Get ready for the SFS Conscious Curation event!
Plus read about community organizers, tips to reduce your plastic use, and more ♻️
Nebraska sustainability updates: Legislative session ends, extreme heat predicted for summer
by Victoria Bogatz
The Nebraska legislative session has concluded, and SFS is excited to announce that sustainability-focused bill LB 36 was signed by the Governor on May 21st. This bill will create collection programs for rechargeable batteries, keeping dangerous waste out of the landfill. It will also provide resources to help homeowners weatherize their homes and save energy. Last but certainly not least, the bill will require cities and counties to consider public water supply and endangered species’ habitats before approving new project permits. LB 36 creates a variety of crucial sustainability programs that will help Nebraska continue to grow in its environmental efforts.
Unfortunately, environmental news isn’t always good. The Associated Press reports that the next five years are forecast to be an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial levels. This means hotter days and longer summers. Prepare for the heat by hydrating, staying inside, and helping more vulnerable populations like the elderly, homeless people, and outdoor workers.
SFS will continue to push for strong environmental policy like LB 36 and advocate for reduced carbon emissions to prevent further increases in heat.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-deadly-record-heat-wildfires-hurricanes-535b4df63b476d0f36ec553a1a78669d
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59314
Flashing forward: upcoming summer events ☀️
By Evalina Sain
SFS is thrilled to announce the time and location of our sustainable summer market!
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!
Here are some other sustainability-focused events happening in Omaha this June:
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
Fireworks bring excitement to celebrations, but the leftover debris can harm the environment. Conservation Nebraska invites you to a webinar with Maddy Wahl, Communications Director at Keep Omaha Beautiful, to explore the environmental impact of fireworks and learn how to celebrate more sustainably.
The session will cover safe disposal tips, ways to keep streets and storm drains clean, and practical advice for reducing waste during festivities. Perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the 4th of July responsibly, this webinar offers simple, impactful steps to make your celebration more eco-friendly.
Omaha Flea Summer Edition
🗓️ June 21st, 2025
🕓 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
📍Sonny’s in Aksarben
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 21—the first Omaha Summer Flea of the season is happening at Sonny’s in Aksarben! It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, soak up some sunshine, and spend the day with great drinks, vibrant community energy, and top-notch local shopping.
The event will feature over 20 local vendors offering a wide variety of handmade and thoughtfully curated goods. Whether you're on the hunt for one-of-a-kind finds, planning a fun afternoon with friends, or simply exploring new ways to enjoy summer in Omaha, this is an event not to be missed.
Water Lantern Festival
🗓️ June 28th, 2025
🕓 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
📍Gene Leahy
Named the #1 Best Cultural Festival by USA TODAY, the Water Lantern Festival is a unique floating lantern experience that celebrates connection and community. Held in cities across the U.S., this enchanting event features an evening of food, music, games, activities, local vendors, and the breathtaking sight of thousands of lanterns reflecting on the water.
As twilight falls, the festival comes alive with the launch of personalized lanterns, each carrying heartfelt messages of love, hope, dreams, and healing. Attendees watch as their lanterns join others in a collective moment of beauty and reflection. It’s a powerful and unforgettable night that brings people together through light, intention, and shared experience.
Sustainability at the festival, from the festival hosts:
Our lanterns are crafted out of sustainable materials, with a rice paper cover and a wooden lantern base. We prioritize the reuse and recycling of LED candles whenever possible, further reducing our environmental footprint. By embracing these eco-conscious choices, we strive to create a greener and more sustainable event experience for all.
Hot Take community spotlight: Isa Manhart
by Scout Walker
The Hot Take Spotlight seeks to recognize an individual within the climate community who has inspired us and whom we hope can inspire you. This edition’s spotlight goes to activist and future educator, Isa Manhart.
Photo from the Urban Abbey
Isa Manhart is a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Family Ministry Coordinator at the local church Urban Abbey. Through their role at Urban Abbey, Isa has developed a variety of programming, groups, and initiatives that connect youth with sustainability efforts here in Omaha.
Isa has collaborated with organizations including Students for Sustainability and the BFF Green Team to organize youth-centered sustainability events, including a Green Amendment Youth Testimony Workshop and Sustainability Action Days. These opportunities empower young people to engage with environmental issues through education.
In addition to their work in sustainability, Isa is deeply passionate about youth involvement in political engagement. They have created opportunities for young people to interact directly with policymakers, most recently organizing a youth lobby day where students got to meet and talk with Nebraska senators.
Currently pursuing a degree in education, Isa combines their passions for political engagement and environmental justice to inspire and create opportunities for young people all across the Omaha area.
Sustainability tip: Reducing plastic
By Victoria Bogatz
Photo from the National Environmental Education Foundation
Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue– in fact, Our World in Data reports that 23% of plastic waste ends up in oceans, streams, and other areas of the environment. Plastic has become so pervasive that it often seems impossible to escape.
However, there are ways to reduce your plastic use. You don’t have to cut plastic out entirely, but avoiding it as much as possible is an excellent way to help the environment. Here are some tips for how to get started:
Bring reusable bags to the grocery store– Instead of using plastic bags every time you shop, invest in a reusable bag instead! Whether it’s a cloth tote or a burlap sack, reusable shopping bags are an easy way to eliminate plastic waste from your day-to-day life.
Buy in bulk– Buying in bulk is beneficial because you have to replace your containers less often. Rather than throwing away a tiny shampoo bottle every week, you can purchase a large one and use it for months. Plus, buying products in bulk often saves money.
Stop using plastic straws– If you don’t need a straw, simply don’t use one! Or, if a straw is your go-to, purchase a metal, silicone, or glass straw and use that instead. This simple switch will help keep thousands of plastic straws out of the environment.
Avoid microbeads– According to the organization Beat the Microbead, 9 out of 10 beauty products contain microplastics, or tiny plastic particles that cause major pollution. I don’t know about you, but sunscreen with a side of plastic is not something I am interested in. Luckily, you can scan your products for microbeads with the Beat the Microbead app and learn which items to avoid.
Use a reusable bottle– Owala, Stanley, Hydroflask: these bottles are not just trendy, they’re also environmentally friendly! Avoid plastic bottles by buying a reusable waterbottle. Not only will you save money on buying plastic bottles every week, but you will prevent more plastic from polluting the environment.
Plastic pollution is a humongous problem, but it’s one that has solutions. We can’t change everything, but by making small changes in our day-to-day life, we can begin making an impact that will add up over time. It’s never too late to make a change! Start reducing your plastic use today.
Sources:
https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution?insight=around-05-of-plastic-waste-ends-up-in-the-ocean#key-insights
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Hot Take is produced by Omaha Students for Sustainability.