The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Student Food Pantry will no longer provide plastic bags in order to reduce plastic waste.
In a Sept. 10 Facebook post, the Student Food Pantry announced it will provide reusable bags to new applicants instead of plastic bags. The change was implemented on both campuses.
Cristina Vega, Student Food Pantry program coordinator, said they decided to stop issuing plastic bags because of damage to the environment and reusable bags are sturdier.
“If we were to be giving the items in plastic bags, they’re not always the sturdiest, and so, we’re just afraid that their groceries might rip through the bags,” Vega said. “And, also, we’re just trying to … promote the food pantry and so the bags that we give the students, the reusable bags, have our name on them and the grocery bags do not, and so, that’s another reason that we like to use the bags.”
The reusable bags are given to new applicants and they are asked to bring them every time they visit the food pantry. Previously registered students have already received the reusable bags.
In comparison to plastic bags, reusable bags are more durable, according to Vega.
“On one occasion we had somebody whose bag ripped, and this was before we put the plan in place for the reusable bags, and so we had to, like, double and triple bag their items,” she said. “And, so, one bag is already, you know, enough to cause damage to the environment but then you add on two layers, three layers. … That’s why we decided to do away with them.”
Vega believes it is important to eliminate plastic waste because the recycling programs at UTRGV, in Edinburg and even McAllen, are limited and there are not a lot of places that recycle plastic bags.
“Not all plastics are able to be recycled, and so, if we can cut down in one way in our own simple way, I feel like that adds something,” she said.
The pantry accepts all kinds of food donations, according to Vega. They have a freezer and refrigerator for perishable items such as milk or eggs, as well as yellow boxes in their offices and around campus for boxed or canned items.
She said besides providing food to students, the pantry has the Hands Up program once a month.
“It’s where a representative from the [RGV] Food Bank comes over and answers questions that the students may have about filling out paperwork like [for] food stamps,” the coordinator said. “And, so, the representatives will answer those questions for the students.”
Vega added that the Hands Up program’s slogan is “It’s a hand up, not a hand down.”
“We really want to drive home that point because we feel like a lot of students are ashamed to come and get food, even though they might desperately need food,” she said. “We just want to remind people that it’s solidarity, not charity.”
Political science junior Blanca Gonzalez said the change to reusable bags is a good idea.
Gonzalez said the way she reduces plastic waste is that her family uses reusable bags when grocery shopping. She said the service the food pantry provides is a good thing and suggests it use plastic boxes in order for students to reuse them.
Krista Lara, a nursing sophomore, has not been to the Student Food Pantry but thinks the reusable bags are smart.
“I think that’s pretty smart considering that we, a lot of people, just, like, throw away their trash or plastic and it just ends up on the street, and it’s just really unsafe for the environment and for the animals,” Lara said.
She reduces her plastic waste by using reusable bags when grocery shopping and using metal or rubber straws.
“Hopefully, stuff like this keeps happening where it’s just better for the environment and that way, like, keep everything clean and well,” Lara said.
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