sustainNU Events

sustainNU invites you to join us in celebration of Earth Month! During the month of April, you can reduce your impact, connect to our planet, and be a part of a collective celebration of Earth. Northwestern has participated in Earth Day since the 1970s. We are excited to continue this tradition in 2025! Events will be posted to the Earth Month page leading up to April. Check here to learn how Northwestern is celebrating this year.

Annual Events

We plan campus-wide events and activities to encourage enthusiasm for environmental issues and grow our sustainable campus community.

Wildcat Welcome

Each fall, the sustainNU crew helps incoming students move in and properly recycle cardboard boxes. sustainNU is also present at resource and activities fairs throughout orientation to educate incoming students about the importance of sustainability. In 2015, we partnered with New Student and Family Programs and Athletics to make three Wildcat Welcome events zero-waste.

Graduate students can catch us during Wildcat Welcome at the New Graduate Student Resource Fair.

Earth Month

Northwestern celebrates Earth Month throughout April with opportunities to learn, volunteer, and have fun. Check out the Earth Month page to learn more about how Northwestern is celebrating this year.

Bike Commuter Challenge

Northwestern promotes alternative transportation and healthy lifestyles by taking part in the annual Bike Commuter Challenge. The Bike Commuter Challenge is a Chicagoland competition where organizations compete to see who can earn the most points by riding their bike to and from work or school. Read about Northwestern's Bike to Work Challenge wins here.

Move Out

The annual “Take it or Leave it” Program, offered during move-out each year, is an on-cam

pus opportunity to donate unwanted items to charity. During move-out a lot of additional trash is generated; in fact every year, "Take it or Leave it" donates nearly 10,000 lbs of reusables. sustainNU conducts the annual clothing and food drive in all residence halls with an additional collection location at Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (SPAC).

Boxes for "Take it or Leave it" are placed in the lobby/entry of each location—one for clothing/linens/small household items and one for nonperishable food. Boxes will be emptied throughout the program and items will be donated to local charities.