Graduate School of Education

Every year, Harvard produces over 24,000 phone books that are distributed across the University, but this year - 6,000 (25%) fewer phone books will be produced (about 6,300 lbs - the size of 7 male polar bears!).

The Graduate School of Education (HGSE) has the highest recycling rate at the university according to the annual Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO) Recycling Services bag counts. We now recycle 68 percent of our refuse, up from 41 percent two years ago.

One of the things that the Graduate School of Education (GSE) Green Team is most proud of is the fact that their recycling rate is so high; over 60% of the waste at the GSE is recycled. In an effort to capitalize on the environmental ethos that so clearly pervades the school, the Green Team has a few events and collections to expand the program even more.

The average Sustainability Pledge rate at most Harvard schools is 22%, but not at the Graduate School of Education. The HGSE Green Team set an ambitious goal of breaking records this year, and they achieved it. This fall, over 560 people, or 45% of the school, took the Harvard Sustainability Pledge.