Climate concern in omaha, the Conscious Curation Event, and more!
Nebraska Sustainability Updates: South Omaha Car Shredder
By Steven Dickerson
Welcome back to Hot Take! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our content. This summer, SFS is working on a multitude of topics relating to sustainability. One topic SFS is prioritizing is standing with communities facing the greatest environmental threats, which is why we are opposing the South Omaha car shredder project. Here’s what you need to know:
A company called U-Pull-It is attempting to build an auto shredder facility in a neighborhood already overwhelmed by industrial pollution. These shredders are dangerous, known for fires, explosions, and toxic waste byproducts like “auto fluff,” which can cause cancer, asthma, and strokes.
Even worse, the facility is proposed in a floodway that drains into the Platte River, which provides drinking water to over 500,000 Nebraskans. There are no fire or oil containment plans in place. This project is a clear case of environmental racism, as no such facility would ever be approved in West Omaha.
SFS is organizing alongside residents and allies to Stop the Shredder. Here’s how you can help:
🗓️ Show up to the Omaha City Council Meeting
Tuesday, June 17 at 2 p.m., Omaha City Hall
Stand with South Omaha residents demanding environmental dignity.
📞 Call or email city leaders
Visit stoptheshredder.com to contact the Omaha City Council and Planning Board in less than a minute.
We must reject the idea that some communities are expendable. South Omaha deserves clean air, safe water, and respect. SFS stands in full solidarity with this fight.
Flashing Forward: Upcoming Events
By Scout Walker
Students for Sustainability is hosting a unique and innovative event on June 29th!
The Conscious Curation:
🗓️ June 29th, 2025
🕓 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
📍The Gene Leahy Mall Downtown Green
The Conscious Curation is an evening community event in the heart of downtown Omaha that celebrates sustainable living and local environmental action. This open-air gathering will feature a curated marketplace of second-hand clothing vendors, interactive booths from local organizations, and hands-on education in everything from composting and home gardening to solar energy and sustainable hiking practices. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from Omaha Public Power District experts about integrating solar energy into their homes, connect with local gardeners and conservationists such as Fontenelle Forest, and shop eco-consciously from a variety of upcycled fashion and goods vendors. The event is open to all ages and is free of admission or reservation. Come along and bring a friend!
Car Shredder City Council Meeting:
🗓️ June 17th, 2025
🕓 2:00 p.m.
📍In-person at Omaha Civic Center Legislative Chambers
The Omaha City Council is hosting a public hearing for the proposed South Omaha car shredder project. This shredder has detrimental effects on the environment including risks of air, water, and soil pollution, specifically to South Omaha families. We encourage individuals to email their city councilmember and attend the meeting if able.
Stars, Stripes, and Sustainability:
🗓️ June 18th, 2025
🕓 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
📍In-person at UNO's Community Engagement Center or via Zoom
Join Conservation Nebraska to learn about responsible and environmentally friendly fireworks celebrations. Learn from Maddy Wahl, Communications Director at Keep Omaha Beautiful, about sustainable July 4th celebrations and the environmental impact of fireworks use and debris.
Wear + Repair Workshop:
🗓️ June 19th, 2025
🕓 6:0o 8:00 p.m.
📍Sonny’s in Aksarben
As a part of their Sustainable Summer Camp Series, on Thursday, June 19th (6-8pm) local vintage shop Albany and Avers in collaboration with sustainable clothing designer Nicole of
Elsie’s Attic is hosting a Wear + Repair Workshop to learn about clothing repair and mending. Registration is required, the link to learn more is below.
Learn more here https://albanyandavers.com/pages/summer-camp-2025
Omaha Flea Summer Edition:
🗓️ June 21st, 2025
🕓 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
📍Sonny’s in Aksarben
The first Omaha Summer Flea Market is here and it is a great opportunity to engage with over 20+ local vendors selling handmade, vintage, and unique goods. Below is a link to the market’s Instagram page and the list of vendors!
