After being named one of the top green colleges in the country for the third year in a row by “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges,” the University of New Mexico continues to excel in supporting its sustainability mission. Residence Life & Student Housing supports UNM’s sustainability mission through a recycling program, an Eco-Living Learning Community in Coronado Hall, and the EcoReps program.

 

RLSH features designated recycling areas for all of their residence halls, as well as a recycling center in the Student Residence Center Commons. During move-in week alone this year, two tons of recycling were collected. In one week, UNM residence halls recycle about 250 pounds, and in one year 10,000 pounds are recycled. For the 2014-15 school year, RLSH plans to equip each resident’s room with a recycling container.

The new Eco-Living Learning community brings together students who share academic interests in sustainability and ecology. These students study together and enjoy activities centered on sustainability.

The EcoReps are a group of students committed to advocacy for an even greener UNM. Each Residence Hall has a designated EcoRep who works with the Residence Hall Association to do large scale projects such as food collections, education and advocacy. The EcoReps educate fellow residents on the recycling efforts made by RLSH and how they can get involved, as well as other ways they can live sustainably.

Administrative Coordinator for Residence Life & Student Housing, Stacie Jackson said, “EcoReps is a fantastic student led organization that focuses on improving sustainability within the University Residence Halls and educating on campus residents on how to contribute to a sustainable environment.”

The EcoReps were instrumental to UNM placing fifth in the national “Small Steps, Big Wins Campus Challenge” in which colleges compete to see who is taking the most environmental and social actions to improve their communities.