On Wednesday, October 8, the Kean Crochet Club hosted a roundtable in the Greek Lounge of the Miron Student Center (MSC). Led by club president Mya Mosely, the session informed students on how to recycle old materials into yarn.
Students gained an understanding of sustainable material usage and learned that many items, such as old jeans, shirts, bed sheets, curtains, and, plastic bottles, can be recycled into yarn.
Mosely, a senior majoring in Mathematical Science Education, expressed the importance of having students learn this skill.
“I think it’s important not to waste any clothes that you have, so why not repurpose them into yarn to make fun things like coasters or plant holders?”
Yarn has a vast array of beneficial uses, with its versatility in creation such as crocheting, embroidery, and knitting that allow for items such as everyday home goods, art, and fashion to be made.
Jade Reynoso, a Senior, Bio-forensics major from Overbrook, NJ, shared what she uses yarn for.
“I’m mostly a crocheter, but I do other reusable things like turning cans into pencils and stuff like that, and certain trash I reuse to make things like pencil cases.
Waste has been an ongoing problem for the world, as only 15% of used clothes get recycled, while the remaining 85% of clothes get thrown into landfills or incinerators, according to stopwaste.org
Earth.Org reports that of the yearly amount of clothing produced, which is 100 billion, 92 million metric tons end up in landfills. With the increasing use of landfills, air and water pollution, as well as contaminated soil, rise as well.
Deborah Garrette, a freshman transfer from Essex County College, from Trinidad and Tobago, shared her thoughts on recycling and how she stays eco-friendly.
“There is always an importance for recycling clothes because people always need clothes, especially the homeless and some youths who run away from home, who need to clean themselves," she added “Yes, I'm eco-friendly, I try to recycle and not use too much plastic. I prefer bottles and make sure the bottles are properly recycled,”
With the guidance of Kean's Crochet Club, students developed creative skills and learned ways to reduce waste and protect the environment.
