Get Sustainable On Campus – Chico State’s Zero Waste Week!

by  on  in Environmentalism

The first week of October held Chico State Associated Students’ Zero Waste Challenge. Students could not only learn about the small ways to become more sustainable on campus and in the community, but also engage in fun recreational activities that promote healthy lifestyles for both people and the planet. This challenge stems from Chico State’s constant efforts to be a sustainable university, specifically the recent ban of plastic straws campus-wide.

 

The Zero Waste Challenge Schedule

10/1 Refills Not Landfills Challenge

10/2 Takeout Awareness and Yoga in the Den

10/3 Nooner Concert feat. Wild Rivers and SUP Yoga at the WREC

10/4 Upcycling Utensil Kit Workshop

10/5 Game Night

10/6 Moonlight Movie: Incredibles 2

Chico State is the first of 23 California State Universities to terminate all plastic straws on campus. Back in April, the university carried out the Straw-less Challenge inside the Bell Memorial Union, where students were asked to sign a pledge to stop using plastic straws. Students are encouraged to use compostable paper straws or have the option to purchase straws made of beeswax, bamboo or metal. Additionally, Chico State placed a ban on single use water bottles on campus.

 

Chico State earned a Gold Rating for overall sustainability efforts on campus, the highest sustainability score of 73.41 among any California State Universities by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) under the 2018 Sustainable Campus Index. It was also ranked 9th for sustainability in the Sierra Club’s list of  “The Top 20 Coolest Schools 2018,” where they mentioned the university’s ability to reduce its emissions by more than one third, a 34% reduction since 2006.

 

After a video of humans removing a plastic straw from the nostril of a sea turtle went viral, the social media trend to ban plastic straws turned into a dramatic conversation. People to this day are utilizing the hashtag #refusethestraw to spread awareness. Starbucks was smart to implement the plastic straw ban in a large corporate setting and hopefully more companies realize the profitability of green marketing and find ways to utilize it within their practices.

 

I decided to push myself during this challenge and tried to reduce my plastic consumption for the week. After attending the takeout awareness event, I realized how much plastic and un-reusable materials I use on a day-to-day basis, from Taco Tuesday at Tacos Pepe to buying daily cups of coffee on campus.

 

You really have to take a step back and notice just how much plastic you use in the smallest of ways for immediate, short-term use. It is uncomfortably eye opening. These are unconscious habits that should not only be acknowledged, but addressed.

 

So, I bought my first metal straw and borrowed friend’s coffee mugs every time I went to buy coffee.  Via my pronounced excitement, other friends decided to purchase metal straws too. It felt good to know others were shifting their attitudes and behaviors with me.

 

The conversation of plastic in our oceans is finally hitting a peak and the evidence of the effects on sea life are tugging the heartstrings of millions across the world. Even though it’s important to note the ecological issues that plastic consumption contributes to, my question still remains as to why it takes watching the suffering of sea life to finally take action against the negative effects?

 

There are so many productive ways to change our behavior if we simply decide to do it and consciously continue to do it every day. It does get easier once you start to take actions against personal plastic consumption. Check out my Twitter thread for a fun way to read about ways your behavior can positively affect your environment.

 

The Week’s Key Takeaways

  • Buy a reusable cup and straw
  • Ditch the plastic lids (they’re never recycled)
  • Learn to dispose trash properly
  • Take out frequently? Bring reusable utensils with you

 

Chico State University is so proactive with implementing sustainability. The university acknowledges and prepares for the impact we students, faculty and associates have on both the campus and community environment. I’m proud to attend a college that takes so much pride in alleviating its carbon footprint and providing alternatives on campus to promote healthy lifestyles for the planet’s sake.

 

List of Companies Committed to Sustainable Practices

 

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