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BBN Tackles Plastic Expands Across Residence Halls UK students transform plastic bags into support for Lexington’s unhoused

BBN Tackles Plastic, an initiative aimed at reducing campus plastic waste through the collection of plastic bags, is expanding into select campus residence halls. The project, created by Shayna Bassi, a UK Recycling intern and communication science and disorders senior in the College of Health Sciences, has been integral at removing plastic bags from campus landfill waste.  

"River Cowboys" Film screening and discussion

Join us for a screening of the short film "River Cowboys", a film documenting the cleanup of a local stream by an eastern Kentucky community member. Followed by a discussion and Q&A with Laura Gregory of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance. Refreshments provided  Contact Kenton Sena for additional questions: kenton.sena@uky.edu.

Product design student transforms red oak tree into functional work bar

Chase Lobaldo, 3rd year product design student, was working in the Fabrication Lab at the University of Kentucky’s College of Design, when the Office of Sustainability approached him with a clear goal in mind: create a multi-person workspace where students, employees, and visitors can work and conversate in front of the large glass windows overlooking the intersection of S Limestone and S Upper.

University of Kentucky receives STARS silver rating for sustainability achievements

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) — The University of Kentucky has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 

Announcing The Thrifty Cat: A zero-waste campus resource  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2025) —The Thrifty Cat, UK’s new ‘campus free store’, started as the independent project of Olivia Smith, a UK Recycling intern through the Sustainability Internship Program. 

Meet the 2025-2026 sustainability internship cohort

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 11, 2025) — The sustainability internship program has been around since 2016, giving undergraduates the opportunity to engage with others through campus projects, research, and outreach within sustainability. Each intern works within a unit within the sustainability department, strengthening their professional and technical skills while enhancing their leadership skills. This year, 17 interns represent the sustainability department.