Ever since we made the right decision to get rid of single-use plastic in our canteens, replacing them with reusable plastics, we've made a huge dent in how much waste we were producing. Although, now, we have a new problem. In 6 weeks in 2020, 800 cups were lost. Strewn around campus on tables, playgrounds, cupboard, fire extinguishers and worse, in bins! Facilities changed their clean up procedure to have employees scouring the campus for cups to use so that they don't run out, but ultimately losing money buying new cups.
We ask ourselves the question, with all these hard plastics going missing and to waste, is this really more sustainable?
What has been done
- More collection stations
- Posters
- Stickers on the black bins
- Display board in the tent
- Do the Right Thing Campaign
Student Council Accountability week coming up in May
- Reminding students
- Proposed Accountability Week of no facilities collection
- Re education video
Will this make a difference? Well, it's quite hard to measure without doing an inventory count but we are definitely enthusiastic for accountability week doing a difference. It seems to be a matter of trial and error until we get it right. However, it might be time to change the angle from sustainability and waste, to a student cultural behaviour.
