Today is Earth Day, and with it comes a time of promoting awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability. Each and every one of us have a carbon footprint — some of us less than others, but most of us more.
According to the 2011 University of Idaho Moscow Campus Sustainability Assessment, the average recycling rate in the U.S. is about 33 percent, but the UI’s recycling rate is only 13 percent. We lag behind the rest of the nation and every single member of our campus community can work to make a difference.
One way to become more aware of the waste we each produce is to commit to a “no waste weekend,” a two-day commitment to producing zero waste. This means everything must be either recycled, composted or reused.
It sounds simple, but it’s a challenge that requires knowledge of what can be recycled and composted and what can’t. Every decision made must be made with no waste in mind. Can juice boxes, a hair spray can and plastic grocery bags be used? Unfortunately, none of those can be recycled or composted.
Sustainable practices also save money. UI saved $7,500 in waste-related costs because of composting, according to the 2011 report. And when Bob’s Place moved to a tray-less system, 30,000 gallons of water were saved over a 34-week period.
On an individual level, think how much waste could be reduced and money could be saved by never
having to buy paper towels, napkins, disposable plates or plastic utensils ever again — instead opting for reusable and washable items.
No matter which way you look at it, there are only things to be gained by implementing sustainable practices into our lifestyles. If you are interested in getting started in becoming a better steward of our environment, the UI Sustainability Center is an available resource for all students wanting information on how to begin.
We each have a part to play. We all need to do what we can to make sure our Earth is still around for hundreds of future generations.
–KM