On October 1, Green Residence Ambassadors launched their first pop-ups of the term in both V1 and CMH, kicking off the program’s fall activities. Ambassadors invited students to test their knowledge with interactive waste sorting games, challenging them to decide whether common items belonged in landfill, recycling, or organics. The games sparked lots of quick conversations about “tricky” items and everyday habits, helping students feel more confident about using residence sorting stations correctly. Across both north and south campus, the team engaged with over 200 students in a single evening, building awareness around waste reduction and showing that small actions in residence can add up to a big impact.
On November 13, the ambassadors hosted two larger-scale events tailored to the unique interests of each residence community. At CMH, ambassadors ran a Free Store pop-up, where students could browse secondhand school supplies and household items while learning about the benefits of reuse and circularity. The event drew steady traffic throughout the day, with around 200 students stopping by to either pick up items, ask questions, and learn how choosing secondhand can reduce waste and demand for new products.
Meanwhile, at V1, Green Residence ambassadors organized a Sustainable Fashion event focused on simple mending and repair. The interaction at this event was especially hands-on and in-depth, as residents brought in clothing to fix buttons, small tears, and loose seams. The event successfully equipped students with practical skills to extend the life of their favourite pieces instead of throwing them away.
To wrap up the term, Green Residence Ambassadors returned to both V1 and CMH on November 27 with another round of waste sorting game pop-ups. Building on what students had seen earlier in the term, ambassadors used familiar examples and new “trick” items to reinforce where different materials belong and why proper sorting matters for Waterloo’s waste streams. Over 100 students engaged with these final events across the two residences, many of them returning from earlier pop-ups and sharing what they had learned with friends or roommates. These closing activities helped tie together the themes of waste reduction, reuse, and everyday sustainable living in residence.
A big thank you to our Fall 2025 Green Residence Ambassadors for your hard work, creativity, and dedication to making our campus residences greener and more sustainable — you helped bring sustainability to life right where students live and learn.
