Office of Sustainability

Recycling program encourages waste reduction on campus

For the past year, an experiment has been underway at Mason. Located in every dorm room across campus are now more than 3,000 recycling bins intended to encourage residents to reduce waste.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of Sustainability, was jointly funded by the Patriot Green Fund, the Auxiliary Enterprise Management Council, and a grant from the Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Program.

Margaret Lo, the director of the Office of Sustainability, described the first year of the program as a success.

Terra Secundum: Environmental engagement through the arts

For the first time in George Mason University’s history, The Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College,  showcased student’s unique artwork, musical scores and spoken word centered on themes of sustainability and ecology.

The event took place on Monday, April 22 to kick off Mason’s Earth Week.

Terra Secundum, which translates to "second earth,” invites the Mason community to learn more about the importance of sustainability, applicable not only to our generation, but to the next.

Preview of Mason Earth Week 2013

Established nearly 43 years ago, Earth Month began because of the urgings of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who believed that grassroots environmental activism was capable of causing lasting change. Now, Earth Month is celebrated all over the world, with associated festivities and activism usually concluding on April 22.

At George Mason University, Earth Month activities are promoted with sustainability events throughout the entirety of April, but with special events hosted the fourth week of the month. Many of the Earth Week events are hosted by Mason’s Office of Sustainability (OoS).