Group working to make Nevada Day parade more sustainable

GreenUP!, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides environmental education to businesses, announced a group effort to make Northern Nevada’s Nevada Day parade a more sustainable event. A Nevada Day green team was assembled to find ways to reduce waste at the event and it is seeking volunteers for the Nevada Day parade and festivities on Oct. 26.

Nevada Day organizers and greenUP! collaborated to create a commemorative stainless steel beverage cup and at least 12 Carson Street restaurants and establishments will provide a dollar discount on alcohol and other beverages for patrons that bring their cups with them. The Nevada Day commemorative cups can be purchased for $10 at the Carson City Visitors Center located at 716 N. Carson St., beginning Oct. 1. The cups will be sold on the parade route in front of the Adams Hub for Innovation during the parade for $12. GreenUP! asks that patrons keep their stainless-steel cups for future Carson City events and promotions that will honor the cup with discounts.

Erica Gallegos, greenUP! organizer for the Community Sustainability effort, said, “Working together to help reduce waste for the Nevada Day parade is a community effort. We ask the public to get involved by purchasing commemorative beverage cups and by creating less waste. We need green team volunteers at water stations and recycling stations, so there’s plenty of ways to get involved in this beautification effort.”

The Nevada Day green team is seeking 50 volunteers to help assist with sustainability efforts on Oct. 26. Individuals can sign up to volunteer to be part of the green team on the Nevada Day website and Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops interested in participating in the Nevada Day green team effort can e-mail info@greenupnow.biz or call Erica at 775-220-7401.

Water filling stations are being provided by the Incline Village General Improvement District and stations will be identified in the Nevada Day program. The Nevada Day green team asks that the public bring their own reusable water containers rather than purchase single use plastic water bottles at the parade.

Patricia Moen, Northern Nevada recycling coordinator for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, said, “We are providing recycling stations for the Nevada Day parade and we ask everyone to recycle rather than create more waste. Water stations are being provided so that we can reduce plastic waste that is littering our oceans, our public lands and our landfills.”

Locations for all the water filling stations and recycling stations will be include in the parade program or can be found on the Nevada Day website at https://nevadaday.com.

“This year’s event theme is ‘Nevada Counties — 100 Years,’” said Ken Hamilton, executive director for the Nevada Day organization. “Nevada Day belongs to everyone and we ask the public to take part in making it a sustainable event. What better way to celebrate and to honor Nevada and all its counties than by taking steps to preserve our beautiful state for future generations.”