sustainable perspectives

A sustainable guide to thrifting

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 16:48:31 +0000

A sustainable guide to thrifting Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:48

Lauren Mullen and Kate Huun

Thrifting goes hand in hand with a sustainable lifestyle. With Americans throwing away over 13 million tons of clothing each year, fast fashion and overconsumption lead to excess waste in landfills, carbon emissions from textile manufacturing and depletion of resources. Thrifting promotes sustainability by diverting clothing from landfills for reuse. You can participate in thrifting by donating unwanted clothing and purchasing used clothing instead of buying new.

The importance of thrifting for sustainability

Less clothing in landfills: Most clothes are made from synthetic materials, which take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. When you thrift, you help extend the life of clothes, which can reduce the volume of clothing sent to landfills each year.
Fewer wasted resources: Making clothes takes a lot of water. One pair of jeans is estimated to use about 1,800 gallons of water in the manufacturing process and cotton growth. Thrifting keeps clothing in use for longer, which can help limit wasted resources through decreased demand for new products.
Reduce chemical pollution: Most cotton used to make clothing is genetically modified, which means the growing process is pesticide-intensive. Pesticides can lead to soil acidification and water contamination. Textile manufacturing can also involve harmful dyes and crude oil by-products. The environmental risk increases when excess chemicals leak into areas surrounding the manufacturing facilities, which can contaminate surface and groundwater.

The benefits of thrifting for consumers

Thrifting benefits not only the environment but also consumers. Here are ways you can benefit by participating in thrifting.

Save money: You can save money by purchasing secondhand clothing. Thrift stores often have much lower prices than buying new items.
Update your style: Thrifting offers a wide variety of clothing types and styles to help you develop a unique and functional wardrobe.
Lower-cost luxury: Thrift stores often have vintage items or designer products at a fraction of the initial cost. You can elevate your wardrobe on a budget.
Social responsibility: You can feel good about disposing of unwanted clothing by donating to a thrift store instead of throwing items away.

Alternatives to thrifting

Thrifting isn’t the only way to keep unwanted clothing out of landfills. The EPA estimates that 84% of donated clothing ends up in landfills and incinerators. When donating, consider whether the items are functional to avoid passing the burden of disposal on to others. Here are other ways to give your clothing a second life.

Make a trade: Plan a clothing swap with your friends, residence hall, student organization or another group.
Alternative donations: Donate directly to those in need, like to a homeless center or domestic violence shelter. Often, these organizations have information on their websites about how or where to donate.
Repair and repurpose: If you have clothing that isn’t in good condition, consider making repairs or reusing the item for a different purpose. For example, you can use old T-shirts as cleaning cloths.
Make it last: Save and store unique items that you may not wear regularly to use for costumes or theme parties.

Things to keep in mind before going thrifting

It’s easy to over-buy when thrifting due to cheaper prices. However, buying things you don’t need just continues the waste cycle. Make sure nothing you purchase ends up back in the donation box. Before you buy an item, consider the following:

Would I buy this if it were brand new?
Do I have things in my closet that I can wear with this?
If I plan to repair an item, do I have the time and materials to do so?
Do I have something like this in my closet already?
Will this fit me? (size, style, etc.)

Start thrifting

Boulder has many local thrift stores within walking distance of campus. Check out this map of thrift stores in the Boulder area.

Behaviors like thrifting instead of buying new can positively impact our environment. Join the Sustainable Buffs community to get more involved.

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Ways to reduce food waste

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 18:11:24 +0000

Ways to reduce food waste Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/04/2024 - 12:11

Imagine going to the grocery store, buying three bags of groceries, going home and tossing one of those bags directly in the trash. That’s basically what’s happening in the United States on a nationwide level.

Americans throw away between 30-40% of all the food produced in the U.S. That amounts to 103 million tons of food wasted annually, with the average person generating about one pound of food waste daily. Food waste includes any edible food that is discarded instead of being consumed.

Food waste encompasses not only the food thrown away, but all the land, water, labor and energy needed to produce that food. It also adds to landfills and increases the release of harmful methane gas, from the breakdown of wasted food.

