Plastic bags flying across campus, plugging trash cans and caught in the trees, have prompted Student Senate to take action.
Alex Slaymaker, a junior studying environmental planning and policy, approached Ohio University’s senate with a plan to replace the fluttering plastic with a more sustainable alternative.
A collaborative effort between Student Senate, the Culinary Services Development Committee and Culinary Services has led to the removal of all plastic bags from campus markets and Grab N Go’s starting in the 2013-14 school year.
“In recent years, there has been a growing list of locations that have taken action to help decrease their dependence on plastic bags, including San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York,” said Dan Pittman, assistant director of Auxiliary Sales, in an email. “Although an official date has yet to be determined, it is our hope that Ohio University can be added to this list near the beginning of fall semester 2013.”
In place of the plastic bags, paper bags made from post-consumer waste will be placed in the markets. Culinary Services will also provide students with a reusable bag and is considering placing them in each dorm room at the beginning of Fall Semester, Pittman said.
“I want to encourage readers to bring their reusable bags next year,” Slaymaker said. “(The question is), will students bring their reusable bags or are we just replacing plastic with a recyclable paper bag? We want to replace both with a reusable bag.”
Culinary Services will cover the cost of the reusable bags, giving them to all students with a meal plan free of charge next year, Pittman said.
“We saw (this) as a no-brainer and a big step that OU could take to prove to students they’re dedicated to the sustainability action plan,” Slaymaker said. “(Culinary Services) wants to make a difference. They helped us develop the whole idea.”
Pittman cited the initiative as a way to do some good for the environment, not cut long-term costs.
“This is not cost savings initiative — it is a campus-wide environmental initiative geared toward sustainability, conservation education and waste reduction,” Pittman said.
Mary Kate Gallagher, co-chair of CSDC, said she couldn’t be more pleased with how the initiative has developed from a rough idea at the beginning of the year to a plan that will be implemented.
“We’re helping the world, the environment,” she said. “It’s one step closer to a more sustainable university.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
