Happy Earth Day 2025! In the above video, take a tour around UCLA to learn about the sustainability initiatives that power, drive and shape the campus.
And throughout the month of April, UCLA Newsroom is shining a light on the countless ways in which UCLA’s blue-and-gold goes green — by advancing sustainability, developing climate change solutions, promoting conservation and biodiversity, driving policy at home and around the globe, and educating a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders committed to creating a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable planet.
Earth Day on campus: Teaching UCLA students about sustainable living
During Earth Day, several UCLA groups held an outreach event on Wilson Plaza to raise the visibility of sustainable living options, from transportation to waste reduction. Good Clothes Good People, UCLA Transportation, the UCLA Central Ticket Office and the Zero Waste team offered interactive games that taught students about campus initiatives while offering tumblers, gift cards, tote bags and more.
One challenge had students put items into buckets to see if they knew how to properly sort their waste, with prizes going to the best sorters.
“I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time,” said Alexandra Benavente, a second-year physiology science major, who was surprised to learn that a paper takeout box couldn’t be recycled, among other things. “Also, the glass bottle. I know at home my parents usually are like, ‘Just put it in the trash.’ So, it’s nice to know glass bottles actually go in the recycling rather than regular trash. That’s something I’m definitely going to tell my parents.”
Matthew Taleghani, a third-year history major who won the challenge, received a gift card and a blue UCLA baseball cap. His friend, Anthony Ruggeri, a third-year history and public affairs major, didn’t do so well, but was grateful for the experience.
“They’re doing great work out here,” said Ruggeri, who added that the staff member running the challenge booth helped make it fun and engaging. “Having it on a college campus where students can come from all over the world but might not have as deep of understanding in practices in recycling — and we’re able to get taught this for free and win prizes? It’s a super-great practice.”
“I hope students are learning. It’s helpful to be interactive and learn that it actually matters, that waste goes somewhere appropriate,” said Jade Goegebuer, Zero Waste’s manager. The biggest hindrances to proper waste disposal, she said, are “time, and if waste bins are full. You can’t have a picture with every item on it, so being able to interpret them to cover everything.”
Nick Efron, a UCLA transportation planner, helped several students renew or sign up for Bruin U-Passes, which offer undergraduate students unlimited, fare-free rides on local and commuter lines throughout L.A. County, and Bruin Grad Pass for graduate students.
“The level of enthusiasm, not only for transit but for sustainable lifestyle choices, is really exciting,” he said of the passes, which students pay for as part of their quarterly fees. “Just try to take the bus once, if you haven’t already.”
The student-run Good Clothes Good People program was on hand to offer soap, hand sanitizer and information on free clothing, school supplies and other products for students in need on UCLA’s campus.
“There are easy and little ways to implement [eco-friendly options] and free resources available on and off campus,” organization president and fourth-year student Holly Hebden said. Located in the Student Activities Center, Good Clothes Good People offers resources like clothing, hygiene products and jars at no cost and sometimes has donation bins on the Hill.
“It’s helpful in terms of sustainability to have these items in bulk so people don’t have to have plastic, one-time-use containers,” said first-year student Emma Luo, Good Clothes Good People’s incoming finance director. “And it helps that different companies offer more vegan products that are eco-friendly.”
Visit Newsroom’s Earth Month website and UCLA Sustainability to learn more.
