Penn State achieves first-ever zero-waste New Student Convocation dinner

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State marked a major sustainability milestone during Welcome Week with its first-ever zero-waste New Student Convocation Dinner, held Aug. 23 across five University Park dining halls.  

Nearly 9,000 first-year students were served a mix of dine-in and takeout meals using compostable and recyclable materials. Thanks to the efforts of 339 resident advisers (RAs), every item was properly sorted into compost or recycling streams — resulting in zero bags of contaminated waste and successfully diverting all post-consumer waste from the landfill. 

“This marks, to the best of my knowledge, Penn State’s first zero post-consumer waste convocation event,” said Haley Sankey, ABS director of Sustainability. “This was a tremendous team effort led by Housing and Food Services, and made possible through the collaboration with Residence Life and the dedication of every single RA. This success shows what we can achieve when we work together. I can't wait to build on this momentum in future sustainability initiatives.” 

What does “zero waste” mean? 

A zero-waste event is one in which at least 90% of waste is diverted from landfills through composting, recycling and reuse. In this case, Penn State exceeded that benchmark by ensuring nearly all the post-consumer waste — the materials discarded by attendees after their meals — was properly sorted and processed.  

Smart choices, sustainable materials 

One of the key contributors to the event’s success was the use of aluminum water and soda cans, which are considered infinitely recyclable — meaning they can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality or strength. This makes aluminum a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastics, which often end up in landfills or littering our waterways. 

The dining halls also utilized compostable containers and utensils. Guidance from RAs helped students correctly dispose of their waste, sorting it as compostable or recyclable.  

A model for future events 

This zero-waste achievement reflects Penn State’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and its ability to mobilize the Penn State community toward a common goal. 

“With teamwork and a shared vision to create less waste, we are proving that sustainability is not just a possibility — it’s a reality,” Sankey added.