Haley Porter is doing her part to reduce her carbon footprint. She rinses out and reuses the same drinking cup for a week straight, she separates her roommate’s trash into recycling bins and she monitors her daily shower to a maximum of five minutes.

Porter, who is an environmental science major and self proclaimed tree-hugger, encourages people to practice “the 3 R's”, reducing, reusing and recycling, but wants people to place a stronger emphasis on reusing rather than recycling.

“Sometimes its better to have zero-waste,” she says. "Recycling is important to do, but it is better to reuse because someone has to pay to purchase the recycling compound in order to sort it, transport it and reuse it."

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Zero waste means producing little-to-no trash and using minimal energy. Reusing packaging is the best form of zero-waste because it doesn’t require further use of energy, either in processing or transporting the packaging prior to use.

Her idea? A waste-free event on Auburn's campus that would produce only 10 percent of total waste material. Some skeptics may ask how this is possible, but all it would take are some willing volunteers.

The event would require guests to bring their own Nalgene cups and all drinks would be served out of reusable pitchers or containers. Finger food would be served to avoid using plates, forks, or napkins and left over food could be donated to a homeless shelter. Washable towels and bleach would be used for clean up.

“The hardest part about having an event like this would be getting people informed and having them participate. People would have to adjust to self-service, but if they can look past that it would be a great event while helping out the environment,” says Porter.

Other things that students can do to reduce their waste output level is purchasing a “lug-a-mug.” By purchasing this reusable bottle, students can ask on-campus restaurants to fill their mug as an alternative to using a paper or styrofoam cup each time they purchase a drink.

“There are so many little things people can do to help our environment, it will just take a little effort on their part to change their habits."