Food waste can happen at all levels, from production on the farm, to the retail level, to individual consumers. But the good news is, there are several ways to decrease food waste, which can save you money and be kinder to the environment at the same time.

Top wasted foods
Bread, milk, potatoes, cheese and apples top the list of the foods thrown out most frequently. When grocery shopping, buy only what you need or can use before it goes bad. It can be helpful to also plan meals around the items you already have on hand rather than going to the store for more.

Expiration dates
One reason Americans waste so much food is that expiration dates are often misunderstood. The "best if used by" date refers to when a product will be at peak flavor or quality, but can still be used after that date. The "use by" date is the last date recommended to consume the product at peak quality. The "sell by" date tells the store how long they can display the product for sale. And the "freeze by" date indicates when to freeze a product to maintain peak flavor or quality.

Shop smarter
Before you grocery shop, take time to get organized. Make a weekly meal plan and only buy the foods you need to cover your planned meals and snacks. Make a shopping list on your phone or write it down - this will help you stay on track with your shopping plan. If you have leftover food, consider creative ways to incorporate those items into your daily meals and snacks or freeze leftovers to use later. Check out more meal planning tips.

Use foods in season
When you plan meals, consider items that are in season. There are many benefits to getting foods that are fresh and local. They taste better, have higher nutritional value and are more environmentally friendly. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has an easy-to-use guide that can help you pick local fruits and vegetables based on the season.

Find creative ways to save your food
Even with the best meal and food shopping plans, you can sometimes end up with more food than you can use. Here are a few tips to use the food you have on hand instead of letting it go bad.

Freeze fruits and vegetables to use later
You can extend the life of herbs or save them for later by storing them whole in a freezer bag or chopping them and storing them in oil in an ice cube tray. You can also dry fresh herbs by hanging them in a dry location and then, once dry, crushing and storing them in glass jars. When you notice fruits or vegetables going bad in a bunch, separate the good ones to keep and discard the spoiled ones. This will help the good ones stay that way longer.

Create an “eat first section” in your fridge for the items with the shortest shelf life so you can remember to use those first.
Use leftover vegetables to make vegetable stock, which you can store in glass jars in the fridge or freeze to use later. This is also a great way to use any scraps you may have from preparing other dishes. Simply keep your scraps in a freezer-safe bag and pull them out once you’ve accumulated enough for a good pot of stock. With a little effort, you can save money by using and saving your food instead of throwing it out.

Composting
When you need to toss out food, consider composting it instead. The campus composting policy has recently changed due to changes with the composting service provider. Only food scraps and yard or plant trimmings are compostable on campus. Food scraps include bread, bones, cheese, eggshells, coffee grounds and produce. Yard and plant trimmings include leaves, twigs, flowers and grass.

Reduce food waste to practice sustainability
By reducing food waste, we can all do our part in creating a sustainable future. Start by double-checking expiration dates before throwing food away and consider composting instead of tossing items in the trash. With small changes to our daily routines, we can make a big impact on reducing food waste.

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The CUSG Energy and Climate Fund brings most energy efficient ULT freezer to CU Boulder

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The CUSG Energy and Climate Fund brings most energy efficient ULT freezer to CU Boulder Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/25/2024 - 00:00

Utilizing the CUSG Energy and Climate Fund, the Environmental Center and Green Labs set out to replace the three most energy-intensive ultra low temperature (ULT) freezers on campus with new, top performing energy-efficient ULT freezers. After looking at what was available on the market, Green Labs proposed and purchased three of a new model of energy efficient PHCBI VIP ECO SMART Series ULT freezer (model MDF-DU703VH/VHA-PA) which is ~30% more efficient per space in the freezer compared to the next most efficient ULT freezers on the market (according to Energy Star data). Furthermore, this particular ULT freezer model received an Outstanding New Product Award in 2023 by a non-profit organization focused on research sample storage, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER).

