Green GW Responds to DC Bag Fee

In an attempt to bring awareness on GW's campus and help students save 5 cents, Green GW held a "Save your Bag" Free Giveaway event in the Marvin Center Wednesday afternoon. The organization distributed over 600 reuseable bags in response to the new DC 5 cent bag fee. Since Jan. 1, businesses in the District selling food or alcohol have to charge patrons 5 cents for every bag they take out of the store, paper or plastic.

In addition to the reusuable bags, Green GW also gave away compact fluorescent lightbulbs, better known as CFL bulbs which use less energy than incandescent lightbulbs. GW Housing paid for the CFL bulbs which were first distributed to freshmen. Executive Director of Green GW, Spencer Olson said GW Housing will save about $30 per lightbulb over the course of four years with the use of these new CFL lightbulbs. Olson said the organization always tries to inform students of what is taking place locally in DC and nationally regarding environmental issues by holding events like the bag giveaway.

He said the CFL lightbulb giveaway was inspired by the eco-challenge that takes place at the university each year. Green GW also pushed Residential Property Management to provide recycling bins in each room in residence halls on campus to encourage recycling efforts. The distribution began in Fall 2009 but not all halls have the recycling bins in every individual room yet.

As far as future plans, Olson said Green GW will attempt to eliminate styrofoam in J street as well as encourage Sodexho to use biodegradeable products.

Green GW participated in the "Funk the Warming" Dance protest at Lafayette Park near the White House this afternoon and some of their members will be hosting Green Corps participants this weekend.