University to reallocate recycling resources

ASU will sunset the Blue Bag Program in the coming weeks and officially discontinue it as part of efforts to enhance the university’s sustainability initiatives. 

Sun Devils may continue using blue bags with these dates in mind: 

• Nov. 3, 2025: Facilities Management will begin removing blue bags after completing requests to have them emptied. 
• Dec. 1, 2025: Remaining blue bags will be collected, the service request form will be removed and the waste directory will be updated. 

If a blue bag near you is not removed by Jan. 1, 2026, please email Facilities Management. 

Making a positive change 

Since its launch in 2014, the Blue Bag Program has helped Sun Devils practice sustainability by keeping hard-to-recycle items out of landfills. Notable program accomplishments over the past decade include: 

• 862 service requests completed annually — approximately 240 labor hours 
• 800 hours of sorting by 400 volunteers 
• Nearly 63,000 pounds of materials were diverted from landfills 

While the program has made a significant impact, changes in the recycling industry now require specific materials — such as snack and candy wrappers — to be shipped out of state for specialized processing, which reduces operational efficiency. Additionally, snack and candy wrappers make up only 0.01% of ASU’s total waste stream but require a disproportionate amount of time and energy to process. 

ASU will redirect these resources to local recycling and waste reduction efforts that deliver greater environmental benefits. 

How to continue recycling 

While the Blue Bag Program is ending, there are still many ways to recycle on campus: 

• Switch to reusable coffee pods, or use a traditional coffee brewer and compost the coffee grounds. 
• Place small toner cartridges in the original packaging and add them to your office’s outgoing mailbox. 
• Use one of the 1,378 filtered water refill stations located across campus. 

Individuals can also drop off batteries and small e-waste with Enterprise Technology Deskside Services staff at the Health Futures Center, room 166, and these locations during regular business hours: 

• Downtown Phoenix campus: University Center, L1-69 
• Tempe campus: University Services Building, 2671 and Engineering Center Annex 
• Polytechnic campus: Quad 1
• West Valley campus: Fletcher Library, LL-024

ASU thanks everyone who contributed to the success of the Blue Bag Program and appreciates the continued support of Sun Devils in advancing the university’s sustainability goals. 

Please email ASU Zero Waste with questions or to learn more about creating workplace sustainability practices.

ISTB 12 will be the centerpiece of the Polytechnic Innovation Zone, one of nine such ASU zones — eight of which are in Arizona, with the ninth being the ASU Creative Economy Hub in Los Angeles. ISTB 12 provides a learning and innovation space for students and the community.

Read the full story at ASU News.

The Desert Financial Arena project improvements include a new court, seating and upgraded concessions. Following approval by the Arizona Board of Regents, the multi-year renovation is set to begin in May 2026.

Read the full story at ASU News.

ASU Business and Finance is implementing artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, reduce routine workloads and improve customer experiences within its departments.

Read the full story at ASU News.

The Office of Business and Finance recognized employees whose contributions advanced key university milestones from the completion of The Arizona Golf House at Papago and the launch of Workday to employee benefits initiatives and more.

Read the full story at ASU News.

Multiple roadwork projects continue in segments along University Drive on the Tempe campus from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31, 2025.

Lane restrictions occur between Myrtle and College avenues and Novus Place and McAllister Avenue.

The south intersection at Myrtle Avenue and University Drive will be closed to all traffic Sept. 29 to Oct. 12. Commuters can access the area via Ninth Street and Mirabella Drive during construction.

Please obey all signs and instructions.

In addition to the University Drive roadwork, enhancements to the roadways, sidewalks and landscaping along Ninth Street between Mill and Myrtle avenues will occur Dec. 8, 2025 to Jan. 9, 2026, on the west side of the Tempe campus.

Expect some lane closures and restrictions during the project.  

These projects will affect daily activities and increase traffic congestion. Check out the city of Tempe’s street closures and restrictions webpage for detour information. Visit Valley Metro for service updates. 

Visit the campus shuttles and public transit webpages for alternate transportation options. 

Email Parking and Transportation Services or call 480-965-6124 for more information. Follow PTS on the social media platform X for updates. 

Revisit this page for updated project information. 

Arizona State University’s new Wilson Hall has been honored with the Best Project award in the Higher Education and Research category of Engineering News-Record Mountain States and Southwest’s annual Southwest Best Projects competition.

The building — designed by RSP Architects and built by Holder Construction — opened in August 2024 on the Tempe campus. It spans approximately 178,000 gross square feet and includes 19 state-of-the-art classrooms, a suite for Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services, research and observation rooms and flexible instructional and office space.

Wilson Hall’s design also features a distinctive exterior — the top three floors overhang the lower two — creating shaded walkways around the building perimeter. An open “canyon” on the ground floor allows pedestrian flow through without entering the building.

Renovation of underground utility tunnels around 1,000 linear feet also ensures more reliable and sustainable infrastructure. The project reflects ASU’s commitment to innovation, accessibility and student success. The building received LEED Gold certification earlier this year.

Multiple roadwork projects continue in segments along University Drive on the Tempe campus from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31, 2025.

Lane restrictions occur between Myrtle and College avenues and Novus Place and McAllister Avenue.

The south intersection at Myrtle Avenue and University Drive will be closed to all traffic Sept. 29 to Oct. 12. Commuters can access the area via Ninth Street and Mirabella Drive during construction.

Please obey all signs and instructions.

In addition to the University Drive roadwork, enhancements to the roadways, sidewalks and landscaping along Ninth Street between Mill and Myrtle avenues will occur Dec. 8, 2025 to Jan. 9, 2026, on the west side of the Tempe campus.

Expect some lane closures and restrictions during the project.  

These projects will affect daily activities and increase traffic congestion. Check out the city of Tempe’s street closures and restrictions webpage for detour information. Visit Valley Metro for service updates. 

Visit the campus shuttles and public transit webpages for alternate transportation options. 

Email Parking and Transportation Services or call 480-965-6124 for more information. Follow PTS on the social media platform X for updates. 

Revisit this page for updated project information. 

Arizona State University landscape architect Byron Sampson was recently named a 2025 Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects — one of the highest honors in the field.

Sampson is one of 50 landscape architects nationwide to receive the distinction this year. The honor recognizes exceptional contributions to the profession through works, leadership, service and innovation.

Over his 45-year career — including 16 years at ASU — Sampson has led transformative design initiatives related to sustainability and a connection to place. Since joining the university in 2009, he has helped reshape ASU campuses by developing designs rooted in the Sonoran Desert.

His work has guided major open space projects, including the Cactus Garden at Biodesign C and the rehabilitation of Palm Walk on the Tempe campus.

“I’m incredibly proud to help protect and create sites of memory that shape how students experience the university, physically and mentally,” Sampson said. “This honor reflects the work of our team and ASU’s leadership in sustainable site development.”

In addition to his work at ASU, Sampson serves on two national boards — the Black Landscape Architects Network and the Association of University Landscape Architects.

Sampson will be formally inducted into the ASLA Council of Fellows at next month’s 2025 Conference on Landscape Architecture.

In the newly released Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, or STARS, from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Arizona State University was rated as a “top performer” in its 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.

Read the full story at ASU News.