Learn how to help save the environment with PEAC’s Plastic Film Program

Without even knowing it, you may be harming the very ecosystem you inhabit everyday. However, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Public and Environmental Affairs Council (PEAC) plastic film recycling program is seeking to make the community more sustainable by getting plastic out of the waste stream.

The program was started in spring 2014 by a UW-Green Bay undergraduate student and PEAC member completing an internship. In September 2014, PEAC took over the program. The organization meets every Tuesday, specifically for plastic film bailing, but they also organize and lead bailing events and “sorority nights” for Kappa Beta Gamma to help raise awareness and to get people more involved.

PEAC restarted the program three weeks before the Fall 2019 semester started after being on break since April 2019. In the three weeks before school started up again, PEAC spent about 38 hours in the bailing room working to get the mountain of plastic down that had accumulated over the summer.

“The easiest way for members of the campus community to help is to simply be informed!” says Katherine Bruni, a PEAC member. “There are collection bins in almost every academic building on campus, each with a sign detailing what can and cannot be recycled through the program.”

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to bring in plastic bags and plastic film. No plastic bottles, saran wrap, tape, stickers or dirty plastic, please.

“We are always looking for more volunteers to get involved and help spread the word about the program,” said Bruni. The organization meets every Tuesday at 5 p.m. either in the Mauthe Center main room or by the GAC Lab for plastic bailing. If students are unable to make meetings, they can reach out to PEAC (sopeac@uwgb.edu) to learn how to recycle plastic themselves. In addition, PEAC is hosting a “Make a Difference Day” event on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, including plastic film bailing from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

With a strong foundation set at the UW-Green Bay main campus, PEAC is looking to potentially expand the plastic film recycling program to the Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan campuses in order to have an even greater impact and more involvement.

For more information, check PEAC out on Facebook or contact sopeac@uwgb.edu.

Story by Marketing and University Communication student assistant, Joshua Konecke.
Photos submitted by PEAC.