As a result of interest by engaged scientists, instead of just three inefficient ULT freezers, two labs were willing to consolidate samples and retire two additional energy inefficient ULT freezers. Thus, in total, five inefficient ULT freezers that were collectively consuming nearly 170 kWh/day in electricity were replaced with three of these very energy efficient ULT freezers, consuming a combined total of just 15.3 kWh/day. One lab also chose to set the new ULT freezer at -70 ⁰C, which consumes 4.5 kWh/day instead of 5.4 kWh/day at -80 ⁰C, based on manufacturer data.

This one time funding opportunity allowed the Green Labs program to replace five energy inefficient ULT freezers on campus (which were all near the end-of-life) with three very energy efficient ULT freezers utilizing only ~9% of the electricity used by the original five freezers. Having examples of these new efficient freezers on campus is expected to be helpful for energy efficiency efforts as future ULT freezer purchases come up.

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How to cultivate an eco-conscious mentality in a material world

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:17:00 +0000

How to cultivate an eco-conscious mentality in a material world Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:17

Kayla Vasarhelyi , Karlie Conzachi and Kate Huun

Living an eco-conscious lifestyle rather than one of consumerism is essential to lower your carbon footprint and demonstrate dedication to sustainability. You can consider how your actions impact the environment and your overall well-being and determine if you want to make changes.

Break the convenience habit

Convenience products, like takeout food, single-packaged items and plastic grocery bags, can make life easier but often have a harsh environmental impact. You can take a moment to evaluate purchasing decisions and weigh the pros and cons of convenience compared to a more sustainable option.

While it might seem like more effort, sustainable options can save you money and avoid the need to dispose of waste. One example is using a reusable water bottle. When you carry a water bottle with you, you don’t need to pay for beverages like bottled water, and you can refill the reusable bottle for free. This simple act helps reduce waste and offers more convenience in the long run.

Find value outside of material possessions

With the constant barrage of marketing, it is easy to believe that buying the things you want can make you happier. It can feel good to buy new things. However, chasing the latest items to try and cultivate happiness can make you feel controlled by consumerism. It can actually lead to stress, anxiety and debt.

Instead of trying to purchase things to enhance happiness, consider what brings true feelings of joy, like relationships and working toward your goals. Also, saving money and investing in financial security can help you feel more freedom and worry less, ultimately leading to more happiness.

Understand planned obsolescence

Planned obsolescence produces products that will fail or become less desirable over time, leading consumers to discard their old products and buy something new. With mass production, companies can produce goods quickly and need to drive demand for their products. Planned obsolescence saves companies from spending money to make higher-quality products.

This is not a sustainable practice and has contributed to a throw-away society. For example, technology and car companies produce new products yearly with only slight changes, encouraging consumers to repurchase the latest products.

By resisting the urge to purchase a new product just to get the latest features, you can help reduce waste and save money. You can also invest in products from companies that make better quality products. Before throwing an item away and purchasing something new, find out if what you already have can be fixed or repurposed. Many clothing companies, such as Dr. Martens, Patagonia and REI, will repair their products for free. Find more companies that offer lifetime warranties and will repair their products here.

Avoid cradle-to-grave production

Cradle-to-grave is a cycle of production where companies extract resources to produce products without consideration for the end of the product’s life cycle. The cradle phase is the creation of materials using resources, while the product ending up in a landfill is the grave stage.

A cradle-to-cradle mentality offers a better way for production. With this method, companies make products intentionally to allow for recycling, upcycling or other sustainable disposal options. You can explore products with Cradle-to-Cradle certification to help drive demand for sustainably produced products.

Actions to help cultivate an eco-conscious mentality

You can be more sustainable in your daily life with minor changes.

Upcycle. Upcycling reuses existing products in a new way instead so they can stay out of the landfill. You can get creative by upcycling yourself or buying upcycled products.
Buy local. Reduce the use of resources and energy that goes into transporting and manufacturing items by purchasing locally. For example, buying food from the farmer’s market reduces packaging and transportation costs.
Buy less. Before you buy something, consider whether it is a need or a want. Limit your purchases to items you need to avoid overconsumption of goods. For example, if you already have five pairs of jeans, do you need to purchase new ones?
Buy used. If you need to make a purchase, consider buying the item used. You can buy used for most products, including clothing and household goods or a used car instead of a new one.
Recycle. Divert your waste from landfills by learning how to recycle correctly. It will help decrease your carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.
Go electronic. Sign up for electronic bills and other notifications rather than printed and mailed communications. Not only does this help the environment, but it also makes it easier to sort through and dispose of your mail.
Avoid single-use items. Invest in reusable products, like water bottles, coffee mugs, food storage containers, metal straws and more. You can save money over time and avoid contributing to landfill waste.
Compost. Learning how to compost can drastically change how much we discard into landfills and help rejuvenate crops and nutrient-deprived lands.

