Have you noticed strange blue bins with a large QR code on top around campus? The students I’ve asked either hadn’t noticed them at all or were unsure about their purpose. These captured my attention last week; they may look like recycling bins, but they’re for more than just trash.
They’re around for something specific actually… Earth Day!
So, what are you doing for Earth Day?
I had no plans. We all know how busy this time of year is, and honestly, I had completely forgotten about Earth Day. So why not take a break from your busy schedule and celebrate Earth Day with something sustainable and fun? Consider donating and participating in the Thrift Swap hosted by the Stout Student Association. Get something cute and new to you while doing something good for the community and the world! Earth.org says that, “the world consumes around 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year – 400% more than the consumption twenty years ago. The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year.” https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/
Bergen Haag is the Sustainability Director of the SSA Sustainability Council, and started the Thrift Swap event in her freshman year. But what is the Thrift Swap? On April 22nd in the MSC Ballrooms A and B, there will be an event for students to donate unwanted or unused clothing and get a chance to find something new! Now four years old, the Thrift Swap has provided students an alternative to throwing away or donating clothing to big companies. Not only are you donating and participating in part of the Stout community, but you also get something back. Each student who attends will have two tickets to start; the more you donate, the more tickets you’ll get. You can use them to either exchange a new clothing item or enter their raffle.
There are three events hosted by the SSA Sustainability Council for Earth Week. With the thrift swap being a fast-growing event, the more people who donate, the more options there will be to choose from, so tell your friends!
Starting on March 25th and ending on April 22nd, donations will be accepted in the bins outside of three on-campus locations: the Involvement Center, the Housing Office (in the front of Price Commons), and North Point. Finding the time and transportation to donate can be hard and puts a lot of people off, but this time the donation spots come to you in conveniently placed blue recycling bins with a QR code placed on top. Don’t worry if you don’t have anything you can donate; you can still show up to support and will get two tickets regardless.
Come hang out and find something new for your closet and be a part of clothing waste reduction this Earth Day!
