ReuseNU.
ReuseNU.
Rethinking Sustainability, One Choice at a Time
Rethinking Sustainability, One Choice at a Time
Many students express concern for sustainability, so why does the gap between awareness and action remain?
Many students express concern for sustainability, so why does the gap between awareness and action remain?
COLLABORATORS
Yi-Ting Chen
Yi-Ting Chen,
Preet Singh
Preet Singh,
Shashwat Navandar
Yi-Ting Chen,
Preet Singh,
Shashwat Navandar
The Problem: Convenience at a Cost
The Problem: Convenience at a Cost
The Problem:
Convenience at a Cost
A single meal at Northeastern University leaves behind more than just satisfied students;
it leaves behind an overwhelming amount of waste.
A single meal at Northeastern University leaves behind more than just satisfied students;
it leaves behind an overwhelming amount of waste.
🍽 Plastic forks and spoons tossed after one use.
🍽 Plastic forks and spoons tossed after one use.
☕ Paper coffee cups filling up bins before noon.
☕ Paper coffee cups filling up bins before noon.
🗑 Overflowing trash cans, with recycling and compost bins misused or ignored.
🗑 Overflowing trash cans, with recycling and compost bins misused or ignored.
What we learnt
What we learnt
Through ethnographic research, interviews, and surveys, we uncovered the root causes:
Through ethnographic research, interviews, and surveys, we uncovered the root causes:
01
Convenience wins over consciousness
Convenience wins over consciousness
Single-use items are the easiest option.
Single-use items are the easiest option.
02
Lack of awareness
Lack of awareness
Many students don’t know about existing sustainability initiatives.
Many students don’t know about existing sustainability initiatives.
03
No visible impact
No visible impact
Efforts feel insignificant without collective accountability.
Efforts feel insignificant without collective accountability.
04
Recycling confusion
Recycling confusion
Misinformation and poorly designed waste bins lead to contamination.
Misinformation and poorly designed waste bins lead to contamination.
The Sustainability Gap:
Student Actions vs. Intentions
The Sustainability Gap:
Student Actions vs. Intentions
We synthesized all our research findings and represented them with an infographic
to represent major takeaways.
We synthesized all our research findings and represented them with an infographic to represent major takeaways.
We synthesized all our research findings and represented them with an infographic to represent major takeaways.
Inside NU’s Green Movement:
Expert Takes on Waste & Action
Inside NU’s Green Movement: Expert Takes on Waste & Action
We interviewed four NU sustainability experts, gaining insights into challenges, student engagement, and campus initiatives.
We interviewed four NU sustainability experts, gaining insights into challenges, student engagement, and campus initiatives.
Pranali Ashara
Pranali Ashara
President of Composting
at Northeastern (CANU)
President of Composting
at Northeastern (CANU)
“It's kind of hard to practice sustainability because of accessibility. People do care, but there are just a lot of hurdles to overcome.”
“It's kind of hard to practice sustainability because of accessibility. People do care, but there are just a lot of hurdles to overcome.”
Megan Curtis-Murphy
Megan Curtis-Murphy
Director of Campus Sustainability & Engagement
Director of Campus
Sustainability & Engagement
Director of Campus
Sustainability & Engagement
“The nature of being a student is you come for 4 or 5 years and then move on. So it takes some time to build up that education about what you can and can't recycle.”
“The nature of being a student is you come for 4 or 5 years and then move on. So it takes some time to build up that education about what you can and can't recycle.”
Meher Khanna
Meher Khanna
Co-op at Department of Public Works
Co-op at Department of Public Works
"It's less that people don't believe in it... people just don't think that it's worth fighting
for, and that it's too far gone."
"It's less that people don't believe in it... people just don't think that it's worth fighting for, and that it's too far gone."
"It's less that people don't believe in it... people just don't think that it's worth fighting for, and that it's too far gone."
Orla Molloy
Orla Molloy
Member of Husky Environmental Action Team (HEAT)
Member of Husky Environmental
Action Team (HEAT)
Member of Husky Environmental
Action Team (HEAT)
“I wish NEU had more awareness measures to promote waste reduction, especially for on-campus students.”
“I wish NEU had more awareness measures to promote waste reduction, especially for on-campus students.”
