Reducing Plastic Use at BC
Introduction
There is no doubt that plastic is a part of the modern world - however, all plastics are not created equally. Two plastic containers that are consummed in large numbers on many college campus are plastic water bottles and plastic bags. The good news is that there are alternatives to both of these containers that can have economic and health benefits to the campus community.
Page under development.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags consumed this year (From Reusablebags.com):
The "free" bags that we get every time we go to the store come at a price - in particular, they consume oil, create vast amounts of waste, and can have impacts on human and environmental health. When you multiple these "costs" by the bag counter above and consider that these bags can last for 1,000 years, the impacts can quickly grow into a serious problem.
To combat this waste, the EAC worked with the BC Bookstore to come up with alternatives to the use of plastic (and paper) bags on campus. The total number of bags used on campus each year is relatively small, but alternatives can have a positive impact on our community and set an example for healthier, more sustainable practices. In 2008 the Bookstore elimated the use of plastic bags and replaced them with reusable bags. the program has been well received and is still in effect today.
Water Bottles
Many students are on a budget, yet most are willing to pay over 1,000x the price of tap water to purchase bottled water. Furthermore, the production and transport of bottled water consumes over 50 billion barrels of oil in the US each year and results in the production of over 29 billion bottles (the majority of which are not recycled). Not to mention that there are further impacts on the communities from which the water is extracted. In addition, the polyethylene terephthalate which the bottle is made up of can break down into phthalates and have effects on your health.
With numbers such as these, it is not hard to image why cities such as San Francisco and Seattle are banning (or considering banning) the sale of bottled water in government buildings and that college campuses are considering similar proposals. The EAC is currently discussing the impacts and benefits of phasing out bottled water at BCC and encouraging the use of filtered tap water and safe reusable "bottles".
To make a personal commitment to removing bottled water from your daily routine, take the Think Outside the Bottle Pledge.
Committee Resources
The following is a list of resources used by the EAC.
Plastic Bags
- San Francisco thinks green: Plastic grocery bags banned - Seattle PI (March 2007)
- Plastic foam, grocery bags could end up on Seattle hit list - Seattle PI (June 2007)
- City of Seattle Zero Waste Report (April 2007)
- Legislator seeks curb on plastic grocery bags (January 2008)
- Reusablebags.com
- KUOW Weekday -- Archived discussion on plastic bag bans (February 2008)
- Plastic Bag Gallery - A cool art project from the UK
Water Bottles
- KUOW Weekday - Archived discussion on bottled water (November 2007)
- Bottled Water Boycotts: Back-to-the-Tap Movement Gains Momentum -Earth Policy Institute (Dec 2007)
- Tap vs. Bottled–What Should You Drink? - Yahoo News (January 2007)
- Think outside the bottle campaign including the Think Outside the Bottle Pledge.
- Inside the Bottle
