Conserving the planet with a cup

November 6, 2008 by Jill Roth 

A cause students can believe in and support is right before our eyes. The earth is home to us all and with a few simple lifestyle changes we can keep our home around for generations to come.

Many of us do not have the time to go to rallies or picket lines to voice our growing concerns about the environment; however, this doesn’t mean that our concerns have to go unnoticed.

Actions speak louder than words. Students can take action in many ways. Choosing an eco-friendly grocery store, taking an interest in recycling and getting involved in programs on campus are all attainable goals.

After a long day, students may head to the Student Union for drinks or snacks. According to Tara Pike-Nordstrom, manager of the Rebel Recycling Program, students can make informed choices at the soda fountain.

“I’m a huge believer in everyone doing small things to make a big difference. Each student uses over 500 disposable cups every year on campus, that is a lot of cups,” Pike-Nordstrom said.

Bringing your own reusable cup is an inexpensive and easy alternative to disposable cups. “Students can choose to carry their own mugs to campus. Target sells aluminum mugs with screw-on lids that are inexpensive and convenient, and students can receive a discount for bringing their own container,” she added.

Drinking tap water is another way to conserve. Pike-Nordstrom explained many bottled water distributors use tap water in their products. “Water from the tap, I know, sounds crazy, is just as good as bottled water.”

“An article I remember reading in the Reno Gazette Journal stated that Sam’s Club brand bottled water comes from local Las Vegas water sources, so we are purchasing tap water that is packaged and then shipped on huge trucks that travel all over the country causing increased air pollution,” Pike-Nordstrom said.

Purchasing a water filter or a personalized filter for travel mugs will not only save money but this small change could, if emulated by others, lower overall pollution.

If you live off campus and tend to cook food at home, knowing which grocery stores support the green dream has its rewards. Your neighborhood Fresh & Easy is a store with a cause.

Aside from having some of the lowest prices in town, Fresh & Easy carries fresh produce straight from the kitchen, prepackaged entrees and various other organic, fair trade and eco-friendly products. Eric Schoen, manager of the Fresh & Easy store at Warm Springs Road and Eastern Avenue, explained how small changes can yield long lasting results.

“Our customers can come to any one of our stores and purchase reusable plastic bags to take their groceries home in, for 20 cents.” Schoen said. “We promise that if anything happens to the bags, we will replace them for life at no additional cost.”

Lately, it has become quite trendy to tote everything from personal items to yoga gear in canvas bags. “I use canvas bags for everything,” Pike-Nordstrom said. “Plastic bags pollute our oceans and harm marine life as well as pollute our city streets.”

Fresh & Easy has also taken an interest in making canvas bags available to their shoppers. “We have canvas bags available for $2.49 as well as the newest version of the bags being sold for 99 cents,” Schoen said.

The store itself was constructed with the environment in mind. “The store uses only high efficiency lighting and our freezers are designed to conserve power, using 10 percent less consumption,” Schoen said.

The store stocks its shelves with environmentally savvy products ranging from GE energy smart light bulbs and Echos, a soy-based toxin-free detergent, to their own store brand of fair trade coffees.

“There is a story behind the Fresh & Easy brand coffee we carry in the store,” Schoen said. “Our company chooses to buy from fair trade suppliers for a few of our products. Our coffee is purchased from a family owned company.”

“When they went to look for places to establish production, they noticed the deplorable education and working conditions in the countries they traveled to like South America and Mexico. So in order to get the community of workers to take an interest in their education, our supplier offered to become a sponsor for their favorite sport, soccer, in exchange for them attending the schools they wanted to build.”

The rest is history.

The coffee isn’t the only product on the store shelves with a story. “Joseph’s, a family-owned baked goods company, refuses to replace their line workers with machines,” Schoen said.

If you need some extra cash for the upcoming semester, Fresh & Easy may be a good place to look for a job. “We make sure our employees get the hours they need, up to 20 hours at all times, and they get health benefits as well,” Schoen said.

For students who want first-hand involvement in the green scene, start with trash. “Next spring, you will find recycling dumpsters outside the Tonapah and South buildings. These are close to all the residence halls making recycling easy for all students,” Pike-Nordstrom said.

For off-campus students, Pike-Nordstrom suggested another way to join the cause. “We have a drive up and drop off program available 24 hours a day, seven days a week where off-campus students can come by the south east corner of Flamingo Road and Swenson Avenue to drop off their recyclable waste.”

If you want to become a supporter of the Rebel Recycling Program, Pike-Nordstrom can be reached at (702) 895-3760. “Students can call me and explain their interest and I am sure we can give them the opportunity to get involved.”

Going green doesn’t have to be a tedious or time-consuming task. It can be simple. Being informed on ways to make small contributions can impact our environment on a global scale. Don’t just dream green, be green. Making a few small changes in your life today can benefit all of our lives down the road.