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Recycling contamination

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:13:34 +0000

Recycling contamination Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:13

Kate Huun and Lauren Mullen

Recycling is a tricky process that takes practice and vigilance since guidelines are often changing. According to EcoCycle, Boulder’s recycling company, there are some items that regularly contaminate their recycling machines. On campus, the Grounds and Recycling Operations Center (GROC) sorts through recycling to process them and ensure their longest and best use. Here are some common contaminants and why these items need to stay out of our recycling bins.

Plastic bags

Recycling facilities cannot handle plastic bags because they jam the processing equipment and can cause the entire recycling facility to shut down. Some recycling facilities have scheduled time daily to clear out plastic bags from the machinery since this contaminant is so common and damaging.

What you can do with plastic bags:

Reuse them.
Recycle them at CHaRM in Boulder.
Drop them off at participating grocery stores that accept used bags.
Throw them into the landfill. Although these bags will sit in this landfill for years, it is a better option than clogging recycling equipment.
The best option is to avoid plastic bags altogether. Plus, Colorado state law mandates that stores charge customers for plastic bags.

Shredded paper

This type of paper is too small to sort, and the pieces fall between the cracks of sorting machines, stick to the belts and make a mess on the floor. Follow these guidelines for disposing of shredded paper on campus.

Scrap metal

Pieces of scrap metal of any size can cause significant damage to recycling equipment. Similar to plastic bags, you can take pieces of scrap metal to CHaRM in Boulder.

Hazardous waste

You can take paint, automotive fluids, car batteries and pesticides to the Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Hazardous waste includes anything that can poison, corrode, explode or burst into flame when mishandled. Do not dispose of hazardous waste in the trash, down the drain or onto the ground since these disposal methods could lead to health and environmental problems.

Did you know vapes and other nicotine products are also considered hazardous waste? Stop by drop boxes on campus at the University Memorial Center on the first floor across from Starbucks or at the West Boulder Recycling Center on 63rd Street to properly dispose of vapes and other nicotine products.

Non-recyclable plastics

Determining which plastics to recycle can be tricky. Plastic lids, chip bags, Styrofoam and other plastics not listed in EcoCycle’s recycling guidelines are not recyclable in your curbside bin or on campus because facilities aren’t able to implement systems to recycle them. These types of products must go to landfills, which means you can throw them away.

Flattened containers

Single-stream equipment separates “flats” (like paper) from “round” objects (like containers). With flattened containers, the equipment may mistakenly send them to the wrong side of the facility and contaminate the process. You can help recycling facilities’ sorting process by avoiding flattening materials like cans, plastics and other non-paper or non-cardboard goods.

Caps and lids

Previously, recycling facilities could not recycle lids and caps. Updated guidelines now allow for plastic cap recycling. Here are some things to know if you want to recycle caps and lids.

For plastic bottles or jars, follow these guidelines:

Empty all liquids and rinse the containers.
Screw the cap back on and put it all in the bin.
Large yogurt lids can go in the bin with their container or by themselves.
Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash.

For glass bottles or jars, follow these guidelines:

Empty all liquids and rinse the containers.
Remove all metal and plastic lids from glass bottles and jars before recycling.
Put metal lids into bin by themselves.
Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash.

Liquids

When recycling bottles and jars, empty and rinse all containers before throwing them in the recycling bin. Removing the liquid helps recycling facilities work more efficiently since they don’t have to stop and clean up sticky, smelly messes.

Frozen food boxes

Frozen food boxes are made from paper that uses plastic resin to protect the food from freezer burn. Recycling facilities cannot separate this plastic from the paper before it enters the pulping process. If you have these types of boxes, opt to throw them in the trash instead of the recycling bin.

