Recycle Mugs

Recycle Mugs: Save Money and Save the Earth!

Earth Day

April 20, 2007 -- Western Washington University students, faculty and staff can save 780 trees, 7 swimming pools full of water, and enough energy to supply 6.5 homes for a year by using Recycle Mugs instead of disposable cups. In honor of Earth Day, University Dining Services (UDS) is promoting its Recycle Mug, which sells for just $1.99 in all cafés and markets on campus. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to reuse the mug; any refill of drip coffee or soda is just 99 cents. Colorful, lightweight and easy to use, the mug easily fits in a backpack or book bag. Individuals may also bring their own cup or mug to receive a 15 cent discount at any café or market

The campus community currently uses approximately 3,000 disposable cups per day, as well as numerous lids, sleeves and straws. To demonstrate the volume of this waste, the Viking Union Market staff will present a display of recently discarded cups during the week of April 23rd.

"Earth Day is Sunday, April 22nd, but it's so important we're actually celebrating it for an entire week," said Lisa North, director of business development for University Dining Services. "In addition to the reusable vs. disposable awareness campaign, there is also a special dinner planned for our resident dining halls," North said.

On Wednesday, April 25th, all three of the dining halls (Viking, Ridgeway and Fairhaven Commons) will serve a special "Sustainable Dinner," featuring food that is locally grown and/or organic. Menu highlights include Oven roasted Mt Vernon Washington Free-Range Chicken w/ Fresh Organic Thyme and Lemon butter, Eastern Washington grown fresh asparagus, wild Alaskan salmon Caesar salad with organically grown romaine lettuce, a Washington State apple cobbler and much more.

To learn more about sustainable dining, University Dining Services invites the community to see a newly unveiled “sustainability” section on the Web at www.dining.wwu.edu/sustainability.

Questions about University Dining Services' recycle mugs or Earth Week activities can be directed to Julie Barr at 650-6625.

Earth Day