One month ago, I touched down in Texas for the first time. From my first trip to Walmart to realizing how high high-rises rise, the sheer excess of everything here is clear. It was only when I moved into my flat that I realised how much waste I’d be tied to when I move out. I was confused — why would anyone get rid of anything that somebody could reuse?
The Texan pride, perfectly exemplified in the phrase “Everything is bigger in Texas,” is unapologetically in your face. But, with an area of 268,820 square miles and a population of roughly 29 million people, Texas isn’t overcompensating.
In fact, Texas’s size might be the problem. Madelyn Morgan, Circular Economy Program manager for the city of Austin, compares Texas to states on the coasts with less land, which emphasizes the importance of sustainability in a large state.
“Because we have so much space and … we have a lot of land, that means that it’s very easy to open up landfills,” Morgan said. “There’s not a financial incentive, like there is maybe in New York City or Rhode Island or Seattle, to decrease your consumption.”
That’s not to say Texas isn’t making progress. In June, Texas passed House Bill 2963 — guaranteeing the right to fix consumer electronics — with a unanimous vote, making it the first Republican-led state to do so. While this is progress in recognising the over-consumption, Morgan emphasises pausing and asking questions when buying things, similar to ‘How long will this last,’ and ‘Will I be able to fix it if it breaks?’
Environmental science sophomore Meg Novosad discusses how shopping sustainably is an expensive privilege.
“As college kids, we’re all trying to save a penny,” Novosad said.
It’s understandable why students buy cheaper items such as clothing, rather than more expensive, sustainably sourced items. But it doesn’t mean you have to resort straight to fast fashion.
So, how is UT doing? The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, ranked UT as Gold in their Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System program. Despite UT providing sustainable initiatives, many feel they can be hard to find.
“I know a lot of people do care,” Novosad said. “I feel like UT could give students a better voice, because if you’re interested, (you) have to search them out.”
Julian Dautremont, director of programs of AASHE, said in the face of dispiriting political signals, sustainability efforts are for everyone and anyone to get involved in.
“In terms of overconsumption, I do think sustainability efforts contribute … in part, (to) trying to reduce the impacts of what consumption is happening, but also trying to focus on the conception of the things that really matter,” Dautremont said. “I think sustainability is, in part, a solution to overconsumption.”
Talking about the environment can feel deflating, but there are solutions available. The University could work on promoting these initiatives and making them easier for students to find, but for now, you have to look for them.
Trash2Treasure, a student-led fashion program that recycles clothes, is a great way to start. The Austin Reuse Directory and Fix-It Austin are excellent sources for donating, recycling or learning how to repair items. MoveOutATX helps UT Austin students in West Campus give unwanted items a second life, which can only work if students get involved.
Anything you do, from recycling to reusing bags to taking leftovers home, is all in the right direction. For students, it means you should be picky when you shop — treat your investments like investments!
Slimmon is a history junior from London, England.
