Zero Waste

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" (8:16)
• "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: Volunteer for the Meal Kit Building Event (Nov. 5th)

Description: To combat food insecurity, the food sustainability committee will be building meal kits as well as ready-to-eat food for students and their families to have access to nutritious, balanced meals. Please RSVP via GivePulse. 

• When: November 5th from 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm
• Where: Shepherd Union (SU - 320)

Time Commitment: 1 hour + 

Required Documentation: Check in at the event and submit a photo of you volunteering. 

Action 2: Attend the Sustainability Snapshots with SPARC (Nov. 11th)

Description: Attend this month's Sustainability Snapshot with SPARC featuring a panel of three professors/faculty who will present on what they are doing sustainability-wise. See details below:

• When: November 11th from 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
• Where: Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

Time Commitment: 1 hour + 

Required Documentation: Check in at the event and write 3-4 sentences about what you learned.

Action 3: Attend Weber Basin Water Talks (Nov. 12th)

Description: Attend Weber Basin Water Talks, a set of community conversations exploring how we can secure a healthy water future for the Weber Basin and Great Salt Lake. Please RSVP here. 

• When: November 12th from 6:00 pm - 8:45 pm
• Where: Browning Theater, Union Station (2501 Wall Avenue, Ogden, Utah)
• Schedule:
  • 6:00 pm - Doors + Pizza
  • 6:30 pm - Panel Discussion: Regional Collaboration for GSL presented by Stewardship Utah
  • 7:45 pm - Dust Convo presented by Grow the Flow

Time Commitment: 2 hours + 

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about what you learned and what you found most impactful.

Action 4: Donate Items or Volunteer at the Free Swap (Nov. 11th & 12th)

Description: Donate items or volunteer at the Free Swap! The Free Swap is a two-day event where people can donate items on Day 1, and the campus community can take donated items for free on Day 2. Volunteers are needed to help organize donations. To volunteer or learn more about the event, please visit the GivePulse page here. 

• Day 1 (donation day): November 11th from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM in Shephard Union Ballroom B 
• Day 2 (free pick up day): November 12th from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM in Shephard Union Ballroom B

Time Commitment: 1 hour + 

Required Documentation: Check in at the event and write 3-4 sentences about your experience.

Action 5: Attend the Zero Waste Lunch and Learn (Nov. 19th)

Description: Join the Energy and Sustainability office for the Zero Waste Lunch and Learn. 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. 

• When: November 19th from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• Where: Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein Room (Li-321)

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 6: Attend the Sustainability Workforce Panel (Nov. 20th)

Description: Attend the Sustainability Workforce Panel to learn more about different sustainability careers. See details below:

• When: November 20th from 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
• Where: Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein (Room 321)

Time Commitment: 1 hour + 

Required Documentation: Check in at the event and write 3-4 sentences about what you learned from the panel.

Action 7: Volunteer at a Zero Waste Athletics Football Game (Nov. 22nd)

Description: Attend the WSU vs Northern Arizona football game on November 22 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 GivePulse.

Time Commitment: 3 hours+

Required Documentation: Check in at the event and submit a photo of yourself volunteering.

Action 8: 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: 30 minutes - 1 hour (varies by food recovery)

Required Documentation: Check in at the event & upload a photo of yourself volunteering at the food recovery.

Action 9: 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: 30 minutes

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about what you decided to recycle, where you are getting it recycled, and why. 

Action 10: 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: 30 minutes

Required Documentation: Take a photo of yourself using your reusable replacement.

Action 11: 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 visit The Eco Location at the Monarch on 25th Street. Learn more about the benefits of buying in bulk here.

Time Commitment: 30 minutes

Required Documentation: Submit a photo of an item you decided to buy in bulk. *The item must be one that you specifically got for this action, not something you already have.

Action 12: 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. *The project must be one that you specifically did for this action, not something you have already upcycled.

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