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Construction of a new garden seating area behind the  Nursing/Education building is planned to kick off Earth Week activities on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus.

The project starting Monday will beautify an area adjacent to staff parking lot 25 and will include plantings, a bench and path. The bench was won by UWO in the plastic film recycling challenge by Trex, a recycled materials maker of composite outdoor products. Students and staff help by depositing plastic bags in specially marked boxes located around the UWO campus.

“My classes will work on Monday to prep the space,” said Brad Spanbauer, associate lecturer of biology and campus sustainability coordinator. “Then in June, during University Staff Appreciation day, staff will be working to plant the space. It is a great collaboration of grounds staff, students, University staff and volunteers on campus.”

In another project beginning Monday, the Student Environmental Action Coalition will be selling reusable water bottles as a way to reduce plastic waste on campus and increase awareness about the disposal of plastic waste.

The bottle design was created by UWO art student Rachel Walther. Bottles will be sold for $8 cash from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Reeve Union.

Activities

  • A popular e-waste collection takes place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Blackhawk Commons parking lot. Rechargeable batteries, cell phones, desktop computers, laptops, VCRs, headphones and digital watches are among the items accepted. TVs, light bulbs and disposable batteries are some of the items not accepted. More information is available by contacting Jonah Hood at hoodj31@uwosh.edu.
  • The Environmental Research and Innovation Center Lab will host a plastic bag recycling project from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the ERIC classroom at 783 Pearl Ave. The project involves making plastic shopping bags into durable lightweight sleeping mats to be donated to area homeless people. Those interested in making sleeping mats can sign up at https://forms.gle/op39EswGV9zMuncw6  Each mat takes 500-1,000 bags to create. Bag donations will be accepted during office hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
  • Worn clothing and shoes can be turned in from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Friday at the Reeve Union Concourse. “Clothes the Loop” clothing recycling is a program of textile recycling initiated by The North Face.
  • Tree planting on campus will take place as weather permits. Fox-Wolf Watershed Cleanup is planned from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers are asked to register online at www.fwwa.org.
  • A bike fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Reeve Union, with opportunities to buy biking gear and have questions answered.

Speakers

Speakers include Jill Hirosky, Solving the Climate Challenge, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 at Reeve Union 220; keynote speaker Malia Hulleman, environmental activist, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sage Hall, 2212.

A film with discussion, Facing the Surge, related to climate change and the costs of sea level rise for the people of Norfolk, Virginia, takes place 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sage Hall 2212. Speaker Melissa Weyland will present, The True Cost of Our Food, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Reeve Union 306.

A film, Dolores, about the fearless activist and cofounder of the first farm workers union, Dolores Huerta, takes place from 7 to 8:35 p.m. Thursday in Reeve Union 212A. Finally, an award-winning film, Josh Fox’s Gasland, will be shown from 4 to 5:50 p.m. Friday at Reeve Union 210. The film investigates the fracking industry and attempts to gain a better understanding of the environmental and human impacts.

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