Shop Green.
Live Golden.
Small Actions
Big Impact
ASO is committed to instituting innovative solutions to address environmental challenges, with a mission to prioritize campus education and empower our Patriots to make informed, sustainable choices. We believe that a single action from one individual can contribute to a collective effort toward reducing our environmental impact.
Mason Dining
Fueling the Future with Sustainable Food
Learn MoreParking & Transportation
Eco-Friendly Parking, Sustainable Commuting
Learn MoreMason ID
Less Plastic, More Convenience
Learn MorePrinting
Reduce, Reuse, Print Responsibly
Learn MoreStudent Centers
Optimizing Resources, Maximizing Impact
Learn MoreChild Development Center
Growing Green Minds for Tomorrow
Learn More10 Tiny Acts
When you travel between Fairfax, SciTech, or Mason Square, skip driving, take the George Mason Shuttle, or use the CUE Bus. PLUS, it’s free for all Patriots.
Whether getting your first Mason ID or seeking a replacement, consider activating your Mason Mobile ID instead of the plastic card.
If you live on or near campus, consider walking or using active transportation, such as scooters and bikes. You can rent e-scooters, use a Capital Bikeshare bike, or check out free bikes at the RAC/AFC.
Opt for reusable containers at The Eaterie. It’s easy to sign up to get your next meal in a to-go container, also available for Starship delivery!
Search and connect with Patriots interested in carpooling for daily commutes or trips on Mason Commutes, the go-to place for ridesharing.
Minimize paper use by selecting double-sided printing or opting for paperless alternatives like scanning and emailing the digital file to yourself. Note: On-campus printers are set to print double-sided by default, and scanning is free for all users.
Reduce the contamination rate by separating your trash before disposing it in the Bigbelly Solar station recycling, trash, or compost bin.
Rent textbooks and participate in The Bookstore’s textbook sellback program to upcycle textbooks. Purchase textbooks on campus to reduce the carbon footprint from transportation.
Don’t toss your old plastic card—recycle it! At the Fairfax Campus Mason Card Office, you can shred your deactivated Mason ID, bank cards, or gift cards.
Eat more plant-based meals at The Spot, an all-you-care-to-eat vegan and vegetarian dining hall, or build your meal with Future 50 Foods at the Ike’s and Southside dining halls.
A Small Change Makes Big Impact
Mason Dining spearheads numerous green initiatives to combat food waste, promote environmentally conscious eating habits, and innovate sustainable food operation practices. Their ongoing efforts include:
2,232
Meals Recovered & Donated
Food Recovery Network collects, repackages, and delivers surplus food to various donation locations around campus, providing affordable, nutritious meals to students in need.
250
Miles Sourcing Radius
With in-house herb cultivators, the President’s Park Greenhouse, sourcing locally from dozens of farms like Zeponic and Crown Orchards, Mason Dining focuses on reducing food miles and offers fresh, eco-friendly meals.
50%
Plant-Forward Options
From The Spot’s all-you-care-to-eat vegan and vegetarian meals to the Future 50 Foods initiative, Mason Dining promotes sustainable, plant-focused eating with a lower environmental impact.
100%
Compost & BioFuel
Dining hall food scraps and waste are composted into organic soil for local farmers, while kitchen oil waste is recycled into steam energy, reducing fossil fuel use.
Parking & Transportation offers a variety of public and shared transportation options and incentivized programs that promote sustainable commuting. In June 2024, Parking & Transportation introduced the Virtual Permit program, replacing plastic parking decals with advanced license plate recognition technology. This innovative, eco-friendly solution significantly reduces resource use and plastic waste in parking services.
2.5M
Gallons of Gasoline Saved
George Mason Shuttles had 388,710 ridership annually and reduced 22,827 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to 2.5 million gallons of gasoline saved from single-passenger vehicle driving.
