A Day in the Life of a Sustainable College Student at CU ��ý��

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:26:26 +0000

A Day in the Life of a Sustainable College Student at CU ��ý�� Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 10/12/2025 - 18:26

The key to being a sustainable college student is finding balance through the accessible actions that fit into my day and create positive impact. Over time, I’ve learned that sustainability isn’t all or nothing. I think of my efforts as a mix of learning from CU ��ý��’s sustainability community, building daily habits that add up, and making meaningful choices that align with my values, all with a focus on progress over perfection.

Learning from CU ��ý��’s sustainability community

This mindset sank in through Environmental Center events. At America Recycles Day, I received Tupperware and metal straws that quickly replaced single-use items. What felt like a small change became a reminder that reducing waste often starts simply. Volunteering at Ralphie’s Green Stampede made this lesson tangible by seeing the volume of waste produced at a single game. It emphasized the importance of our mindset about what we consume.

Routines add up

In daily life, these ideas show up in small habits. I start my day by filling my reusable water bottle, saving over 150 plastic bottles a year. I take the Buff Bus instead of driving, which helps get me further on campus, avoids the stress of parking, and saves money. These small choices help both the planet and my budget. On campus, sustainability shows up everywhere. At Folsom Field, Ralphie’s Green Stampede sorts trash after games, proving sustainability can be woven into traditions people already love. Even as ��ý��’s composting rules change, CU and Ralphie’s Green Stampede community keep adapting.

Sustainable choices make memories

Off campus, sustainability blends into my social life. My friends and I use BCycles when going out, and some of the best memories come from those rides; even biking uphill on a half-dead BCycle feels worth it. Choosing the sustainable option can add to the experience, not take away from it.

Progress over perfection

Of course, I’m not perfect. There are days I forget my reusable water bottle or grab takeout in plastic containers. CU ��ý��’s sustainability culture has shown me that it’s not about perfection, it’s about weaving sustainable choices into daily life. Sustainability here isn’t a separate “to-do list” for students. It’s built into the free bus rides, B-Cycles, Ralphies Green Stampede, and everyday conversations. In those ordinary, everyday life choices, sustainability becomes less about guilt and more about being a part of something bigger. Join the community today by signing the Sustainable Buffs Pledge.

The key to being a sustainable college student is finding balance through the accessible actions that fit into my day and create positive impact.

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Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/11/2022 - 00:00

Ralphie’s Green Stampede just wrapped up another successful season of providing zero waste operations and promotional efforts at CU home football games through volunteerism, gameday activations, and fan education and outreach. Ralphie's Green Stampede (RGS) is CU’s sports sustainability program. It is a shared effort between the Environmental Center, CU Athletics Department, and Facilities Management. As the nation’s first and most accomplished NCAA Division 1 athletics sustainability program, RGS is a leader in the Big 12 and across the country, working with many universities to inspire sports sustainability programs.

During the 2025 Football season’s 7 home games, Ralphie’s Green Stampede Zero Waste team was able to divert 104,708 pounds of waste from the landfill within the stadium perimeter, resulting in a 68% season diversion rate for Folsom Field. This success was made possible by over 2,000 hours of hard work by 70 student staff and 440 volunteer hours contributed by 110 volunteers—double the volunteer participation from last season!

In addition to diverting waste within the stadium, Ralphie’s Green Stampede was able to divert 13,749 pounds of waste from the landfill at Franklin Field’s tailgate area. This metric has shifted significantly, due to the addition of a 7th home game, increasing the waste produced inside the stadium and tailgating spaces. This resulted in a 78,000-pound increase of waste created on gameday, compared to the 2022 home season. Of the 216,492 pounds of waste created during the 7 games, the RGS team hand sorted 26,336 lbs. of clean compost, 43,142 lbs. of bottles and cans, and 48,292 lbs. of carboard.

Ralphie’s Green Stampede’s fan engagement team also found success this season after revamping their tailgater outreach practices on Franklin Field, working with Buff fans that were interested in using our compostable sponsored products. Over the 7 games, the team handed out 13,293 compostable tailgating items for official CU tailgaters. These items ranged from plates, spoons, cups, and forks, all in a reusable bag made from recycled materials.

RGS worked closely with Levy Restaurants and Eco-Products to continue procuring only CMA-approved compostable food service products for football games. This allowed the team to target these items for the post-game waste sorts, resulting in a recovery of over 26,336, lbs. of food, PLA, and fiber-based service items.

Want to get involved with Ralphie’s Green Stampede this semester? This basketball season, we need your help to make the Buffs' home games sustainable and zero waste. Sign up to volunteer today at: https://www.givepulse.com/group/606314-ralphies-green-stampede

Ralphie’s Green Stampede, a partnership between the CU Environmental Center, CU Athletics and Facilities Management, has completed another successful football season.

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volunteering

A Day in the Life of a Sustainable College Student at CU ��ý��

Learning from CU ��ý��’s sustainability community

Routines add up

Sustainable choices make memories

Progress over perfection

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Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap

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A Day in the Life of a Sustainable College Student at CU ������ý����

Learning from CU ������ý����’s sustainability community

Routines add up

Sustainable choices make memories

Progress over perfection

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Ralphie’s Green Stampede 2025 Season Recap

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A Day in the Life of a Sustainable College Student at CU ��ý��

Learning from CU ��ý��’s sustainability community