Wrappers and packets

Wrappers are made of a mix of materials, including cellophane, plastics and aluminum. Therefore, recycling facilities cannot effectively recycle these items. However, some companies use candy and chip wrappers to create new products such as bags and home decor.

Ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors

Most waste facilities cannot melt ceramics, Pyrex or mirrors. You should throw broken plates, other broken ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors in the trash since they can contaminate the glass stream in recycling facilities. If your ceramic dishes, Pyrex and mirrors are reusable, donate them to a local charity or donation center.

Compost

Items that you can compost cannot be recycled. Keep compostable items out of recycling bins, including compostable cutlery, cups, etc. CU Boulder Facilities Management and Dining Services composts food scraps and yard waste. People living in Boulder can also compost food scraps and yard waste in curbside bins. However, due to changes in composting guidelines, items like paper and compostable plastics are not accepted in Boulder.

Learn more about recycling contamination

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The impact of recycling on climate change

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:06:45 +0000

The impact of recycling on climate change Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:06

Celeste Robinson and Kate Huun

When considering climate change mitigation and reducing your carbon footprint, you probably think of driving less and turning out the lights. But did you know that organic and inorganic waste is also a massive contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions? A zero-waste lifestyle keeps material out of landfills and reduces your carbon footprint.

The benefits of recycling

As climate change and waste are ever-growing problems worldwide, it is essential to understand how these two significant issues affect each other. Recycling helps combat the climate crisis by limiting the use of raw materials and reducing waste going into landfills.

Project Drawdown estimates that recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by 5.5 to 6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking over one billion cars off the streets for one year. Recycling is a practical yet easy change to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit the climate crisis.

When an item is recycled, it is processed and turned into something new rather than created out of virgin material or disposed of and treated as waste in a landfill.
Recycling to create something new generally uses less energy than creating a product from raw materials.
Recycling aluminum is incredibly energy efficient. Using aluminum scraps to make aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to create an aluminum can from raw materials. Producing 40 aluminum cans requires the amount of energy in one gallon of gasoline and can be significantly decreased by using recycled aluminum scraps.
The less energy used to produce a good, the fewer greenhouse gases are emitted in the process. This benefits climate change, as greenhouse gas emissions drive the current climate crisis.

How to positively impact climate change through recycling

You can make a difference in reducing climate change by making recycling an integral part of your lifestyle and routine.

Buy products made from recycled materials. This will support the market for recycled items and encourage the continued recycling of materials and the production of items made from recycled materials.
Recycle everything that you can. Learn what is recyclable.
Limit the number of disposable items you purchase in the first place to reduce the production of disposable items.
Swap out disposable items for reusable items. Switch to reusable water bottles, shopping bags, food storage containers and other reusable products.

Upcycled vs. downcycled materials

There are many pathways for recycled products. Turning an item into a new version of the same product is ideal when possible. Other options include turning the recycled material into new products.

Upcycling turns a recycled material into something of equal or greater value or quality than the original product. Sometimes, the term upcycling refers to the reuse of an item instead of throwing it away. Upcycling lengthens the life of a given material. Industrial upcycling depends on the materials. Here are some easy-to-upcycle materials.

Paper: Recycled office paper is upcycled as new office paper. Paper is also downcycled and turned into toilet paper, paper towels and notebook paper, generally because of contamination and lack of adequate sorting.
Cardboard: Recycled cardboard may become new cardboard. When downcycled, it becomes paper bags, packaging or paperboard.
Metals: Recycled aluminum cans can become new aluminum cans, and recycled steel cans will turn into steel cans. When downcycled, metal can become bike or car parts, appliances, rebar and other metal products.

Downcycling turns a product into a different product, but the cycle is not infinitely repeatable. An example of downcycling is when a plastic bottle gets turned into a fleece jacket. PET plastics, like soda bottles, are hard to recycle infinitely because when they become a new product, the plastic gets weaker each time. Virgin materials also often have to be added to the new product to account for the weakening that the recycling process causes.

