Reuse

Mugs, Bottles, Bags

Mugs

Using a reusable mug when you get your hot drink is a small action that collectively has a big impact.

"If only 15 percent of US college students used reusable mugs instead of disposable cups every day, we would eliminate more than a billion cups a year." -The Earth Works Group

To help spread theshift from the disposable mentality,we at CU Recycling will be giving out FREE coffee on certain mornings throughout the semester...but only if youLug-Your-Mug!

Carrying a reusable mug not only gives you the chance to score some free coffee from us, but it can alsogetyou discountsat coffee shops oncampus and throughout Boulder.

Bottles

"Making bottles to meet America’s demand for bottled water uses more than 17 million barrels of oilannually, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. And that’s not even including the oil used for transportation"- Pacific Institute

Ditching bottled water for a reusable water bottle not only saves energy and resources but will also save you money as bottled water is typically sold for 10,000 times the price of regular tap water. Across campus you will find refill stations throughout resident halls and academic buildings where you can fill up with cool filtered water for free!

Bags

"Every year, Americans reportedly throw away100 billionplastic grocery bags."- The Worldwatch Institute

"Of the plastic bags used less than 5 percent of plastic grocery bags are recycled in the U.S."- E.P.A

Plastic Bags have a colossalimpact on the environment as they are resource intensive, hard to recycle, and can take up to thousands of years to decompose.

In November 2012, City Council passed an ordinance requiring a 10-cent fee for disposable plastic and paper checkout bags at all grocery stores in Boulder, so make sure to BYOB (bring your own bag) to the grocery store!

Household Items

Quality vs. Quantity

  • Avoid single-use, disposable items.
  • Buy durable. Think about the lifetime of the product before purchasing it.
  • Buy products with less packaging.
  • offers 100% plastic-free products packaged and shipped to you in entirely recyclable materials.

Buy in bulk

  • The "Bulk Section" at most grocery stores is a great way to reduce packaging and save money, as you only buy whatyou need.
  • Bring containers to fill. Jars, Tupperware and reusable bags work great in the bulk section and beyond!
  • You can even buy metal or glass containers that don't use harmful plastics to produce.
  • Always usewhen shopping to cut down on the amount of plastic and paper bags that are wasted.
  • If you are eating at the hot bar, try reusablecutleryandstrawsas alternatives to plastic utensils and replace to-go boxes with

Buy cloth

  • Instead of paper products, use cloth napkins and cloth dish towels.
  • Think about usingfor your baby instead of regular diapers. You can save money and help the environment.
  • Buy recycled paper products, like toilet paper, to conserve trees.

Buying Green: Ultimate list of resources

  • : Find zero-waste grocery stores in Colorado listed by city. Also, explore where to compost in Colorado. Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Lucky’s and Alfalfa sell groceries in bulk.
  • Discover plastic-free options such as bamboo toothbrushes, dental floss in refillable glass bottles, steel straws, etc.
  • : Replace plastic wrap and other plastic containers with Beeswax Wraps to keep your perishable foods fresh.
  • : Use a wooden toothbrush instead of plastic to avoid unnecessary waste from unrecyclable plastics.
  • : Choose reusable straws instead of plastic straws.
  • Bar Soaps: Use bar soaps instead of body washes, shampoos and conditioners in plastic containers.
  • : If you forget a reusable mug, you can rent a Vessel coffee cup for free from participating coffee shops and return it within 15 days.
  • : Bring cloth produce bags for shopping.
  • : Replace tampons or pads with menstrual cups and reusable cloth pads. Both are washable and can last many cycles. There is also period-proofthat is thin, effective and surprisingly stylish.
  • : Rent a car through the campus portal.
  • : A laundry tool to deter microfibers and microplastics from entering sewage water.
  • : “Who Gives A Crap” makes their products with environmentally-friendly materials and donates 50% of their profits to help build toilets for those in need.
  • : These towels can be washed up to 120 times.
  • : Recharge your batteries up to 2100 times.
  • : Paper made entirely from sugarcane by-products (Bagasse), a readily available and renewable raw material.
  • : A refillable dental floss and 99% zero waste product.
  • : Antimicrobial bedding that requires far fewer washes to save energy and deter microplastics from entering waterways as frequently.
  • : Smart blinds that automatically track the sun. They can function as an alarm clock in the morning and keep your privacy at night.
  • : Created to make urban gardening simpler, faster and more fun.