Check out the vendors and more info! https://www.instagram.com/p/DKuSNmIM_SZ/?igsh=MW9mMzY3Znp4YjN4eg==
Omaha Farmers Market:
🗓️ June 21st and 22nd, 2025
The Omaha Farmers Market continues on Saturday (June 21st) in the Old Market (8am-12:30pm) and on Sunday (June 22nd) in Aksarben Village (9am-1pm). The market is a great opportunity to find fresh produce, handcrafted goods, and to support local farmers, artists, and businesses. Below are links to the vendor portfolios, and resources to take the bus or to bike to the market.
Vendor Portfolios: https://omahafarmersmarket.mymarket.org/profiles
Bus to the market: https://myride.ometro.com/
Bike to the market: https://mapacog.org/data-maps/omaha-metropolitan-area-bicycle-map/
Water Lantern Festival:
🗓️ June 28th, 2025
🕓 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
📍Gene Leahy
The Water Lantern Festival is coming to Omaha and is a beautiful and unique experience. The event features music, local vendors, food, games, and activities in Gene Lehay along with the beautiful water lanterns. Visit the link below for more information!
https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/events/omaha
Hot Take Community Spotlight: Exist Green
By Claire Bossman
The Hot Take Spotlight seeks to recognize an individual or organization within the sustainability community who has inspired us and whom we hope can inspire you. This issue’s spotlight is highlighting Exist Green, a zero waste market and eco boutique.
Photo from Yelp
Leigh Neary, an environmental engineer, founded Exist Green in 2019 with the plan to create her own eco-boutique. It quickly developed into a market as well, adding fresh vegetables, spices, and herbs. Neary hopes to shed light on the importance of sustainability in Omaha and in other communities.
Exist Green is a 100% solar powered, zero waste refill grocery store and sustainable boutique in Omaha. Refill stores are shops that encourage customers to bring their own containers. This cuts down on packaging waste from basic groceries.Exist Green has a wide variety of products including laundry detergent, fresh produce, and upcycled clothes.
Exist Green does their research so their customers don’t have to. They put time and effort into making sure the products they sell are truly sustainable. It is often difficult for consumers to find truly sustainable products on their own because of greenwashing or the act of making misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product. Exist Green takes the pressure off of consumers and puts lots of time and effort into figuring out what is best for the environment and for their customers.
Sustainability Tip: The Benefits of Washing your Clothes in Cold Water
By Claire Bossman
Something as simple as turning a dial or tapping a to switch your laundry from warm water to cold can actually have a huge impact.
Image from Environmental Protection Agency
Energy Efficiency- According to the Sierra Club, every household that switches to cold water washing could eliminate about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide a year
Financial Savings- GE appliances found that 75-90% of the energy used to run your laundry machine is used to just heat up the water. By switching to cold water you not only help the planet but also save money on electric bills.
Better Detergents and machines- Newer washing machines and laundry detergents are better equipped to clean fabrics using cold water. This means it is not as necessary to use warm water to get your clothes cleaned.
Stain Removal- Cold water is oftentimes better for removing stains such as grass, makeup, blood, and sweat. Hot water can often set in these stains making them much more difficult to remove.
Delicate Fabrics- Certain fabrics do better in cold water as hot water can shrink and wrinkle them. Cold water can also help dark colorful fabrics by preventing the colors from fading or bleeding. By washing your clothes with cold water you immediately reduce the risk of ruining these delicate fabrics.
There are some circumstances where warm water is more efficient such as heavily soiled items or sanitizing clothes which is why it is important to check your clothes and figure out when it is best to use warm water. When you are not dealing with these circumstances, remember to switch to cold water to help the environment and your wallet.
Sources:
https://www.greenneedham.org/blog/2018/11/wash-clothes-cold-water/
https://www.geappliances.com/ge/lifestyles/6-reasons-to-cold-water-wash.htm
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Hot Take is produced by Omaha Students for Sustainability.