Earth Day was founded in 1970. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for a nationwide demonstration in the spring of 1970 aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues. It worked. The first national Earth Day was April 22, 1970.
June 30, 2026
Last October, the Office of Energy & Sustainability organized the first Lab Clean Out Month. On this occasion, research labs were encouraged to clean their lab spaces and to check for any unwanted materials or equipment.
- During this time, departments were able to discard non-functioning equipment without a pickup fee. Facilities and Campus Services received over 60 work orders related to this promotion.
- A Lab Supply Exchange Day offered the opportunity to donate and/or be gifted unwanted lab supplies. Researchers were asked to bring their donations to the event in the morning and to return in the afternoon to browse.
- 1340 lbs of material were donated, of which 1140 lbs were relocated to a new lab, with estimated savings of over $10,000.
A big thank you to Environmental Health & Safety for promptly inspecting the equipment for disposal before pickup.
