Accelerating a zero-waste future
Zero Waste
A zero-waste future requires a systemic approach. At Harvard, we aim to sustainably manage all waste streams—including plastics, electronics, recyclables, and organics, as well as construction, demolition, and hazardous waste—while prioritizing waste prevention and reduction.
Framework for Waste Stewardship
Zero Waste Future
In 2025, Harvard launched “Accelerating a Zero Waste Future: A Framework for Waste Stewardship,” a new plan to transition our campuses to zero waste. Developed by the Waste Stewardship Steering Committee in collaboration with University leaders, the framework prioritizes waste prevention, reduction, reuse, and responsible recovery, and aligns with Harvard’s Sustainability Action Plan.
Explore upcoming Zero Waste events:
Events
Calendar of Events
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Calling all Harvard alumni founders! Join Harvard’s global community of alumni entrepreneurs and innovators. Launch Lab X is the Harvard Innovation Labs’ flagship global accelerator for alumni founders across all 13 Harvard schools, from any graduation year. Launch Lab X supports early-stage, for-profit and nonprofit ventures founded and led by Harvard alumni. Eligible ventures are typically pre-seed to seed stage and may operate in any sector and geography. Apply by May 12 to join the 2026–27 cohort. |
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Come to the always-popular Freecycle in Kresge Atrium next to Sebastian’s Cafe on Wednesday, April 29, 11 am-2 pm! Bring extra housewares, clothes and shoes, accessories, books, school and office supplies, or other small re-useable items in good condition. Pick up something new-to-you, make friends, and build a sustainability-minded community. |
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The Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle is a selective accelerator for high-potential climate ventures led by a Harvard affiliate. The Climate Circle offers world-class coaching, legal counsel, warm connections to industry leaders, and a peer group of Harvard founders who are all working on innovative solutions to tackle climate change. Attend an upcoming online information session to learn more and apply by May 12, 2026. Attend an info session on April 22 or May 1. |
2 events,
Charlie’s Angels is a group of Harvard-affiliates dedicated to keeping the Charles River area — one that provides us with much peace and tranquility in our hectic personal and professional lives — clean. Our river-cleanups will be hosted nearly every Saturday throughout the months of April and May from 10 to 11:30am. Clean-up sessions will be limited to 24 people, so please click on the event to register. During the week of every session an email with an itinerary and waiver will be sent to all participants. Supplies will be provided (including gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, buckets, etc.), as well as some refreshments to celebrate our morning’s work! So, if you are interested in venturing into a life of fighting grime…join us! |
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The Shiny Shop will serve as a pop-up commuter support hub managed by Harvard Transportation every Tuesday in May – offering route planning guidance, sustainable transportation resources, shared mobility discounts, and helmet fitting assistance. |
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As part of Boston Climate Week, The Harvard University Biodiversity and Planetary Stewardship Initiative (HUBS), anchored at the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability invites you to a panel discussion and networking reception around the Future of Biodiversity. Biodiversity underpins our planet’s life support systems, yet views differ on why biodiversity matters. On one end of the spectrum, nature matters because it supports the well-being of people, primarily through natural capital (the “utilitarian” perspective). On the other end of the spectrum, the diversity of nature has an intrinsic value, given its 3.9 billion years of evolutionary history, most of that in the absence of humans (the “nature for nature” perspective). This panel will explore these contrasting perspectives and how they can be reconciled. In doing so, we examine the roles and responsibilities humans bring to the table, whether it is protecting pristine environments, enjoying wildlife, or utilizing nature for its ecosystem services. |
1 event,
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2 events,
Charlie’s Angels is a group of Harvard-affiliates dedicated to keeping the Charles River area — one that provides us with much peace and tranquility in our hectic personal and professional lives — clean. Our river-cleanups will be hosted nearly every Saturday throughout the months of April and May from 10 to 11:30am. Clean-up sessions will be limited to 24 people, so please click on the event to register. During the week of every session an email with an itinerary and waiver will be sent to all participants. Supplies will be provided (including gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, buckets, etc.), as well as some refreshments to celebrate our morning’s work! So, if you are interested in venturing into a life of fighting grime…join us! |
1 event,
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1 event,
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3 events,
The Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle is a selective accelerator for high-potential climate ventures led by a Harvard affiliate. The Climate Circle offers world-class coaching, legal counsel, warm connections to industry leaders, and a peer group of Harvard founders who are all working on innovative solutions to tackle climate change. Attend an upcoming online information session to learn more and apply by May 12, 2026. Attend an info session on April 22 or May 1.
The Shiny Shop will serve as a pop-up commuter support hub managed by Harvard Transportation every Tuesday in May – offering route planning guidance, sustainable transportation resources, shared mobility discounts, and helmet fitting assistance. |
1 event,
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1 event,
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1 event,
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2 events,
Charlie’s Angels is a group of Harvard-affiliates dedicated to keeping the Charles River area — one that provides us with much peace and tranquility in our hectic personal and professional lives — clean. Our river-cleanups will be hosted nearly every Saturday throughout the months of April and May from 10 to 11:30am. Clean-up sessions will be limited to 24 people, so please click on the event to register. During the week of every session an email with an itinerary and waiver will be sent to all participants. Supplies will be provided (including gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, buckets, etc.), as well as some refreshments to celebrate our morning’s work! So, if you are interested in venturing into a life of fighting grime…join us! |
1 event,
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1 event,
|
2 events,
The Shiny Shop will serve as a pop-up commuter support hub managed by Harvard Transportation every Tuesday in May – offering route planning guidance, sustainable transportation resources, shared mobility discounts, and helmet fitting assistance. |
1 event,
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1 event,
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1 event,
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2 events,
Charlie’s Angels is a group of Harvard-affiliates dedicated to keeping the Charles River area — one that provides us with much peace and tranquility in our hectic personal and professional lives — clean. Our river-cleanups will be hosted nearly every Saturday throughout the months of April and May from 10 to 11:30am. Clean-up sessions will be limited to 24 people, so please click on the event to register. During the week of every session an email with an itinerary and waiver will be sent to all participants. Supplies will be provided (including gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, buckets, etc.), as well as some refreshments to celebrate our morning’s work! So, if you are interested in venturing into a life of fighting grime…join us! |
1 event,
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1 event,
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2 events,
The Shiny Shop will serve as a pop-up commuter support hub managed by Harvard Transportation every Tuesday in May – offering route planning guidance, sustainable transportation resources, shared mobility discounts, and helmet fitting assistance. |
1 event,
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How is Harvard reducing waste?
Harvard is taking a systemic approach to waste prevention and reduction, aiming to ensure the materials that the University purchases and handles are used effectively and for as long as possible. Harvard is also strategically preventing waste throughout our value chain, while minimizing on-campus municipal solid waste (or trash) and sustainably managing other waste streams.
We are focused on piloting solutions on campus to reduce waste. The Waste Stewardship Committee is developing guidance and resources to help Schools and Business Units create their own zero-waste plans and goals.
Harvard will continue to measure and report data annually for Harvard’s major waste streams and aims to develop a strategic zero-waste plan by the end of 2024.
Harvard Recycling & Waste Management
The primary campus waste hauler office at Harvard manages all waste streams across Harvard’s Cambridge, Allston, and Longwood campuses. Explore their resources:
More Resources from Harvard Recycling & Waste ManagementOpens new window
Piloting Solutions
A Zero-Waste Future
New life for Harvard’s compost
Compostable materials collected on Harvard’s campus are used to produce energy.
How We Operate
Harvard is accelerating new systems that enable healthier, low-carbon living—creating systems that can be scaled and adopted more broadly.
