Cleaning and Greening Our Community

Trash is a part of life, but it doesn’t need to be all over our streets. Throughout the academic year, a variety of cleanup events took place throughout Oakland, starting with the Garbage Olympics in September and wrapping up with an Earth Day cleanup hosted by City Park Rangers in Schenley Park. Pitt Engagement and Community Affairs also led monthly cleanups throughout the Oakland neighborhood.

Adding a little greenery and scenery, students and staff also supported the expansion of trees throughout Oakland, cosponsoring a tree adoption event with Tree Pittsburgh and volunteering with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for a tree planting event. Pitt currently has 78 students, faculty, and staff members who have received Tree Tender training with Tree Pittsburgh and assist with planting events.

On April 1, as part of Be A Good Neighbor Day, Pitt students and ECA staff participated in a project with Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, cleaning out a South Oakland Community Land Trust home and property.

DE-CLUTTER YOUR SPACE

SUMMER CLUTTER FOR A CAUSE, JULY 2023

Too much stuff? Moving out and not able to take everything with you? Reduce your clutter and donate it to a good cause! Since 2013, Pitt has encouraged a greener, zero-waste student move-in and move-out process with Clutter for a Cause.

Off-campus collections take place July 20 and July 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Zulema Parklet. All donated items are either resold at Thriftsburgh (on-campus thrift store), Pitt Surplus, or donated to local thrift stores and nonprofit partners. In Spring 2022, Pitt diverted over 10 tons (21,689 pounds!) of materials from landfills.

GET TO KNOW: PITT SUSTAINABILITY

Pitt Sustainability focuses on “balancing equity, environment, and economics so current and future generations can thrive.” Their website, sustainable.pitt.edu, has a wealth of information that showcases the various ways Pitt works to create a robust, data-informed culture around sustainability.

One of those ways is Pitt’s specialty recycling program, which offers several publicly accessible locations for batteries, textiles, compostables, expired medications, Keurig K-Pods, and more.

Want to learn more? Visit “Campus & Culture” on the Pitt Sustainability website or email zerowaste@pitt.edu.