Sustainable Buffs' Top Tips to Kick off the School Year

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:26:26 +0000

Sustainable Buffs' Top Tips to Kick off the School Year Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/03/2026 - 18:26

Sustainability at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� isn’t another item to add to your to-do list—it’s already woven into everyday campus life. From your morning coffee to how you get around campus and spend time with friends, small choices can help you save money, reduce waste, and connect with a community of Buffs creating positive change. As Sustainable Buff Sofiya puts it, “I’ve learned that sustainability isn’t all or nothing. I think of my efforts as a mix of learning from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� sustainability community, building daily habits that add up, and making meaningful choices that align with my values, all with a focus on progress over perfection.”

Routine swaps with simple sustainable habits

For most students, it’s phone, wallet, keys, backpack, then out the door for classes.

With simple swaps and preparation, you can stretch your budget and make a sustainable impact. CU is doing its part by swapping to recyclables in all campus vending machines. Learn more about that and how ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Recycling Operations Center works, check out this video.

This semester, the Alferd Packer Grill and SEEC Cafe are launching new reusable to-go containers! This will cut down on single-use waste as well as provide convenience for busy CU students.

Looking for even more ways to make sustainability part of your routine? Schedule a free EcoVisit. During this peer-to-peer walkthrough, another student will share practical tips for living more sustainably in your residence hall or apartment, and you'll receive free sustainability essentials to help you get started.

Sustainability between classes

Some of the best sustainability experiences at CU happen outside the classroom. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and campus events through the Environmental Center that make it easy to build new skills, meet other students, and make a positive impact. For many students like Sofiya, these choices become part of the memories they make in college.

“My friends and I use BCycles when going out, and some of the best memories come from those rides. Choosing the sustainable option can add to the experience, not take away from it.”

Whether you prefer to take the bus with your BuffOne card, bike our Platinum-rated trails, zoom around CU with Lime scooters, or car-share to and from campus, there is a sustainable mobility option for you! Learn more about the rules to maintain a safe and sustainable campus cycling community. Don’t forget to wear your helmet and have fun!

Remember, Progress over Perfection

You can’t always make the most sustainable choice, and that’s okay.

Being a Sustainable Buff is about making routine choices that add up to a larger collective impact, especially when the CU community acts collectively. Whether you are volunteering with Ralphie’s Green Stampede at football games, participating in Bike Fest, or joining CUSG’s Environmental Board, there’s an opportunity at every level to join the Sustainable Buffs herd.

The key to being a sustainable college student is finding balance through the accessible actions that fit into my day and create positive impact.

Traditional

White

Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/11/2022 - 00:00

Ralphie’s Green Stampede just wrapped up another successful season of providing zero waste operations and promotional efforts at CU home football games through volunteerism, gameday activations, and fan education and outreach. Ralphie's Green Stampede (RGS) is CU’s sports sustainability program. It is a shared effort between the Environmental Center, CU Athletics Department, and Facilities Management. As the nation’s first and most accomplished NCAA Division 1 athletics sustainability program, RGS is a leader in the Big 12 and across the country, working with many universities to inspire sports sustainability programs.

During the 2025 Football season’s 7 home games, Ralphie’s Green Stampede Zero Waste team was able to divert 104,708 pounds of waste from the landfill within the stadium perimeter, resulting in a 68% season diversion rate for Folsom Field. This success was made possible by over 2,000 hours of hard work by 70 student staff and 440 volunteer hours contributed by 110 volunteers—double the volunteer participation from last season!

In addition to diverting waste within the stadium, Ralphie’s Green Stampede was able to divert 13,749 pounds of waste from the landfill at Franklin Field’s tailgate area. This metric has shifted significantly, due to the addition of a 7th home game, increasing the waste produced inside the stadium and tailgating spaces. This resulted in a 78,000-pound increase of waste created on gameday, compared to the 2022 home season. Of the 216,492 pounds of waste created during the 7 games, the RGS team hand sorted 26,336 lbs. of clean compost, 43,142 lbs. of bottles and cans, and 48,292 lbs. of carboard.

Ralphie’s Green Stampede’s fan engagement team also found success this season after revamping their tailgater outreach practices on Franklin Field, working with Buff fans that were interested in using our compostable sponsored products. Over the 7 games, the team handed out 13,293 compostable tailgating items for official CU tailgaters. These items ranged from plates, spoons, cups, and forks, all in a reusable bag made from recycled materials.

RGS worked closely with Levy Restaurants and Eco-Products to continue procuring only CMA-approved compostable food service products for football games. This allowed the team to target these items for the post-game waste sorts, resulting in a recovery of over 26,336, lbs. of food, PLA, and fiber-based service items.

Want to get involved with Ralphie’s Green Stampede this semester? This basketball season, we need your help to make the Buffs' home games sustainable and zero waste. Sign up to volunteer today at: https://www.givepulse.com/group/606314-ralphies-green-stampede

Ralphie’s Green Stampede, a partnership between the CU Environmental Center, CU Athletics and Facilities Management, has completed another successful football season.

Off