Some materials are challenging to upcycle or downcycle and often end up in landfills. However, you can repurpose some items to keep them out of landfills. Here are examples of materials that are hard to recycle.

Plastic bags: Plastic bags cannot be put in a regular recycling bin, making collection more complex. Also, the material used for plastic bags is generally hard to recycle.
Electronics: Electronics contain toxins such as lead and mercury, which can make them more dangerous to recycle. Collection is often an issue as curbside recycling companies don’t accept electronics. You must take electronics to a special facility for recycling.
Styrofoam (or polystyrene): Products made from Styrofoam are typically contaminated with food and have an incredibly low density. Because of this incredibly low density, it is not cost-effective to transport polystyrene because it takes up a lot of space and offers very little recyclable material.

The climate impact of waste disposal

Different types of waste impact the environment differently. However, all items placed in a landfill negatively impact the environment.

Organic waste decomposes and creates carbon dioxide and methane gas. Methane is produced when no air is present, while carbon dioxide is the natural product when anything rots in the air.
Inorganic waste includes products made from natural resources such as water, fuel, metal and timber, which causes greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Plastic waste produces greenhouse gas emissions during every stage of its lifecycle. Plastic extraction and transportation depend on oil, gas and coal. The production and disposal of plastics release tons of carbon emissions.

The waste management process, including transportation and incineration, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Start recycling

Recycling is easy in Boulder, both on campus and in the community. With plentiful recycling bins and curbside pickup, you can choose to live sustainably by recycling. You can learn more about ways to incorporate sustainable habits through the Environmental Center.

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Campus and community compost information

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:00:46 +0000

Campus and community compost information Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:00

Putting compostable items in the compost bin instead of the trash can is one of the easiest and most effective first steps you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—specifically methane, which is generated when our food and yard waste is landfilled.

Composting also produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment that restores farmland and promotes sustainable agriculture. However, when we put items into our compost bin, we must make sure that what we put in is actually compostable in order to create compost that can be used by farmers and gardeners.

A1 Organics—the Front Range community’s compost processor—changed the types of materials it will accept in April 2023. The company limited compostable materials to food scraps and yard waste only, a change that impacts communities including Denver, Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Arvada.

What you can compost

As of April 1, 2023, A1 Organics no longer accepts previously compostable materials such as napkins, paper towels or serviceware labeled as “compostable.” CU Boulder’s Infrastructure & Sustainability, Environmental Center, Housing Facilities, Campus Dining Services and Athletics departments are exploring ways to minimize impacts to campus’s progress toward zero waste goals, but we are still operating under county conditions

Where you can compost

CU Boulder continues to compost food waste through Campus Dining Services and plant material through Facilities Management and Housing Facilities. A1 Organics still accepts our back-of-house compost from dining and facilities, which make up 80% of our compost load. The majority of our compost has continued to be composted despite A1 Organics’s guideline changes.

However, since consumer-facing compost bins were removed from campus buildings when this change was established, we are now working to reintroduce options for campus community members who would like to collect food scraps for composting in their building or residence hall. If you live or work on campus, and would like to participate in a campus composting pilot, please fill out this form today! We have a limited number of food waste collection bins available in various locations across campus for people who sign up to participate in the pilot!

For campus community members who live off campus or frequent off-campus locations, Boulder County published a composting changes FAQ explaining how A1 Organics’ changes will impact trash collection in the surrounding Boulder community. For campus community members who live outside of Boulder County, Eco-Cycle published composting guidelines for the Front Range region.

Learn the do's and don'ts of campus composting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure proper composting of food and yard waste, and participate in CU Boulder’s efforts to reintroduce composting options after changes to A1 Organics’ accepted materials.

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The impact of plastic on climate change

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:43:32 +0000

The impact of plastic on climate change Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 09:43

Kayla Vasarhelyi

It takes more than 1,000 years for plastic to decompose. Every plastic bottle, straw and container ever thrown away is still intact and somewhere on earth. The plastic problem affects every part of the planet, from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.

What is single-use plastic?

Single-use plastics are types of plastic designed for one-time use with the expectation that the user will throw them away. These plastics prioritize convenience over durability and repeated use, making them a prime culprit behind our throw-away society.

