Wayne State University seeks to reduce and reuse materials in efforts to ultimately divert as much waste as possible from landfills. This goal is only possible with the collaboration of all university stakeholders - students, faculty, staff, community members - and as such, our office is tasked with creating new initiatives to accomplish this. Our university actively works towards achieving this goal by implementing waste and recycling initiatives, establishing eco-friendly purchasing and department practices, engaging with the campus community, and trying to reduce the number of single-use products on campus. 

There are multiple ways our community attempts to reduce our consumption. One way is by encouraging the use of Hydration Station water fountains that allow access to filling up reusable water bottles instead of buying up single-use bottles. Our team also actively passes out reusable cloth bags at events across campus to discourage the use of single-use plastic bags. Our partners at the Student Center have eliminated the use of plastic bags for carry out or shopping at Midtown Market and are integrating the use of compostable silverware at food stops. Additionally, our Green Office program encourages offices to only use what they need, instead giving any excess items to the Warrior Exchange program which gives products a second chance at being used by departments that lack supplies. 

There are many changes to everyday life across campus that can help encourage sustainable practices in eliminating extra products that may otherwise end up in the trash. By targeting the "reduce" part of "reduce, reuse, recycle", Wayne State can begin eliminating the problem right at its source and encouraging other alternatives to reduce waste.