BGSU Sustainability

08/03/2026

Stop by our next Electronics Recycling Drive on Saturday, September 19th between 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Wood County Committee on Aging (140 S Grove St, Bowling Green, OH 43402). Note, there is a $1.00/lb processing fee on all TVs at this upcoming drive. Visit bgsu.edu/ewaste for full details.

We will not be accepting household or industrial appliances at the e-waste drive, so please don't bring them to us! Instead, wait one week and drop them off to the City of Bowling Green's appliance recycling event, shared here.

Efficiency Smart’s Appliance Recycling Rewards program is back for a limited time! Schedule a FREE pickup of a working fridge, freezer, dehumidifier, or window air conditioner by September 30, and get $75 for each unit responsibly recycled. Or attend the drop-off event on Saturday, September 26, 2026 to receive $100 per eligible appliance. Visit efficiencysmart.org/BGPromo to learn more and register!

08/01/2026

Upcoming event, free and open to the public:

Sips & Soils
Friday, August 14th, 2026 | 12:00 P.M Start | Hirzel Farms Compost Site, 2422 Scotch Ridge Rd., Pemberville, OH 43450

~2:00 P.M. Start of the BGSU portion of the event outside the Social House @ the Oaks

This unique afternoon experience takes you behind the scenes of the organics recycling process. You'll visit working facilities, hear from industry experts, connect with fellow sustainability professionals, and see how collaboration is helping create practical solutions for managing organic materials.

Learn more and register here: https://www.ohioorganicscouncil.org/sips-and-soils

Whether you're a municipal leader, environmental professional, student, business owner, or simply passionate about sustainability, Sips & Soils offers an engaging opportunity to see real-world organics recycling in action.

The event is free, but you will have to pay for your own food and/or drinks at Juniper should you be joining us there.

Free parking for BGSU's portion of the tour will be in the St. Thomas More University Parish parking lot across from Offenhauer Residence Hall. The parking lot is next to 519 Thurstin St, Bowling Green, OH 43402. Here's a google maps link to the parking lot that attendees may find helpful: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RANS1F17pLxiZ2Q99.

Ohio Organics Council
Hirzel Farms
BGSU Dining
City of Bowling Green, Ohio

05/20/2026

Bowling Green State University is the winner of the Electronics Recycling category, for both total amount recycled and per capita, of the 2026 Campus Race to Zero Waste, a national collegiate sustainability competition for recycling in various categories, and the reduction of food waste.

Through BGSU's partnership with AIM eCycling, our main campus recycled 1,088 lbs. of e-waste through ITS, and 1200 lbs. through Campus Operations.

BGSU would not have won the competition without the huge turnout from the community! Thanks to Wood County Commissioners and City of Bowling Green, Ohio for helping promote this outlet for residents in our area to responsibly recycle their broken or unwanted electronics. We collected 32,673 lbs. at that event, bringing us to our winning total!

If you missed this event, stay tuned to our website bgsu.edu/ewaste for the details on our fall electronic recycling drive.

04/13/2026

Tomorrow is our annual BGSU Eco Fair in the Union Oval from 11am to 2pm! Join us for this family-friendly Earth Month celebration as the weather should be breezy and humid (light showers possible). Just be mindful of BGSU parking rules should you be driving to campus.

If you have any questions, please let us know by emailing [email protected]

12/09/2025

The BGSU Schmidthorst College of Business, is the first location to become Green Office Certified this academic year!

With high scores in the categories of waste reduction, paper use, innovation, and involvement, they achieved the second highest award within the program, gold! 🏆

We would like to thank the entire college for their dedication to everyday sustainability within the workplace. 🌎

This could be your office! If you are interested in certifying your Bowling Green State University office, lab, or department on campus, you can start the process by emailing [email protected]. Every group that completes the process with Campus Sustainability will receive a certificate based on the amount of points their office scores.

10/13/2025

Our Electronic Recycling Drive results are in! This was our first time collaborating with First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green Ohio and the Wood County Committee on Aging for an e-waste drive during the fall semester. Keep an eye out on our platforms for our next drive in the spring! We are pleased to support the public good and provide a proper outlet for e-waste. We collected 17,814 lbs this September.

Why is this important?
1) These materials are valuable! The gold, silver, platinum, copper, and other precious metals in electronics are also costly and environmentally intrusive to mine. Studies show that every year, the amount of these materials that end up in landfills globally is worth upwards of 50 billion dollars.

2) Electronics contain toxins that, when disposed of improperly, can contaminate communities. A 2020 study shows that e-waste accounts for 70% of toxic waste in America, despite being only 2% of the material found in landfills. Our partner AIM eCycling is the only "responsible recycling" (R2) certified electronics recycler by the EPA in our region, meaning this waste is properly recycled into new products.

3) Electronics production continues to increase, yet in recent years, studies show that only ~17-22% of e-waste is formally collected and recycled. has consistently been a partner with our greater community, and our electronics recycling drives are just one way that we can help the community responsibly dispose of unwanted and outdated electronics!

Thank you to our Bowling Green State University student volunteers for helping make this possible.

08/20/2025

We had a record turnout at our most recent e-waste drive and were able to recycle over 33,000lbs of electronics! This fall, BGSU Campus Sustainability is partnering with the First Presbyterian Church and the Wood County Committee on Aging to host another drive for the community.

