University of Maryland, College Park
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

The Orientation Office has made great strides to infuse sustainability into the New Student Orientation Program. The Orientation Office now explains the environmental benefits of campus green initiatives so that all new students learn that environmental stewardship is part of the culture of the University of Maryland. To address the food waste generated from meals, the Orientation Office coordinates with the Department of Dining Services to use compostable paper plates and to collect waste for compost during orientation dinners. Using well-labeled bins for compost, recycling, and trash, many new students learn to separate their waste in a new way. The Orientation Office also saves paper by creating an online Virtual Folder that has all the fliers and resources students typically receive during the Orientation Program. The student Orientation Advisors create a high-energy and entertaining skit about adopting sustainable behaviors as Maryland students. As an example, one skit encouraged students to turn off lights and electronic devices when they leave their rooms, to recycle overwhelmingly long term-papers, and to dine-in at the dining hall instead of using disposable take-out containers.