Sustainability

Sustain MUSC builds healthy communities by inspiring and implementing solutions to environmental, social and economic challenges.

The role of the Sustainability Department at the Medical University of South Carolina is to promote campus sustainability through programs and initiatives across campus, but also to provide sustainability expertise and leadership to our campus and the Greater Charleston Community.

A general definition of sustainability is the ability to meet our needs in the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. For MUSC, this means serving our community by balancing environmental, social and economic interests.

Get Involved

Signup for the MUSC Green Team email list for monthly updates on events, initiatives and more by completing the form below or follow us on social media– @muscgogreen on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) or Instagram.

Earth Day

MUSC celebrates Earth Day every year with a host of local environmentally-themed vendors, local food trucks, games, prizes and more. MUSC Earth Day is an opportunity to view MUSC’s mission of improved health as a mission that acknowledges the inextricable connection between environmental health and human health. The goal of the event is to show support for environmental health, raise environmental awareness, and to show passion for sustainability in the community.

Conversation Cafe

Watch previous 'Conversation Cafe' sessions on the MUSC Sustainability and Recycling YouTube Channel and stay tuned for information about future dates.

Campus Sustainability Map 

View the Campus Sustainability Map in your browser. Toggle different categories on and off with the sidebar on the left. Click on an icon on the map to learn more. 

Awards and Publications

• As of 2016, MUSC is a certified "Bee Campus" by Bee Campus USA.
• MUSC Sustainability and Recycling received the 2016 Annual Recycling Award from the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) for its Lab Recycling Program.
• Since establishing a lab recycling program, MUSC has seen a 27.5 percent increase in the tonnage of plastic, glass and metal recycling and has saved $17,000 annually in hauling and landfill fees.
• The Bioengineering Building was certified as the first LEED Gold building on the MUSC campus.
• As of 2012, MUSC's downtown Charleston campus is a certified "Tree Campus" by Tree Campus USA.
• The City of Charleston presented MUSC with the Green Business Pioneer Award on Feb. 8, 2012.
• The City of Charleston's 2011-2012 Green Business Challenge recognized MUSC's Dental School for saving 370 gallons of water.
• The Green Business Challenge Outstanding Energy Savings Award went to MUSC College of Health Professions, Building A.
• In 2011, MUSC received the Community Pride Environmental Stewardship Award and the SC DHEC Earth Day Award, while being a top ten finalist for RecycleMania.
• The Association of South Carolina Energy Managers named MUSC the 2010 Energy Project of the Year award recipient.
• MUSC Sustainability received the 2010 Outstanding University Recycling Program Award from DHEC.
• "Recycling and Beyond: A College Campus Primer" (PDF) – Written and compiled by: Christine von Kolnitz, Medical University of South Carolina, and Karyn Kaplan, University of Oregon.

Our Team 

Kathy McKay, CRP
Administrative Coordinator I
843-792-2723
mckaykat@musc.edu

Sloan Reeves
Recycling Coordinator
843-792-4668
reevesro@musc.edu

Christine von Kolnitz, ACEM, CRP
Sustainability Manager
843-792-1804
vonkolnc@musc.edu

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