Students Grab 'n' Go with mesh bags
By Sarah Baum
News Writer
In an effort to make Notre Dame students more environmentally conscious, reusable mesh Grab 'n' Go bags are being sold for one dollar by the student government office.
Junior Kim Howe, who works for the Environmental Agency at Notre Dame, came up with the idea to avoid unnecessary waste from the use of paper bags last year.
Noticing how many people threw away their Grab 'n' Go bags everyday, she went to the Office of the President with the idea for reusable bags.
Student government officials then formed a committee to implement the idea, appointing Kat Walsh, a division head for Social Concerns/Vision to the helm. Sophomore Erin Dwyer also worked hard on the project, which is being sponsored by Cavanaugh Hall, the junior and senior classes, the student government office and the environmental office.
In addition, Howe received a $500 grant to get the project going. The bags, which cost the committee two dollars, are being sold for one dollar to cover expenses and to allow the group to donate money to a worthwhile cause.
Walsh said the project has been successful because the bags are easy to use and the mesh can be taken anywhere and can be washed.
"They are convenient and help the environment as well," she said.
Senior Jon Alvarez bought a bag because of his concern for the amount of trash created by the paper bags.
"A lot of paper gets wasted unnecessarily," Alvarez said.
University employees who work in the two Grab 'n' Go locations on campus support the project because the mesh makes it easy for them to check the bags. The employees also noted an added incentive — students using the bags can take an extra side with meals for the rest of this week and next week.
While some students cite inconvenience as a reason for not wanting to use the bags, the people involved in the project hope that they will find this to be an important cause.
"The more people do this, the more effective the cause will turn out to be," said Alvarez.
Grab 'n' Go employee Edna Anspaugh also hopes the reusable bags will catch on. "Hopefully they will replace them all," she said.
All News Stories for Tuesday, September 4, 2001