RESEARCH QUESTION
What factors in Northeastern student's lives affect their knowledge and behaviours towards ethical consumption of resources and waste management?
What factors in Northeastern student's lives affect their knowledge and behaviours towards ethical consumption of resources and waste management?
INTRODUCING REUSENU
Turning Sustainability Into a Habit
Turning Sustainability Into a Habit
ReuseNU is a behavioral intervention that transforms sustainable actions into small, effortless, and rewarding choices. Instead of forcing students to radically change their behavior, it provides a low-barrier system that rewards sustainable decisions—without disrupting their routines.
ReuseNU is a behavioral intervention that transforms sustainable actions into small, effortless, and rewarding choices. Instead of forcing students to radically change their behavior, it provides a low-barrier system that rewards sustainable decisions—without disrupting their routines.
01
01
Track
Track
Students scan their Husky Card when purchasing food, recording whether they used a reusable or disposable container.
Students scan their Husky Card when purchasing food, recording whether they used a reusable or disposable container.
02
02
Reward
Reward
Reusable choices earn points, which can be redeemed for discounts, freebies, and sustainability perks.
Reusable choices earn points, which can be redeemed for discounts, freebies, and sustainability perks.
03
03
Return
Return
Easy-access container drop-off stations eliminate the hassle of carrying around reusables.
Easy-access container drop-off stations eliminate the hassle of carrying around reusables.
04
04
Visualize
Visualize
Digital signage across campus shows the collective student impact, turning sustainability into a shared community effort.
Digital signage across campus shows the collective student impact, turning sustainability into a shared community effort.
By embedding sustainability into the existing student experience, ReuseNU makes eco-friendly choices automatic, rewarding, and scalable.
By embedding sustainability into the existing student experience, ReuseNU makes eco-friendly choices automatic, rewarding, and scalable.
By embedding sustainability into the existing student experience, ReuseNU makes eco-friendly choices automatic, rewarding,
and scalable.
Building the System:
ReuseNU’s Three-Part Model
Building the
System: ReuseNU’s Three-Part Model
Incentivized Behavior Change
Incentivized Behavior Change
Gamification elements (badges, levels, streaks) encourage continued participation.
Gamification elements (badges, levels, streaks) encourage continued participation.
Points are awarded for choosing reusable items—redeemable for discounts, merch, or sustainability perks.
Points are awarded for choosing reusable items—redeemable for discounts, merch, or sustainability perks.
Students scan their Husky Card at dining locations to track their choice: reusable or disposable.
Students scan their Husky Card at dining locations to track their choice: reusable or disposable.
Infrastructure That Supports Sustainable Choices
Infrastructure That Supports Sustainable Choices
Reusable container stations make dropping off used containers easy and hygienic.
Reusable container stations make dropping off used containers easy and hygienic.
Existing OZZI container programs are expanded to more accessible locations.
Existing OZZI container programs are expanded to more accessible locations.
Integration with campus dining services ensures seamless adoption.
Integration with campus dining services ensures seamless adoption.
Collective Impact Through Digital Signage
Collective Impact Through Digital Signage
Live sustainability dashboards display campus-wide participation and impact.
Live sustainability dashboards display campus-wide participation and impact.
Students see how their small actions contribute to a larger movement.
Students see how their small actions contribute to a larger movement.
Storytelling & testimonials highlight students actively participating in the initiative.
Storytelling & testimonials highlight students actively participating in the initiative.
The Future of ReuseNU
The Future of ReuseNU
01
Scalable Implementation & Infrastructure
Scalable Implementation & Infrastructure
Introduce reusable alternatives with dedicated stations and optimized processes for easy borrowing and cleaning.
Introduce reusable alternatives with dedicated stations and optimized processes for easy borrowing and cleaning.
02
User Engagement & Incentives
User Engagement & Incentives
Enhance design, streamline usage, and implement a reward system to encourage participation.
Enhance design, streamline usage, and implement a reward system to encourage participation.
03
Digital Integration & Awareness
Digital Integration & Awareness
Utilize digital signage to display impact statistics and promote a culture of sustainability.
Utilize digital signage to display impact statistics and promote a culture of sustainability.
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved