November Happenings at the ASCP!

Join us for the 10th Annual Auraria Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 19-21! Find helpful resources available on campus and around Denver to help with food and housing insecurity. Tuesday will be Share the Harvest Fest and resource fair in the Tivoli Turnhalle organized by The Health Center at Auraria. Across the three days of programming, there will be free food, free clothing, winter essentials, workshops, panels, SNAP benefit sign-ups, a mobile food market, haircuts, lessons on cooking on a budget, sexual reproductive health care, opioid overdose prevention, renters’ rights, and more!
Programming will be held in the Tivoli building from 10am to 2pm. Check out program details on our website.

 

​10:00 - 2:00 Share the Harvest Resource Fair

10:00 Coffee and Donuts

10:30 Food Justice Documentary

11:30 Cooking Demonstrations

10:30 Opioid Overdose Response Presentation & Training

11:30 Creative Community Solutions for Food Insecurity

1:00 Food Justice Action Presentation

10:00 - 2:00 Resource Fair

 

A huge thank you to our committee members; Health Center at Auraria- Sponsor of Share the Harvest fest​, The University of Colorado Student Government Association​, CU Denver Student Life​, The Student Advocacy Council at Metropolitan State University of Denver ​, Community College of Denver Student Government Association​, Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board​, Rowdy’s Corner​, Milo’s Market​, MSU Denver Center for Multicultural Equity and Inclusion , and Auraria Campus Student Care Teams

 

Commutrics is an application that rewards its users for reporting how they commute. You can earn incentives for reporting these statistics. The more sustainably you commute, the higher the reward! If you are a student, please download the app and join today using your student email.

Click here to signup.

 

The ASCP Free Store OPEN!

 

After break, come visit us and shop through our selection in the Free Store. We have clothing, school supplies, appliances, shelving, and household items for free!

 

When: Every Monday - Thursday, from 10am to 3pm

Where: Tivoli 346

 

See you there!

 

*Temporary closures from Nov 18 - Dec 2 & Dec 13 - Jan 21

 

Alexia is an undergraduate student at MSU Denver studying Environmental Science with a certificate in Water Studies and a minor in History. She has a passion for the environment and sustainability. In her role with the waste diversion team, she hopes to expand on and put into action the knowledge that she has obtained so far through her education. Outside of work and school, she enjoys reading and writing, and you will often find her spending most of her time with friends and family, preferably outdoors when possible.

Max is a senior as MSU Denver and currently getting his BS in Environmental Science and looking to go into the field of renewable energy and sustainability. With a passion for the environment and a small background in waste management, Max’s role with ASCP includes sorting, collecting, and processing organic waste into compost. He is enthusiastic on helping the Auraria Campus divert all the organic waste out of the landfills, and into our soils. Outside of his job, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors and listening to and playing music.

Lili is an undergraduate student at MSU studying Industrial Design. Their role in ASCP is to collect, sort, and process on-campus organic waste and repurpose it into compost for the landscaping on campus. Lili hopes that learning about compost can inspire them to use sustainable materials in their own design as well as promote health and community. Outside of work and school, Lili likes to go on long bike rides, read books, and hang out with their cat at home.

Denver offers several options for responsibly recycling textiles, with a growing awareness of how discarded clothing contributes to environmental issues. The textile waste produced annually in the U.S. is substantial; Americans discard over 15 million metric tons of textiles each year, with only 15% of that being recycled or donated 4. This equates to approximately 104 pounds per person per year, most of which ends up in landfills or incinerated, releasing harmful emissions and wasting valuable resources. For the textiles that are recycled, pathways include reuse through donations, repurposing into materials like industrial wiping cloths, or converting fibers into new products like insulation. However, because most donations exceed resale needs domestically, around 80% of donated clothing is exported overseas, where it’s either sold or repurposed, mainly in countries across Africa, Asia, and Central America 5.

 

In Denver, textile recycling efforts are available through the city’s programs and private organizations. Denver Solid Waste Management operates specific days for textile collection and partners with nonprofit and private organizations to provide additional recycling support. Western Disposal, for example, allows for textile drop-offs at its recycling center and collaborates with textile recyclers to repurpose worn or damaged items into new products 2. Textile Recycling Quotes, another Denver-based option, offers accessible drop-off locations for individuals and businesses, supporting local sustainability initiatives and helping decrease landfill reliance 3. Residents should check the condition of items before recycling, as materials that are torn or stained are still useful for recycling, whereas heavily blended or synthetic fabrics may require specialized processing.

 

The environmental benefits of textile recycling are significant. Reusing just one ton of textiles saves up to 1,000 gallons of water and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be emitted through incineration or decay in landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 4 has estimated that 11.3 million tons of textile waste were sent to landfills in 2018 alone. Increasing textile recycling rates, especially through local drop-off points, education on proper recycling practices, and circular economy initiatives, could help reduce waste and create new economic opportunities in Denver and beyond.

 

For further details on where to recycle textiles in Denver and how the recycling process works, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and EPA provide guidelines on best practices for keeping textiles out of the waste stream and encourage partnerships that support a more circular textile economy​

 

Denver offers several options for residents interested in recycling textiles to reduce landfill waste and support sustainability efforts:

 

1. City Programs: Denver Recycles, part of the Denver city government, occasionally hosts events for textile recycling. Residents are encouraged to check Denver's recycling schedule or subscribe to alerts for updates.

 

2. Western Disposal: Based in Boulder but serving nearby areas, Western Disposal accepts clothing and textiles to reduce landfill waste. They partner with local thrift stores to recycle items in good condition and sustainably dispose of others.

 

3. Textile Recycling Quotes: This private company provides textile recycling for various materials, such as clothing, linens, and other fabrics. They aim to keep textiles out of landfills and support the circular economy.

 

Each option has unique collection processes and accepted items, so checking specific guidelines is recommended. Local nonprofits may also accept used clothing, so donating before recycling can be a beneficial first step.

 

 

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Join us in our fight against hunger and food waste on campus by using the Share Meals app! Sign up to see which events around campus have food that will be available to community members. You can find free food nearby through Share Meals; see how much is available and how long it’s up for grabs. The app also has a list of centers across campus where students can find free food, personal care items, and other helpful resources. Sign up today by downloading the app on your phone or by using the web version!

 

Click here or the image above to be navigated to our webpage for more information and to get started. 

 

Interested in how we all help to reduce Auraria's ecological impact 

and dependence on fossil fuels? Check out our team page!