We are excited to offer another chance to recycle unwanted/outdated/broken electronics of all kinds in an environmentally friendly way through our partnership with AIM eCycling! What can be recycled? Anything with a cord or that's battery operated. Computers and IT equipment, wires/cables/cords, speakers, radios, phones, AV equipment, video games consoles, media players (no CDs/DVDs/Casettes/VHS), small kitchen and household appliances, power tools, all types of batteries (including lithium ion), fans and more! See the flyer or our website, bgsu.edu/ewaste, for details.

Note: No tube TVs (we only take flat screens) or CRT screens. We will not take them at the event. Please no items with refrigerants such as air conditioners and refrigerators. Those can be properly disposed for a fee at ERG Environmental Services, located at 527 E Woodland Cir, Bowling Green, OH 43402.

The whole community is invited and it's FREE! Drive in, drive out and we unload everything for you. Fill your trunk/truck bed and we'll see you there!

(Cash or Venmo donations welcome, but certainly not required)

Email us at [email protected] with any questions.

07/25/2025

🌇 The heat is on! 🌻 Summer is here, and this June and July in Bowling Green have been hotter than average. In June, 20/30 (66.7%) days had above-average highs and so far in July, 16/25 days (64%) have been hotter than the average observed temperatures since official records began in 1893.

Globally, heat has been increasing as well. The ten warmest years for the planet have all been observed in the last decade. You can learn much more about how global averages are derived by checking out the Nasa article linked below. As the article states "...global temperature mainly depends on how much energy the planet receives from the Sun and how much it radiates back into space. The energy coming from the Sun fluctuates very little by year, while the amount of energy radiated by Earth is closely tied to the chemical composition of the atmosphere — particularly the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases." And as our post states, humans have added the equivalent of over 1,800 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere since the industrial revolution through a variety of processes, slowly changing our atmosphere to re-reflect and absorb energy rather than radiate it back to space.

One of the major goals of the Office of Campus Sustainability is to reduce BGSU's carbon footprint to net-zero by the year 2040 as per our Climate Action Plan. There are many ways we try to reduce, reuse, and recycle across campus - but everyone at BGSU plays an important role in our crucial mission. This post really only scratches the surface of how you can participate with us - there's many ways you can volunteer and reduce your own impact while on campus. Check out our website to learn more!

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus and are excited to see you at our events and educational endeavors! In the meantime, stay cool and stay safe this summer, Falcons!

https://science.nasa.gov/earth/measuring_global_temperature/

(if you made it this far, thanks for reading!)

♻️

07/11/2025

We're gearing up for our community surplus sale next week. Just a few key reminders about the sale:

Bring your own reusable bag! We'll have volunteers on hand to help with larger items, and some wheels available for self help.

If you arrive early, the hallway will be off limits until we open 10am, as many of our items will be spread out in the hallway. Patience is appreciated while we get everything arranged for you in the morning.

Credit card only, sale is cashless! We'll have 4 credit/debit card stations for checkout. We have 1 checkout that will also accept tap to pay from a phone. Please be patient in the checkout line as we'll get to you as soon as possible.

Can't make the first day? Items will be re-supplied and added to the sale for the 2nd day.

Parking is on the west side of the building only. The good news is, it's free until 2pm!

Fair limit policy (1 per family) will be enforced on certain items. Large items such as mini-fridges, microwaves, or futons must be paid for and the receipt attached to it before it belongs to you. Until the receipt is taped on item, it is still available.

Staff/volunteers will be in green team safety vests to assist you.

Fair pricing on all items! The following items will even be FREE!
3 Ring Binders
Desktop Organizers
File Folders
Clothes Hangers
Shower Caddies
Bed Sheets
Gently used pillows and pillowcases
Reusable water bottles (great for stickering!)
Socks
Undergarments
Swimsuits
Religious books
And many miscellaneous items that need a good home...

Many items have been washed ahead of the sale, but please wash all garments and textiles purchased before using!

What does your purchase support? Many sustainability programs at BGSU, such as:

Maintaining and expanding our BGSU Bike Rental Program
Continuing and expanding on-campus composting
Vital repairs to our electric Campus Sustainability cart
Recycling education and infrastructure across campus
Volunteer appreciation & incentives for student engagement
Earth Month programming such as the Eco Fair
Future educational opportunities via field trips and tours

06/16/2025

We would like to share the announcement of the retirement of Dr. Nicholas Hennessy, who has dedicated nearly 27 years to Bowling Green State University. Starting as an Associate Director in the Office of Residence Life, he later transitioned to Campus Operations to advance sustainability efforts in higher education. Throughout his career, Dr. Nick has been instrumental in making BGSU a more sustainable, environmentally conscious, and responsible community.

Since founding the Office of Campus Sustainability in 2008, Dr. Nick has made unparalleled contributions to energy management, green building design, waste reduction, recycling initiatives, and resource conservation. His innovative approach and unwavering dedication have positioned BGSU as a leader in sustainability, earning recognition on regional and national stages.

Dr. Nick's passion for sustainability extends beyond operations; he has been key in developing a robust sustainability curriculum and fostering strong relationships with students, student organizations, and mentored dozens of interns. His efforts have inspired a new generation of environmentally responsible leaders, ensuring a lasting impact on our campus and beyond.

In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Hennessy has been a mentor, a friend, and a source of inspiration to many. His commitment, dedication, and leadership have left an indelible mark on our community, and his legacy will continue to shape our sustainability initiatives for years to come.

If you would like to congratulate Dr. Nick for his contributions to BGSU and wish him an enjoyable retirement, please join us for an open house on Tuesday, June 24th between 4-6pm at Pub 1910 in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Be sure to follow parking guidelines; paid parking for the Union is available in Lot 07 for off-campus visitors. Dr. Nick will be retiring on June 30, 2025.