Mission Statement

Promoting excellence in waste management, recycling/composting service, environmental/sustainability education and operational sustainability strategies to the university community while attaining reduction, reuse and recycling goals.

Training Info

All student employees go through an extensive training prior to starting jobs. From reading throught the handbooks/manuals, having hands-on training on operations and vehicle handling, as well as utilizing videos and posters for better understanding.

Below are the tools used for training:

Employee Manual

Vehicle Training

Stretching Poster

A Day at Zero Waste

Van Training

History

The University of Oregon Zero Waste Program was founded in 1990 by a small group of students working with a student environmental group called the “Survival Center”. The Program began as the Campus Recycling Program and was re-branded to the Zero Waste Program in 2012. The Program continues to be student focused with students working in the program and serving as one of the largest student employers at the University of Oregon.

For more details see Program History.