City of Pueblo has chance to go green

The CSU-Pueblo Community Health Nursing class, Pueblo City-County Health Department and Pueblo Recycling came together to promote environmental awareness while hosting the Trash Fashion Show on Nov. 7.

Designers and models who entered the show were asked to create outfits made from only recycled or reused materials in order for the environmental message to be showcased.

One of three co-directors of Pueblo Recycling Jo Scher said she likes community events such as the fashion show because it allows everyone to have fun while becoming educated on the issue.

“It’s the small things that open eyes and makes the community aware of the environment,” Scher said.  “An event like this could get the whole family involved by making the outfit.”

Scher is also a nurse and said she believes that the environment affects people’s health.

“I believe that a healthy planet is equal to healthy people,” Scher said.

Scher has participated in the show for four years and has also recruited five CSU-Pueblo nursing students to help with a public health project as a part of the students’ class.

The five students working towards their bachelor’s degree in nursing are Christen McCraw, Tiffany Cerecero, Maria Cardenas, Jennifer Harper, and Aaron Williams.

All of students will present a proposal to the health department on Dec. 6, which will entail an overview of Pueblo and explain the demographics and as well as the possibility of creating a recycling system for the city of Pueblo.

Each student had individual reactions and ideas about the group project.

Cardenas said she hopes that people will get involved in recycling throughout the city.

“Since it costs a lot to have a regular pick up, our town does not have that option,” Cardenas said.  “People can now take plastic items to Walmart on a regular basis.”

There are also health issues that the students said can be related to a poor environmental state.

“I think that promoting recycling is very important to us because it can help eliminate toxins in the atmosphere, and help fight global warming,” McCraw said.

McCraw also said she gathers her neighbor’s recycling items within three blocks of her home and takes it to the site on her own each week.

“I’m doing as much as I can for now,” McCraw said.  “We really need the whole city involved to make a big difference.”

With similar ideas, Cerecero said that people with medical issues are at risk to have more problems due to a poor environment.

“If you ask a patient what they are doing in regards to the environment, their habits can tell you a lot about their health issues,” Cerecero said.

In addition, Williams said he feels that children need to get involved more than anyone.

“Their values and positive habits will preserve the earth for their future,” Williams said.

Harper said she is trying to make a difference by changing her personal habits.

“I now buy Melaleuca products because they are environmentally safe,” Harper said.  “They make everything from makeup to cleaning products.”

Also lending a hand in the event, the City-County Health Department had a booth present at the event to further educate the members of the community who attended.

Environmental coordinator for the City-County Health Department Susan Finzel-Aldred said she enjoyed participating in this event because it promotes the idea of recycling to the community.

“I think sometimes people forget that managing waste affects our air and our water,” Finzel-Aldred said.

While there were several helpers and contributors, the show also invited two guest masters of ceremonies.

KOAA News 5/30 environmental reporter Susan Davies said this was her first year hosting the show since she filled in for her colleague Craig Elliot.

“I met some people involved in the show while I was reporting a recycling conference in Denver, and they asked me to co-host the event,” Davies said.

Davies said that out of the entire country, Colorado lags behind when it comes to environmental action such as recycling.

“I always try to have an environmental story in the news so that it is available to the public,” Davies said.

The show’s other master of ceremonies was another media figure.  Pueblo Chieftain business editor and reporter James Amos co-hosted the event with Davies.

“I like seeing the creativity everyone put in,” Amos said.  “At the same time it educates the students to reuse and recycle.”

Respectively, the directors created a vest consisting of used video tape for Davies to wear and a poncho made out of old Pueblo Chieftain newspapers woven together for Amos’ fashion show attire.

The community will also have a chance to join the cause by attending the Recycling Round-up on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Colorado State Fair Grounds.  Pueblo Recycling will accept plastic items, aluminum cans and some electronic software items. 

Until the proposal is reviewed, citizens of Pueblo can also start their own recycling system within their neighborhood.

For more information call the Recycle Hotline at(719) 583-4924.

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