175+
Monthly Metro Commuters
George Mason employees who commuted to campus via metro reduced an estimated 8.6 million pounds of CO2 emission annually, equivalent to 4.3 million pounds of coal burned.
30k+
Plastic Decals Eliminated
Switching to virtual permits eliminated the need for plastic permits, equivalent to 371.2 pounds of plastic waste reduced annually.
839
Pounds of CO2 Emissions Reduced
Eliminating plastic decals in the permit purchase cycle reduced significant carbon emissions every year.
Mason Mobile ID is one of George Mason’s latest innovative transformations. It enables users to conveniently access campus services through mobile devices while lowering the environmental impact. Additionally, the Mason Card Office provides plastic card recycling and shredding services, encouraging all campus users to recycle their plastic Mason ID, gift cards, and bank cards safely and eco-friendly.
17K
Mobile ID Activated
Users opting in for the Mason Mobile ID reduced the need for plastic cards to be printed, which is equivalent to 187 pounds of plastic waste annually.
32
Gallons of Gasoline Saved
Eliminating plastic card printing is equivalent to significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption.
2.2K
Plastic Cards Recycled
Collecting plastic cards with magnet strips and properly disposing of them reduces soil contamination from toxic materials.
40
Pounds of Materials Reused
Recycled plastic cards are sorted and transformed into reusable materials, reducing waste and conserving resources.
The Print Hub is committed to enhancing sustainability by reducing paper usage and minimizing its environmental impact. From responsible paper sourcing to operational improvements, the Print Hub implements several initiatives to help the campus cut down on paper waste:
1.4M
Pages of Paper Saved Yearly
More than 30% of campus print orders are double-sided—surpassing the national higher education average of 20%—helping to drive positive change in reducing print waste.
168
Trees Saved
Opting for double-sided printing lowers the need for extra sheets of paper products made from trees.
10M+
Scanning and Counting
Going paperless significantly reduces the amount of paper, which is equalavent to 800,000 pounds of carbon emission.
364
Acres of Forests Offset
By going paperless and using scan-and-email functions, users are helping offset carbon emissions—equivalent to the work 364 acres of U.S. forests do in one year.
As the heart of the campus community, the Student Centers department houses a wide variety of services that support students’ out-of-classroom experiences. Spaces include 40+ event spaces, 20+ study rooms, an on-campus game room, study and lounge spaces, dining establishments, and more.
Student Centers is dedicated to enhancing energy and resource use by providing the following:
20
Bigbelly Recycle Bins Installed
Big Belly receptacles which compact waste to cut down on trash bags and the amount of time required for emptying.
17%+
Recycling Diversion Rate
Big Belly receptacles have increased the recycling diversions to 17%.
400+
LED Light Bulbs Installed
Energy-efficient light bulbs were installed in The Hub event spaces, common areas, and Dewberry Hall.
10+
Smart Controls
Installing programmable technology, including digital advertisements and decorative lighting, which are programmed to turn off overnight to save energy
The Child Development Center incorporates gardening and sustainability into its curriculum, offering children hands-on learning experiences about the planting cycle. Through partnerships with Facilities and Mason Dining, the center supports its garden by using composting and rainwater recycling. Additionally, the CDC promotes eco-friendly practices by using compostable trays and utensils for meals and providing dedicated stations for paper and plastic recycling.
100%
Compostable Tableware Used
Mason Dining supplies CDC’s meals and snacks using compostable plates and utensils, which saves 3,800 pounds of plastic waste annually.
6.8K
Pounds of Coal Energy Saved
Eliminating plastic tableware is equivalent to a significant carbon emission reduction in fossil fuel.
1,000
Gallons of Rain Water System
A rainwater system is installed to nourish the plantations at CDC’s community garden, where children grow and share their herbs with families and friends.
100+
Crops Shared
Children gained first-hand experience in growing and harvesting herbs and plants from their community garden, discovering the power of nature in the process.
Make Our Campus Greener
Be The Change