UAlbany Earns Bronze Status for Plastics Reduction Efforts

A group of people, many in green T-shirts reading UAlbany Green Scene, stand in front of a table with signs about environmental events.

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 3, 2026) — The University at Albany was awarded the Plastics Reduction Partner Bronze level certification by the National Wildlife Federation for efforts to reduce single-use plastics on campus.

UAlbany earned the certification by building awareness on campus about the impacts of plastics, encouraging behavior change to choose reusables over single-use plastics, implementing changes in campus-wide operations, and through education and awareness programs. 

Plastics reduction efforts include:

An arm and hand are seen refilling a water bottle printed with University at Albany
  • Providing reusable swag options (bottles, bags, flatware kits) and participation in the Fill It Forward program. UAlbany has 70 water refill stations throughout campus that work to replace single-use plastic water bottles. The Fill It Forward program also tracks environmental impact for users.
  • Executing the Phase 1 rollout of SUNY’s Single-Use Plastic Policy, managing the elimination of key waste streams such as plastic bags, balloons and straws. All dine-in locations on campus use reusable dishes and flatware and provide straws only on request. The Campus Center and concessions use bulk condiment dispensers and flatware dispensers.
  • Providing education on waste diversion via social media, tabling and sustainable swap workshops.
  • Promoting plastic reduction efforts through orientation programs for new students, faculty and staff. The Office of Sustainability presents at all new employee orientation programs, participates in new student orientations and facilitates a large-scale service initiative for new students that incorporates plastic reduction education.
  • The offices of Residential Life and Student Engagement & Belonging facilitate programs focused on reusable alternatives to plastic, including DIY tote bags, DIY sustainable self-care, painting mugs and decorating reusable water bottles. 

“A plastic-free campus is a healthier campus for everyone,” said Mary Ellen Mallia, UAlbany’s director of sustainability. “By ditching single-use plastics, we protect our bodies from harmful chemicals and stand in solidarity with the communities most impacted by plastic waste. Real change starts when students lead the way, turning awareness into a shared movement for a cleaner, more equitable future.” 

UAlbany is the first SUNY campus to receive NWF certification for efforts to reduce single-use plastics.

NWF’s Plastics Reduction Partner, launched in 2022, is the only certification program in the U.S. that recognizes colleges and universities for taking action to reduce the purchase and use of single-use plastics on campus. There are three levels of certification available: bronze, silver and green (introductory to advanced), and a comprehensive framework featuring four action areas: building awareness, supporting behavior change, assessing and implementing operational change, and demonstrating institutional leadership.