Students Lead UNM Effort to Recover Food, Reduce Waste, and Support Basic Needs

At the University of New Mexico, students are leading a growing effort to recover surplus food, reduce waste, and support peers experiencing food insecurity. Through partnerships between campus dining locations, student volunteers, and campus organizations, edible food that would otherwise be discarded is being redirected to the Lobo Food Pantry and shared across campus. The initiative supports both student basic needs and UNM’s broader sustainability goals to reduce waste and emissions.

This spring, the UNM Food Recovery Network (FRN), supported by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant, significantly expanded retail food recovery efforts. Student volunteers coordinate pickups and logistics with campus dining partners including Mercado, Chick-fil-A, and Einstein Bros. Bagels, which became a major contributor in April through large bagel donations. “Through this effort, students are building systems that not only reduce waste but also ensure their peers have increased access to food,” said Jessica Rowland, Associate Director of the Sustainability Studies Program and FRN faculty advisor.

Technology is also helping scale the effort. UNM Food recently updated the LoboEats app, allowing campus groups to share leftover food from meetings and events directly with students, faculty, and staff in real time. Through the broader UNM Food Loss & Waste (FLoW) initiative, students have already diverted hundreds of pounds of food from the landfill while helping create a more sustainable and supportive campus community.

Recent data from March and April highlight the scale of that impact:

Students interested in volunteering or partnering through a student organization can connect with the UNM chapter of the Food Recovery Network (FRN) or contact FRN faculty advisor Jessica Rowland (jrowland@unm.edu) to learn more about upcoming opportunities.

2026 SUB Waste Audit

Earth Day, North Campus Clean Up 2026

16th Annual Sustainability Expo

Photo: Office of Community Engagement

Bike to UNM Day 2026

Spring Semester Sustainability Recap

Throughout the Spring Semester and Earth Month, the UNM community came together to celebrate sustainability through hands-on events, service projects, and campus-wide engagement initiatives.

Highlights from this year’s activities include:

• The Office of Sustainability, Facility Services–Recycling, GPSA, SUB, and the Sustainability Studies Program hosted a Student Union Building waste audit, where volunteers processed 227 pounds of waste and found that 64% of materials were compostable or recyclable.
• The Sustainability Studies Program and Office of Sustainability successfully hosted the student-led 16th Annual Sustainability Expo on Cornell Mall, bringing together more than 100 exhibitors and an estimated 500 attendees for a day of education, engagement, and community connection.
• A total of 108 students and staff participated in Campus Clean Up Days on both North Campus (Earth Day) and Central Campus (Arbor Day), helping beautify campus spaces and promote environmental stewardship.
• UNM celebrated Arbor Day and its continued recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution with commemorative tree plantings and the official launch of new UNM Arboretum Tours, inviting the campus community to explore UNM’s diverse and nationally accredited arboretum collection.
• Bike to UNM Day returned with 50+ RSVPS, split between two campus stations.

It was a successful semester of events, and we hope to continue to build a sustainable campus through further engagement in the Fall!

Read more about UNM's Tree Campus designation at UNM News.

Office of Sustainability Launch Arboretum Tours

Explore UNM’s campus like never before with the launch of the new UNM Arboretum Tours!

As a nationally accredited Level I Arboretum, UNM is home to more than 5,000 trees representing 235 species from around the world. The new self-guided tours invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to discover the stories, history, and environmental importance of the campus canopy through interactive maps and interpretive signage.

Tour themes include “UNM History Through Trees” and “Arborist Rockstar Trees,” highlighting unique and climate-resilient species across campus. The tours were developed to help connect the campus community with UNM’s living landscape and deepen awareness of sustainability, biodiversity, and tree stewardship.

Visit sustainability.unm.edu to check out the tour guide and interactive campus map links!

Credit: UNM UCAM Newsroom

Graduation Sustainability Tip

As graduation season approaches, it’s important to celebrate in ways that honor both your accomplishments and the environment.

Sustainability experts at UCLA Sustainability encourage graduates to skip glitter, balloons, and plastic confetti, which often become litter, pollute waterways, and harm wildlife. Instead, consider eco-friendly alternatives like bubbles, flower petals, reusable signs, or digital photo effects to capture the moment without creating waste.

A sustainable celebration can still be festive, memorable, and photo-worthy while helping keep our campus and community beautiful for everyone.

Campus Community Events

Campus Bike Club Bike Break TODAY!

Take a break from finals with a "Bike Break," led by a newly chartered student group: the Campus Bike Club.

The group will meet at 12 PM at the Duck Pond on May 12th.

Please send any questions about the Bike Break or club to cbc@clubs.unm.edu.

Follow @unmreslife for more information about Lobo life on campus!

UNM Residents, Lobo Reclaim, and Move Out Tips

Here is some information from UNM Resident Life and Student Housing regarding move out:

Trash: Items that are non-reusable and non-recyclable are trash. Large items and bagged trash may be placed directly into the red dumpsters found around the halls. To find the closest Red Box dumpster to you, click the link in our bio for an interactive campus map with locations.

Recycling: Please recycle paper, plastics, cans, and flattened cardboard in the appropriate recycling bins, which will be placed next to each of the dumpsters.

Lobo Reclaim: Any items that can be reused, such as dishes, functional appliances, and gently used clothing, do not belong in the trash. Instead, help us promote sustainability here on UNM Campus by donating these items to Lobo Reclaim. Gray donation bins for Lobo Reclaim can be found in each of the halls.

Lobo Reclaim will be open to all on Saturday, May 16th for those looking to purchase discounted reusable items!