Zero Waste
Instructions: To obtain your Zero Waste badge, it is recommended that you complete the following by December 1, 2024.
**Only submit the form once you have completed all of your actions. Remember, you only have to complete the prerequisite and 2 additional actions of your choosing. You do not have to complete all of the actions to earn your badge. |
Prerequisite:
Prerequisite Action: Watch Videos on WSU's Recycling and Complete Quiz
Description: Weber State's single-stream recycling is taken to the Davis Material Recovery and Transfer Facility (MRF). Watch the videos below to learn more about what happens once items arrive at the MRF and how the items are sorted. Learn more about what items are accepted here.
- "Davis Material Recovery and Transfer Facility" (7:53)
- "Helpful Tip - What Can I Put in My Blue Bin?" (1:14)
- "Helpful Tip - Be Sure to Break Down Your Cardboard Boxes Before Recycling" (0:53)
- "Helpful Tip - Don't Bag Your Recyclables" (0:48)
**After watching the videos, take the quiz here.
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Required Documentation: Complete the quiz and submit a screenshot of your score.
Choose at Least Two of the Following Actions:
Action 1: Attend the Zero Waste Lunch and Learn (Nov. 8th)
Description: Join the Energy and Sustainability office for the Zero Waste Lunch and Learn from 12:00-1:00 in the Stewart Libary Hetzel-Hoellein Room (Li-321)! Learn about recycling at WSU, sustainable purchasing, and how you can make a difference on campus and in your personal life. Food will be provided! Please RSVP here.
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Required Documentation: Check in at the event and then write 3-4 sentences about what you learned and at least one change you can make.
Action 2: Volunteer at a Zero Waste Athletics Football Game (Nov. 9th or 21st)
Description: Attend the WSU vs Idaho State football game on November 9th at 1:00 pm or the WSU vs Cal Poly on November 21st at 1:00 pm and help Wildcats go Zero Waste! Volunteer with the sustainable clubs to help compost and recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles throughout the game. To volunteer for this event, sign up through the GivePulse links below.
Time Commitment: 3 hours+
Required Documentation: Check in at the event and submit a photo of yourself volunteering.
Action 3: Attend the Sustainability Screenings with SPARC (Nov. 21st)
Description: Attend this month's Sustainability Screenings with SPARC featuring "TBD". Everyone is welcome to attend and there will be free popcorn! See details below:
- When: November 21st from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
- Where: Shepherd Union, Wildcat Theater (Room 208)
Time Commitment: TBD
Required Documentation: Check in at the event and write 3-4 sentences about what you learned from the film.
Action 4: Volunteer With The Food Recovery Network
Description: Volunteer with the Food Recovery Network(FRN) for food recoveries on Mondays or Thursdays. Pack up surplus food from dining services, and deliver it to either the Lantern House or the Weber Cares Food Pantry.
- To volunteer with the Food Recovery Network, you must sign up through Givepulse (availability limited).
Time Commitment: 1 hour (varies by food recovery)
Required Documentation: Check in at the event & upload a photo of yourself volunteering at the food recovery.
Action 5: Start Recycling at Home
Description: Start recycling at home. If you already recycle, start recycling an item that you don't currently recycle such as glass or a hard-to-recycle item through TerraCycle. Community glass recycling is available in the Dee Event Center parking lot.
Time Commitment: varies
Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about what you decided to recycle, where you are getting it recycled, and why.
Action 6: Change a Disposable Habit
Description: Identify a disposable product you regularly use (water bottle, grocery bag, toothbrush, utensils, take-out containers) and replace it with a reusable alternative.
Time Commitment: varies
Required Documentation: Take a photo of yourself using your reusable replacement.
Action 7: Buy in bulk
Description: Reduce plastic waste by bringing your own bags or jars to fill up on your household staples. You should be able to buy in bulk at your local grocery stores such as Winco, Natural Grocers, and Whole Foods Market. There is a store called Hello Bulk Barkets in Salt Lake where you can get a variety of baking, household cleaning, and body care items in bulk. You can also buy from another Utah company called Fosters Refillery. Learn more about the benefits of buying in bulk here.
Time Commitment: varies
Required Documentation: Submit a photo of an item you decided to buy in bulk.
Action 8: Choose Something to Upcycle
Description: Select a disposable item from your home (empty jars, old clothes, etc) or an item from a thrift store (furniture, decor, etc) and turn it into something new! Thrift flips upgrade existing items to look brand new or serve a new purpose. Find UpCycle ideas here.
Time Commitment: varies
Required Documentation: Upload before and after photos of your upcycle project.
Innovation Action:
Description: Innovative actions are welcome, but please email greenbadge@weber.edu for approval before submitting this as one of your actions.
Time Commitment: varies
Required Documentation: varies
Additional Resources
- A Guide to Shopping Green
- Conduct a Home Waste Audit
- How to Do a Waste Audit at Home
- Identify Greener Products & Services
- Introduction to Ecolabels
- Scary Plastic Statistics
- Moving Sustainably: The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Friendly Moving