Campus Life

Erie works to save the planet with Ecomugs

Bruno's Cafe in the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie uses about 10,000 disposable paper and plastic foam drink cups each week. That much trash takes up a lot of landfill space.
To combat that waste, Housing and Food Services, in conjunction with the Greener Behrend Task Force, has developed a reusable ecomug that is expected to drastically reduce waste.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 7, diners at Bruno's can receive an ecomug filled with coffee or soda for $1. Ecomug refills will be sold for 80 cents.
"The ecomug comes with a hook that allows students to attach it to their backpacks," said Thomas Wortman, special projects assistant to the provost and dean and chair of the Greener Behrend Task Force. "It will be easy to transport and easy to carry with you for visits to Bruno's."
"This is a really good way for people to chip in and help save the planet," said Mike Lindner, manager at Bruno's. "I'm proud to be part of this program." Lindner noted that the ecomug is an important partnership between his office and the task force, which helped fund the project.
The ecomug is just one of more than 20 projects that the Greener Behrend Task Force has in progress since it formed last year. Examples of other projects include initiating a major trail cleanup project with GE Transportation Systems; beginning a water ecology education program with Pennsylvania Sea Grant; completing a low-flow showerhead program with HFS; initiating a DEP-funded composting proposal; and beginning the process to have the campus declared and registered as an arboretum.
For more information, check the Web at http://greencampus.psu.edu/

Last Updated March 19, 2009

Contact