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11/27 Zero Waste Newsletter
Zero Waste Coalition
November 27, 2023
Coalition Updates
Our next Coalition Meeting is on Wednesday 11/29 from 5-6PM in the SERC Space! You can also join online at this link. Remember that our meetings are required for coalition members and a great chance to promote events, build community, and participate in the discussion on Zero Waste at Cal. Peep the agenda here!
Recap of our last meeting:
HADSA is hiring a Conservation Coordinator (due 11/30)
SERC has a permanent e-waste collection bin- Personal electronic waste (e.g. laptop, phones) must sign waiver!
Cal Zero Waste is hiring – rolling application, on Handshake
Ideas for coalition projects next semester:
Field trips to Urban Ore, Ecology Center, Zero Waste Stores, etc.
Guest speakers @ Coalition meetings
Race to Zero Waste, Cal Zero Waste Manager, Instagram environmentalists?
Sustainable GBO Module: Implementing interactive videos
Classroom Chats: Document (for Spring)
Textbook exchange- e.g. spreadsheets facilitating individual textbook exchange, in-person event, physical library space for textbooks
Support composting / waste management efforts at People’s Park and host teach-ins with students and community members
Waste/sustainability training for student lab researchers
Upcycling event (Maker space?)
Zero Waste “Retreat”
Updates from the Single Use Plastics Working Group:
Meeting featured guest speakers from UCLA’s Zero Waste team!
Other News:
The UN just released this new report: Towards Zero Waste: A Catalyst for delivering the Sustainable Development Goals!
TLDR:
Positive impacts of improved waste management:
providing livelihood/reducing poverty
converting food waste into compost to restore soils → zero hunger
prevents pollution/spread of disease
cleaner water and sanitation
waste as source of clean energy
resource efficiency→ circular economy and economic growth
more sustainable cities
more responsible consumption and production
preventing carbon/methane emissions
reducing marine plastic pollution
preserving terrestrial ecosystems
I thought this graph was very interesting:
Weekly Waste Wisdom!
Are you Wishcycling? Check out these common recycling mistakes…
“Wishcycling” means putting something in the recycling bin hoping it can be recycled, when you are actually not sure it can be. This is a problem since wishcycled items can contaminate actually recyclable items and make them unable to be recycled.
Here are things that are NOT recyclable (at UC Berkeley):
Receipts - these contain BPA plastic and so can’t be recycled as paper
Small plastic pieces smaller than a credit card - are too small to get separated by recycling machinery and often end up as litter. If you are recycling things like bottles, make sure the caps stay attached to the bottle when you put it in the recycling bin
Wet, soiled, or greasy paper and cardboard - can’t be recycled but can be put in the compost as long as there’s no plastic in it! For things like a pizza box, you can compost the greasy spots and recycle the rest
Bubble wrap and bubble mailers are made of plastic that isn’t recyclable and are destined for landfill
Plastic wrap, plastic bags, chip/snack bags are all made of thin plastics that can’t be recycled and are destined for landfill
Plastic straws, cutlery, and coffee cups (if they are not marked as compostable) cannot be recycled and are destined for landfill
Coffee capsules/k-cup pods can’t be recycled and are destined for landfill
Styrofoam cannot be recycled
Containers with food or drink residue - Make sure to recycle any plastics with symbols 1-2, as well as metal or glass food/drink containers, HOWEVER make sure to rinse these out!!!!!
Broken glass should go in the landfill! It can hurt sanitation workers if you put it in the recycling
Tissue paper or paper towels contain fibers too short to be recycled as paper - compost them instead!
Clothing and bedsheets can’t be recycled. Instead donate them to a thrift store like Reuse on campus, or reuse them!
