unused personal electronics, which will be refurbished and repurposed for resale to low-resource households and nonprofit organizations or recycled.

Accepted items include:

NOT accepted:

Drop off dates, location and times are as follows:

Email any questions to recycling@uic.edu

PSPM is still seeking participants for its compost pilot program. Composting is a natural process that converts food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich material that can be used to enrich soil in gardens, farms and landscapes.

The pilot is open to all members of the UIC community. Participants must do the following:

Visit the web page for additional information about the program and how to participate.

Chicago Environmentalists, a local sustainability group, is hosting an event on how to grow and care for plants native to the area. Getting Started with Native Plants at Home is designed for individuals looking to support pollinators by including low-maintenance native plants to their gardens. Participants without access to a yard will have an opportunity to learn how to grow native plants in a container. Free native seeds will be provided to guests based on what is best for their location.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Logan Vegan, 2535 N Kedzie Blvd. 

Tickets are free. Please register in advance. 

UIC is a longtime member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, also known as AASHE.   

AASHE hosts an annual conference that brings together hundreds of students, faculty and staff from across higher education. It solicits proposals from individuals interested in sharing their expertise at conference sessions or related events. While submissions most often come from faculty and staff, students are also encouraged to apply.

Selected proposals may be featured at the conference or included in AASHE’s year-round virtual education programs such as webinars, workshops and online courses. This is an opportunity to contribute to one of the leading professional development platforms for sustainability in higher education.

Submit your proposal by April 10, 2026.

This year marks the fourth annual Trash Bash at the Cook County Forest Preserves. Trash Bash offers an environmentally safe way to clean up various hard-to-recycle items including electronics, prescription drugs, bikes, clothing, plastic bags and more. Trusted partners will help ensure these materials are reused, repurposed or recycled responsibly to keep harmful waste out of landfills and out of local waterways.

All 2026 Trash Bash events will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on each listed date and forest preserve location:

Volunteers will be unloading vehicles, loading trucks, sorting donations and assisting with traffic control. All participants at each event will be given a free “Don’t Be Trashy” T-shirt. If interested, please sign up for one of the four Trash Bash events.

Please register on the Forest Preserves of Cook County website.

With warmer weather approaching, drivers and cyclists can all benefit from sharing the road. Complete this quiz to test if you understand the laws that keep all road-users safe.

To those who don’t drive, consider sending this to friends who do.

The University of Illinois Extension is a partner with the Conservation@Home program. Conservation@Home offers Cook County residents, schools and businesses an opportunity to turn everyday gardens into environmentally sound landscapes. 

For a one-time fee, certified gardeners will receive a Conservation@Home sign to post in their yard, a subscription to the program's seasonal newsletter and access to free workshops and design resources.

Each spring, the program offers a native plant sale in partnership with Wild Ones West Cook. Certified participants will receive early notifications and discounts. This year's online sale will run through May 15. To find out more and apply for certification, please visit the program's web page.

Internship, Finance Accounting Intern SRAM Inc

Specialist, Environmental Finance Center (EFC), Delta Institute

2026 Internship at Illinois Medical District

Volunteer opportunity: Social media support at Chicago Environmentalists 

Chicago Environmentalists is seeking social media support to produce content focused on sustainable living and eco-friendly businesses and organizations in Chicagoland. The role will also help cover environmental issues and highlight events hosted by Chicago Environmentalists. Experience with making video for social media is required.

Please email chicagoenvironmentalists@gmail.com.

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!