Compost Cats Program
Compost Cats transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, advancing waste diversion, climate action, and food security. Through advocacy, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, we provide free composting services, training, and resources to empower the Tucson and university communities in creating a more sustainable future.
To start diverting your food waste, join the FoodCycle at Home Program, a residential food waste collection and composting program operated by Environmental Services and the University of Arizona Compost Cats.
To join the FoodCycle at Home Program, please go to the City of Tucson Website to sign up for a training session, get your FREE pail, and start composting!
Sustainability Pathways Internship
Students in this year-long internship will deliver projects that support the implementation of Sustainability and Climate Action Plan initiatives, which were created through engagement and collaboration with students, staff, and faculty from across the university. These collaborative projects will work to move the university and wider community toward exemplification of sustainability best practices and development of a student population meaningfully engaged in developing solutions to the sustainability challenges that our community, and our world, face.
To join the internship, go to UAccess and search “ENVS 397S” and enroll in the course. You must be able to make the class time listed (Wednesdays from 4-5:45 pm) to be an intern in the program.
Campus Sustainability Fund
The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on sustainability on campus. The CSF is a unique and non-traditional grant program of the Office of Sustainability and offers two types of grant opportunities: Mini Grants and Annual Grants. Eligible project proposals are diverse and can include projects that focus on waste reduction, energy use, and other efforts that meaningfully advance environmental and social sustainability on campus. Grants are selected by the student members of the CSF Committee.
Check out the CSF webpage to learn more about the Campus Sustainability Fund.
Housing’s Sustainability Initiatives
Do you believe in taking care of the earth and its people? Join Eco-Reps to learn how you can make a difference!
Eco-Reps are a voice for the environment in their dorm and create programs to educate residents about sustainability. They are one of the driving forces behind our annual sustainability competitions, helping bring glory (and sometimes prizes) to your dorm.
At move-in, talk to your RA or CD about joining hall council. Students meet regularly with their hall councils, along with meeting with a larger Eco-Rep group every other week. Students who live on campus who do not want to be a part of hall council can still join Eco-Reps by emailing HSG-Sustainability@arizona.edu. Participation is limited to students living in the campus dorms.
For more information about dorm sustainability projects, visit www.housing.arizona.edu/sustainability.
For more information about dorm recycling, visit www.housing.arizona.edu/recycle.
Arizona Institute for Resilience
The Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) turns science into actionable, community-oriented solutions. AIR brings together researchers, educators, problem-solvers, and innovators from diverse disciplines – science, engineering, humanities, economics, public policy, law, the arts, and beyond – to develop innovative and practical solutions to the many environmental and resilience challenges we all face today.
With so many ways to get involved in sustainability and environmental topics on campus, AIR created Find Your Environment, a way for students to explore all these resources in one place. Join the Growing Green Newsletter, follow them on Instagram, or connect with the Find Your Environment academic advisor to learn about environment and sustainability resources and opportunities for students!
The U of A Community Garden
The Garden was founded in 2012 by Students for Sustainability (SFS) and came under the full management of the Office of Sustainability in 2023. Located at 1400 E. Mabel Street, the Garden serves as a living laboratory for hands-on green learning and experiences in sustainable practices. It provides a unique meeting space on the University of Arizona campus that fosters relationship building and closer connections with nature. We encourage you to come visit and get involved!
Go to the University of Arizona Community Garden webpage for more information or fill out the form to rent a plot and start growing!
Students For Sustainability
Students for Sustainability (SFS) is a club under the Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA) that empowers students, builds leaders, and pursues institutionalized sustainability at the University of Arizona and within the surrounding community. Students for Sustainability delivers sustainability projects through its 6 committees. SFS works closely with Compost Cats as well as many organizations on and off campus including Housing & Residential Life, the Student Unions, and several Tucson area schools to advance their mission statement.
To join SFS, check out their website for more info, or fill out an application for the program!
Sustainability Tour
The Campus Sustainability Tour is a two-mile self-guided tour through campus with 14 stops that highlight some of the most prominent examples of environmentally friendly design, as well as some features that people walk by daily without noticing. The tour starts at the ENR2 building on the south end of campus, and ends at the Community Garden on the north edge of campus.
To take the tour, or learn more about the Sustainability Map, visit our webpage!
Outdoor Rec Bike Rentals
Outdoor Rec's commuter bike rental program offers bike rentals to students for a reduced fee thanks to the Campus Sustainability Fund! Students may rent a bike to use as their own for a semester or an entire academic year!
- Cost: $70 per semester or $135 for the academic year
- Includes a U-Lock, chain, free maintenance and tune-up during your rental.
- 3 different models from Arizona local State Bicycle Co. to choose from!
Bike Repair Stations
Need a quick bike repair? Parking and Transportation Services offers four new bike repair stations on campus! The stations can be found outside of the Honors Village, the Main Library, Coronado Dorm, and Likins Dorm. Each location has increased lighting and proximity to emergency Blue Light phones and each station is fully stocked with the supplies required for minor bike repairs.
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
The University of Arizona has begun the collaborative and consultative work to create the university's first institutional Sustainability and Climate Action Plan! In 2018, as an outcome of the University Strategic Plan, we committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040 or sooner and now have the opportunity to create a comprehensive roadmap for achieving that goal together while also addressing the urgent challenges presented by the climate crisis.
Click here to learn more about the plan!
How to Ride the CatTran
The CatTran is a free-to-use shuttle service with routes on and off campus, it can even take you to the grocery store! Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:40 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (excluding University holidays and closure) and there are five different routes (Purple, Green, Blue, Orange, and Red).
To learn how to ride the CatTran, check out their webpage!