UNC Trash Force
 | |
| Formation | Spring 2022 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Andrew Mattson, Stephen Chesser, Abe Zukerman |
| Founded at | UNC–Chapel Hill |
| Type | Registered student organization |
| Membership | 114 |
Advisor | Dr. Jennifer Weinberg-Wolf |
| Affiliations | TTU Trash Force |
| Website | https://www.instagram.com/trashforceunc/ |
Trash Force is a student-run environmental organization started at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022. The organization holds regular trash pickups and environmental outreach events, frequently collaborating with other organizations.
History
[edit]Origins and founding
[edit]Established informally in the spring of 2022 to be an easily accessible and low commitment volunteer opportunity by undergraduate students Andrew Mattson, Stephen Chesser, and Abe Zukerman.[1] Within the first four months, they had picked up more than 60 pounds of trash and membership had grown to almost 40 people.[1] It became an official student organization the following fall.
Growth and expansion
[edit]After one full year of existence, Trash Force had expanded membership significantly and picked up 270 pounds of trash.[2] During that year they held events with multiple other organizations, including UNC-Chapel Hill's Carolina Girls Dance Team.[3][4] They also were awarded funding by the UNC Undergraduate Senate. In celebration, the founders were pied at an event in April 2023.[2] The organization continued to rapidly grow the following year, exceeding 100 members and picking up an additional 300 pounds of trash.[5][6]
In 2024, a new Trash Force branch was founded at Tennessee Tech and began hosting trash pickups and other events.[7]
Leadership
[edit]The executive board has 6 positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, and Content Manager. There is a faculty member who serves as advisor.[5]
The current President of the UNC branch is Reed Fu and the current President of the TTU branch is Ethan White.
Impact
[edit]Trash pickups
[edit]In total, Trash Force has removed over 900 pounds of trash from the environment.[6][8] This has been done through pickup events in North Carolina and Tennessee. They have awarded more than 400 volunteer hours to college students.[1] They have also given Campus Life Experience (CLE) credits to fulfill graduation requirements for event participants at UNC-Chapel Hill.[9]
Outreach and education
[edit]Hosted documentary screenings including National Geographic's “Plastic 101” and WRAL's “Forever Chemicals: North Carolina's Toxic Tap Water”.[1][6] Participated in the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling's "Green Games" and facilitated a "Heel the Earth" event for Earth Day.[6][9]
Collaborators
[edit]Trash Force frequently collaborates with other organizations, both university-affiliated and throughout the community. These include: Epsilon Eta Professional Environmental Fraternity, UNC Sustainable Business Club, Carolina Girls Dance Team, Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, UNC Residence Hall Association, North Carolina Conservation Network, Climate Action NC, League of Conservation Voters, UNC Climate Crisis Committee, UNC Student Environmental Action Coalition, SEEDS at UNC.[10]
Trash Force also established a brand partnership with Claim, a cash-back dining app.[10]
Recognition
[edit]Media coverage
[edit]Featured in multiple news articles across television, web, and radio formats. Spectrum News interviewed executive board member Meredith Pritchard, who was also on the Carolina Girls Dance Team, in an article that aired on local television.[3] There was also coverage of the organization's founders and activities by UNC-Chapel Hill's student radio station, Carolina Connection.[2] Trash Force has also been the subject of articles published by The Daily Tar Heel, UNC-Chapel Hill's University Communications department, and the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Physics and Astronomy.[1][4][6]
Awards
[edit]TTU Trash Force was awarded "Best New Student Organization of the Year" for the 2024-2025 school year.[11]
See also
[edit]University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Sinclair, Zoe. "'Making Carolina a greener, cleaner and safer place': Trash Force cleans up campus". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Henry. "'UNC Trash Force' is a student group hellbent on purging litter from campus". Carolina Connection. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ a b Boyd, Rachel. "Agents of the environment: College students fight against litter". Spectrum Local News. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ a b "Physics Undergrads Start Successful Student Group". Department of Physics and Astronomy. 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ a b "Trash Force Heel Life Page". Heel Life. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ a b c d e Doherty, Brennan (2025-06-28). "Trash Force picks up after campus | UNC-Chapel Hill". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Communications. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Events Calendar, Tennessee Technological University. "Trash Force Wall-E Event". Tennessee Technological University Events Calendar. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ Tennessee Tech, University. "Post about TTU Trash Force". Facebook.
- ^ a b "Heel the Earth Event Page". Heel Life. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ a b "Trash Force Instagram Page". instagram.com/trashforceunc. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Tennessee Tech's 2025 Student Leadership Awards recognize outstanding Golden Eagles - News". Tennessee Tech University. Retrieved 2025-06-29.