SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Living sustainably is something Sacramento State University junior Jamie Finn takes seriously.

“I reduce waste by not buying big plastic containers. I do kind of find ways to use reusable containers and I walk to campus everyday instead of driving,” Jamie said.

What You Need To Know

  • Each American produces five pounds of trash a day

  • The EPA reports in 2018, 146.1 million tons of trash ended up in a landfill

  • Sacramento State University aims to be waste free by 2030

  • 2,000 students already use the Hornet Reuse App 

She’s now added using a specially designed app by the university that encourages students to giveaway items for free they no longer want, that still have life left in them.

“I love the app. I just started using it, but I think I use it every single day, just to scroll on, to see what I could give or what to get from the app,” she said.

On average, each American produces five pounds of trash a day with much of it going to landfills. The EPA reports 146.1 million tons of trash were dumped in 2018.

The university has a specific sustainability department and one of their coordinators, Laura Gonzalez, who grew up exploring the natural world, said they are well aware of the need to reduce landfill waste, and plan for the university to be waste-free by 2030.

“We knew miscellaneous waste — and miscellaneous waste means all that extra furniture, appliances, clothes, even books — during the semester, at the end and beginning is thrown out,” Gonzalez said.

They introduced the app so one person’s trash can be another person’s treasure. Gonzalez said so far it’s been a hit.

“This fall semester we’ve seen over 2,000 active users,” she said.

The items given away aren’t anything to scoff at.

“I’ve seen a MacBook given away on there. I’ve seen AirPods,” Finn said.

Faculty and staff have not been left out either. They to can use the app to find office and classroom furniture they need. Finn said the things she gave to students have also helped expand her social circle.

“I kind of have a conversation and you like to get to know them to see what they’re doing at Sac State,” she said.

She hopes more students join her in helping reduce waste, and pick up a few cool treasures.

Let "Inside the Issues" know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.