College To Discontinue To-go Containers in Val
The college announced on May 1 that to-go containers will no longer be provided in Val beginning this summer, citing budgetary and sustainability concerns.
environmental sustainability
Climate Action Plan Construction Begins
On March 13, construction began on the college’s project to transition all buildings to carbon-free heating and cooling systems. The construction represents the next stage of the college’s sweeping Climate Action Plan (CAP), which commits Amherst to full decarbonization by 2030.
Too Many Boxes, Not Enough Space: Post-Covid Online Ordering Spikes
Since the start of the pandemic, the campus mailroom has seen a dramatic increase in online ordering — this past year, Amherst students collectively ordered almost 75,000 packages. Using interviews and data from the post office, The Student traced this shift and its impacts on the campus community.
Where Does Your Amherst Sweatshirt Come From?
Contributing writer Nora Lowe ’26 investigates the sourcing of Amherst merchandise and its degree of sustainability, suggesting that school spirit can be expressed without reliance on material items.
From Eggshells to Energy: Tracking the College’s Compost
The college produces a staggering amount of food waste which, thanks to a new contract, is processed by Vanguard Renewables into low-carbon fertilizer and renewable natural gas. The new composting program is part of a broader reassessment of food systems and food waste at the college.
Grounds Department Expands Presence of Pollinator Plants on Campus
In a continuation of a project started last semester, gardeners at the college have installed a variety of new planters, boxes, and gardens around campus. The new installations support important animal pollinator populations in the local ecosystem.
Go Plant-based: For Yourself, for the Environment, for the Animals
Contributing writer Tim Carroll ’25 outlines the tangible reasons and ethical philosophies of why we should convert to plant-based diets.