Education

Advancing Zero Waste Through Campus Renovation at Montana State University

^{Montana State University - Yellowstone Hall}

^{Article written by: Frances Phillips, Senior Content Marketing Manager | Published by Shaw Contract}

Yellowstone Hall demonstrates how coordinated material reclamation can support a university-wide sustainability strategy

At Montana State University, sustainability is not confined to a single office or department. It is a campus-wide effort supported by students, facilities teams, housing leaders and sustainability professionals working toward a shared goal.

In 2021, Montana State University established a goal within its Sustainability Framework to become a Zero Waste Campus by 2035, committing to divert at least 90 percent of campus-generated waste from landfills. Since then, the university has continued to expand programs and initiatives that support waste reduction, recycling and material reuse across campus operations.

According to the Montana State University Sustainability Office, the university's diversion rate increased to 31.9 percent in fiscal year 2026, representing a 3.77 percent increase from the previous year. During the same period, the university diverted 1.7 million pounds of material away from landfills while reducing landfill-bound waste by 139,560 pounds.

For the University Sustainability Office, progress toward a Zero Waste Campus depends on identifying opportunities to reduce waste in everyday operations, including construction and renovation projects.

Sustainability Starts With Community

The University Sustainability Office traces its roots to student advocacy and continues to engage students as active participants in sustainability efforts throughout campus. According to Dr. Ben Miele, Director of Sustainability at Montana State University, sustainability succeeds when embedded throughout the institution.

"Our students truly care and are active members of these efforts," Miele said. "When we pursue sustainability goals through a decentralized process that involves various stakeholders, we are not just engaging in good sustainability practices. We are answering a call from our students to highlight sustainability throughout MSU operations."

The collaborative approach extends across campus and includes facilities management, housing, campus planning and sustainability teams working together to support the university's long-term goals.

^{Analog Carpet Tile in Digital}

Yellowstone Hall: A Circular Approach to Renovation

One recent example can be found in Yellowstone Hall, a student residence hall on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman.

As part of a renovation project, approximately 14,700 pounds of existing EcoWorx^® carpet tile were reclaimed from hallways and common areas. The project replaced the existing flooring with new EcoWorx carpet tile while diverting the recycled materials from landfill through Shaw Contract's re[TURN]® Reclamation Program.

The Yellowstone Hall project represents one of the university's largest carpet tile reclamation efforts to date. The carpet within the renovated areas was reclaimed and replaced, demonstrating how renovation projects can contribute to broader waste-diversion objectives.

In addition to Yellowstone Hall, recent carpet tile reclamation projects include the library, residence life and student union buildings, resulting in 45,500 pounds of carpet tile being reclaimed and diverted from local landfills through the Shaw Contract re[TURN] carpet tile recycling process.

According to campus leaders, projects like Yellowstone Hall illustrate how sustainability goals can be integrated into routine facility improvements, creating opportunities to reduce waste, recover materials and support the university's broader Zero Waste strategy.

Supporting a Larger Zero Waste Strategy

The Yellowstone Hall renovation is part of a broader effort to reduce construction and renovation waste across campus.

Working directly with the MSU facilities team, Shaw Contract introduced carpet tile recycling as an alternative to landfill disposal. In collaboration with flooring contractor Great Floors, existing Shaw Contract EcoWorx carpet tile was reclaimed through the re[TURN] process, where EcoWorx materials are recycled and used to create future generations of EcoWorx carpet tile.

The Yellowstone Hall project demonstrates how collaboration among sustainability leaders, facilities professionals, housing administrators, contractors and manufacturers can support broader sustainability objectives while helping keep valuable materials in circulation.

For Montana State University, these efforts contribute to a larger vision outlined in the Sustainability Framework. By evaluating waste streams, tracking diversion data and identifying opportunities for material recovery, campus teams continue to advance the university's goal of becoming a Zero Waste Campus.

^{Solitude LVT in Mink}

Building a Culture of Participation

Garrett Wright, Zero Waste Coordinator at Montana State University, tracks waste diversion data provided by the university's waste service partners and shares monthly reporting with campus entities, including housing and athletics, helping departments better understand and improve their waste management performance.

As awareness of Zero Waste initiatives continues to grow, Wright has observed greater participation and engagement from the campus community.

“This is a university. It’s about education. That increased enthusiasm about being part of something is awesome to see, and that’s how you create long-lasting change.”

He notes that the university's progress is driven not by a single department but by a community-wide effort. “It’s not just our office promoting zero waste. It’s an MSU community initiative that reaches every corner of campus.”

Looking Ahead

As Montana State University continues working toward its 2035 Zero Waste goal, projects like Yellowstone Hall demonstrate how everyday renovation decisions can contribute to meaningful environmental outcomes.

Through collaboration among students, sustainability leaders, facilities teams, housing staff, flooring contractors and manufacturers, the university is creating new opportunities for material recovery while supporting landfill diversion goals and a more circular approach to campus operations.

Every pound diverted represents another step toward Montana State University's vision of a more sustainable future.

^{Solitude LVT in Mink}

Sources

Source Note: Sustainability statistics, project reclamation data and program information were provided by Montana State University's Office of Sustainability, university project stakeholders and Shaw Contract project records, supplemented by publicly available information from Montana State University sustainability reporting and news publications.

October 09, 2026

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