Worldwide, more than 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and half of this is single-use plastics. Single-use plastic includes water and soda bottles, plastic grocery bags, product packaging, straws, coffee cups and single-use plastic baggies.

What is plastic made of?

Plastic is derived from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil, and also contains chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors and threaten human health. Plastic does not decompose. Instead, it breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are practically everywhere on earth and pose a deadly problem for wildlife. If too much microplastic accumulates in an animal, it can cause punctured organs or intestinal blockages. Human exposure to plastics with these chemicals may cause hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems and even cancer.

How single-use plastic production contributes to climate change

Because single-use plastic is produced from fossil fuels, extracting and creating these plastics emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases.

It is estimated that just the extraction of these fossil fuels and their transportation to plastic factories emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Removing forested land for oil extraction and pipeline construction has also released more than 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This land clearing also limits the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere.
The refinement of plastics emits an additional 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Landfills, where single-use plastics are sent, account for more than 15% of methane emissions. The disposal of more plastics in landfills leads to increases in landfill size and these emissions.
There is an enormous floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, twice the size of Texas, that continues to grow.
Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, send plastic to developing countries for processing. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash.

Easy ways to help reduce plastic use

The best way to reduce the impact of single-use plastics on climate change is to stop using this type of plastic. This task can seem quite tricky in a world full of plastic packaging. However, even small changes can have a significant impact. Here are some things to do to limit your single-use plastic waste.

Use a reusable water bottle.
Bring a reusable bag to the store.
Avoid overly packaged items at the grocery store, such as pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
Grocery shop at a bulk foods store.
Repurpose old bottles or containers.
Cook at home instead of ordering takeout, which often includes extra plastic packaging.
Get a travel cutlery set.
Use bar soaps and shampoos instead of liquids in plastic bottles.

Make a larger impact

Participate in a local cleanup day or pick up trash when walking, running or hiking.
Support legislation that reduces plastic use.
Buy products from companies committed to reducing plastic use.
Support organizations addressing plastic pollution.
Download the AWorld app to track your sustainable actions.

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Ways to celebrate Earth Day

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:48:58 +0000

Ways to celebrate Earth Day Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:48

Earth Day began in 1970 as more people in the United States and across the globe became aware of the environmental impact caused by humans. Before the 1970’s, many people considered air and water pollution a normal and expected part of life. Celebrating Earth Day each year is vital because it recognizes the harm caused to the environment while showing support across the globe for protecting the Earth. You can take steps this Earth Day to support sustainability through your own collective and individual actions.

How to contribute to Earth Day every day

You can be a part of Earth Day by coming together with the CU Boulder community to protect our planet. Whether you are on campus or not, you can get involved and make a difference in numerous ways. Here are some of the ways you can participate in Earth Day today and every day.

Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is through advocacy. You can sign petitions and participate in Earth Day events on campus and in your community. You can also write to your local, state and national officials. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet.
Sustainable fashion: Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment by increasing clothing waste and pollution from textile production. Donate or sell your unwanted clothing instead of throwing items away to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life. You can also make an impact by shopping at thrift stores, buying fewer new clothing items and supporting brands that intentionally support sustainability in their production processes.
Take part in a community or global cleanup: The Environmental Center hosts events to support sustainability locally, like their Boulder Creek cleanup and the annual Campus Sustainability Summit. If you're not in Boulder, you can search for cleanup opportunities in your area or connect with a local organization to offer your support.
Make your next meal plant-based: Choosing more plant-based meals can help lower carbon emissions and reduce the impact of food production on the environment. Transition your breakfast, lunch or dinner to plant-based options and look for plant-based meals at the dining halls on campus. While you can opt for a fully vegan diet, choosing one plant-based meal a day can still have an impact.
Get inspired: Explore ways to take action and make a difference throughout the year. A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run (hello, plogging), switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a container garden on your patio.
Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The AWorld app supports the United Nations ActNow campaign, encouraging individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community to track your sustainable actions. Actions include daily tasks like meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation.

Remember, every small action adds up to make a significant impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These are just a few examples of how you can make a difference.

