Is Your Community Missing Out? Discover the Shocking Effects of WasteNot Emerson's Green Revolution!

Emerson College is taking significant steps toward sustainability with the launch of its latest initiative, WasteNot Emerson. This campaign, which kicked off last month and runs until March 29, aims to raise awareness about waste reduction and promote practices that divert waste from landfills and incinerators. The initiative is organized by Emerson Sustainability, a team composed of faculty, staff, and student fellows, and is part of the broader Campus Race to Zero Waste (CR2ZW), a national competition with 96 participating colleges.

“WasteNot Emerson is a great opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to learn more about the impact waste has on the environment and people, as well as to find innovative ways to reduce and divert waste,” said Jacqui Moy, Emerson College’s Sustainability Coordinator. Since its inception in 2012, Emerson has participated in the CR2ZW, although it took a hiatus from 2019 to 2022.

The initiative incorporates a friendly competition among participants to incentivize sustainable practices. For instance, during the spring break, students have the chance to engage in the WasteNot Emerson Instagram Challenge. They can post photos of themselves taking sustainable actions, while the sustainability team launches various tasks for participants to complete in order to earn points. The top three scorers can win ECCash, with prizes of $150, $100, and $50 for first, second, and third place, respectively.

According to Hazel Fitzpatrick, a junior communication major and Emerson Sustainability communications fellow, initiatives like WasteNot remind students of the importance of sustainability. “What I’ve noticed most during my time as a student employee at Emerson Sustainability is the lack of awareness about sustainable practices on campus,” she shared. Fitzpatrick emphasized that WasteNot helps students understand both the current efforts on campus and how they can contribute to making Emerson more sustainable.

In addition to the challenges, students can submit artwork to the WasteNot Art Competition until March 24. All art mediums are encouraged, provided they communicate a sustainability-related theme. The grand prize is $150 in ECCash, with second and third prizes of $100 and $50, respectively. Moreover, students can sign a pledge by March 29 to commit to proper recycling and composting, earning one point in the WasteNot Challenge.

As part of the initiative’s outreach, the sustainability team has organized several events throughout February and March to engage the community. One notable event, Weigh the Waste, took place in the Dining Center, where participants sorted and weighed dinner-time waste. This activity aims to quantify the waste produced during a single meal, with the goal of reducing that amount over time.

In collaboration with Healing & Advocacy, the WasteNot initiative also hosted “Low-Waste Art for Healing: Yarn Bowls,” where students crafted yarn bowls using donated yarn. Other events included a sustainability film screening and a craft project that involved decorating wood frames. This week, there’s an Office Recycling Competition designed to engage faculty and staff. Departments can sign up to compete for the highest diversion rate, which measures the effective waste diversion from landfills, with the winning office receiving a pizza party.

For those looking to participate in the ongoing waste reduction effort, a second Weigh the Waste event is scheduled for Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Dining Center, with results to be displayed on the sustainability mural at Center Stage shortly after.

Moy indicated that the varied events aim to spark conversations, raise awareness, and promote low-waste practices within the Emerson community. Henry Weber, a sophomore majoring in Film, acknowledged that while there are reminders in the dining hall, it’s easy to overlook them amid daily chaos. “The waste diversion signs with specific pictures for each bin are helpful and easy to follow,” he noted.

Fitzpatrick concluded by noting that practicing sustainability involves “simple but intentional choices you make in your day-to-day life.” She encouraged everyone to consider actions like composting rather than simply discarding items into the trash. Even after the WasteNot initiative concludes, informative posters on waste diversion practices will remain displayed across campus to reinforce sustainable habits.

While Weber feels that Emerson is making commendable strides in waste management, he also urges continued efforts. “I feel like Emerson does a decent job in getting students to dispose of waste properly, but I’m sure that we can always do more,” he stated. The WasteNot Emerson initiative not only highlights current efforts but also sets the stage for ongoing improvements in sustainability at Emerson College.