One-use plastics have seen an uptick in recent years since reusable items were found to have more potential spread of COVID-19, amongst other germs.
However, Bradley University’s Environmental Club is still working hard to help save the planet in a time where every item of food is individually wrapped to make sure it’s safe. This mission started well before the pandemic.
“We’ve had concerns with our campus in terms of composting, watering the grass when it’s raining, that kinda thing,” said Hannah Netherwood, president of the environmental club. “I just think it’s really important to have a club that addresses those things when there are things on campus that can be improved and we can have regard for.”
While COVID-19 and online learning may have interrupted the club’s normal function of events and raising money for local nonprofits, they have adapted and are sending out a newsletter to keep informing the campus community about ways to help the planet.
Though large corporations are still the earth’s biggest polluters, there are still things people can do to help out until the corporations do their part.
“We really do just want to raise awareness for people, I think to a certain extent, it’s not really even a big thing that’s known; how many things we do that are just harmful to the Earth,” Netherwood, a junior photography major, said.
Sustainability is the goal for the club, teaching people how to help the Earth in practical ways. Izzy Nieto, the club’s social media chair, said that it’s about starting the change, rather than going head on into green living.
“Sustainability is more about progress rather than perfection, so I think you don’t have to join environmental club and automatically switch everything to reusable and ‘if you don’t recycle, you’re not allowed to be in the club’ or whatever,” said Neito, a freshman journalism major. “It’s for everybody and as long as you are wanting to make progress in the direction of environmental sustainability and being aware of the way environment influences human society, we’re not going to expect you to be perfect. It’s important that you wanna learn and you wanna grow in that direction.”
The club recommends using reusable water bottles instead of purchasing plastic bottles, cutting down on meat intake by participating in meatless Mondays or buying local meat and wearing a reusable mask.
For medical professionals who can only use single-use masks, the club advises cutting off the ear loops before disposal in order to prevent wild animals from getting tangled.
The environmental club is still planning on having an Earth Day week in April this semester, with the possibility of selling plants for students to buy and an in-person event still to be determined. More details will be in Hilltop Happenings.