The impacts of Earth Day

Since its inception, Earth Day has continued to grow and increase awareness of environmental issues and the actions people can take to support sustainability.

Just one year after the first Earth Day, 25% of Americans believed protecting the environment was important.
In the years that followed, many national environmental policies passed, including:
The Clean Air Act
The Water Quality Improvement Act
The Endangered Species Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, following the first Earth Day marches.
Earth Day celebrations every April 22 continue to make an impact across the globe.

The importance of Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual reminder that climate change has a major impact on our planet, our lives and our future. It can also increase awareness and drives change. Earth Day continues to evolve and add value to sustainability movements across the globe.

Earth Day provides a day to focus on education about environmental issues affecting our planet.
Demonstrations on Earth Day help signal to government representatives the importance of environmental issues to their constituents.
Earth Day sets aside a day each year to reflect on the significance of the planet's health and what we can all do to positively impact our environment.
Earth Day has influenced major national policy in the past and will continue to do so.

The history of Earth Day

Author Rachel Caron released her book Silent Spring in 1962. The book brought attention to how the use of harmful chemicals, such as DDT, caused everlasting damage to wildlife, nature and people, and it called for humans to act responsibly as stewards of the living earth.

Caron’s book motivated Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to create Earth Day. He selected April 22 because it fell perfectly between spring break and final exams and would allow space for college students to get involved.

On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million people gathered at schools, universities and community centers across the U.S. to host inaugural events that brought awareness to the need for more environmental laws. These events also brought attention to a wide variety of environmental issues.

Denis Hayes, who helped organize the first Earth Day with Gaylord Nelson, went on to found the Earth Day Network, which spread Earth Day internationally, helping organize events in over 141 countries.

Earth Day Monumental Moments:

1970: First Earth Day celebrated.
1990: Twentieth anniversary, an estimated 200 million people in over 141 countries celebrate.
2010: Fortieth anniversary, an estimated 1 billion people worldwide gathered to celebrate.
2020: Fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, in-person events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but people globally celebrated via social media.

Want to learn more? Check out the official Earth Day website for more information on the history of Earth Day, different projects you can participate in and simple ways to change the planet. You can also connect with the Environmental Center to learn ways to get involved.

April 22 is only one day each year, but you can treat every day like Earth Day!

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Composting at CU – a student perspective

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:45:43 +0000

Composting at CU – a student perspective Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:45

Kayla Vasarhelyi

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, but a passion for sustainability drew me halfway across the country to CU Boulder. When I arrived here, I thought I had it all figured out. I recycled all my papers and plastics, used reusable containers and thrifted most of my clothes. However, shortly into my time on campus, I realized there was much more to being zero waste than I had ever expected. Composting was the sharpest learning curve.

Prior to moving to Boulder, I thought composting was just something that could be done on an individual scale to make soil using food scraps and yard waste.

There were a lot of things I didn’t realize about compost:

Composting creates a nutrient-rich soil to be used instead of toxic fertilizers.
Compost helps to reduce climate change.
Compostables in landfills will create methane, a much stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Landfills are often located in someone’s backyard, and that someone is often part of a low-income community that can’t escape from the smells, noise and runoff from landfill operations.
Keeping material out of landfills will reduce the need to build landfills.

In spring 2023, Colorado’s composting guidelines changed. Previously, CU Boulder offered compost bins all over campus and accepted compostable paper towels and plastics along with food scraps and yard waste. With the changes, CU Boulder continues to compost food scraps and yard waste from campus operations. These were the majority of the items composted from our campus before the change. In 2022, CU Boulder composted approximately 23 tons per month of yard waste and 40 tons per month of food scraps.

If you live off-campus in Boulder, you can talk to your landlord about providing landfill, recycling and compost bins to help you manage your household waste sustainably. It is essential to know that compostable plastic and paper are not recyclable. If you have a number seven plastic and composting is unavailable, throw it in the landfill bin. Compostable plastics are common contaminants in recycling, and too many can make recycling unusable.

We are lucky to attend a school that prioritizes composting to dispose of waste. I hope this article helps build your understanding of composting and kickstarts your journey to being a compost lover!

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