FAQ: Single-Use Plastics Phase-Out

January 27, 2022

Dr. Dorthee Honhon, Associate Professor of Operations Management, Naveen Jindal School of Management and Sustainability Committee Chair

 

Since December, the Sustainability Committee is happy to report that, on top of the support we had already received from Student Government, we now have received letters of support from the Staff Council and the Graduate Assembly. Further, the Senate voted on January 19 to support the strategy to make UTD a signatory to the Break Free from Plastic Pledge put forth by the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN [Post Landfill Action Network] ). Below are some of the questions that were raised by members of the above-mentioned assemblies and my answers.

 

Q: Why do we want to address SUP [Single-Use Plastic] s on campus?

A: Plastic waste contaminates oceans, harms native wildlife, and pollutes American communities and unlike other forms of waste, takes hundreds of years to decompose. Until then, it breaks down into microplastics that can be consumed by wildlife and humans, leading to hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems, and even cancer. Studies report that 32% of the SUP [Single-Use Plastic] does not make it to a landfill or recycling facility, and instead directly flows into oceans. Out of the 33.6 million tons of this plastic which is disposed of each year in the United States, only 8.7% of it is actually recycled.

At the same time, we believe taking action on SUP [Single-Use Plastic] is well in line with UTD’s track record on sustainability practices and that it constitutes an opportunity to attract the growing number of environmentally-conscious college students (a study found that 66% of college applicants said a college's commitment to the environment would affect their decision to apply to or attend a school).

 

Q: What are the main SUP [Single-Use Plastic] s on campus which would be affected by the ban?

A: This will be up to the task force to decide but if we look at what was done at other universities, non-essential plastics eliminated immediately included: plastic lids, bags, utensils, bowls, foodware to-go items, etc.

 

Q: What SUP [Single-Use Plastic] would not be covered by the ban?

A: The policy does not address laboratory and medical plastic use in its current phase. Also, exceptions will be made for all auxiliary aids as needed from the disabled community on campus, as well as plastic used for COVID safety measures.

 

Q: Does this mean I will no longer find my favorite drink in the vending machines?

A: The SUP [Single-Use Plastic] task force would work with vendors and try to maintain selection as much as possible. There may be a change in the selection offered but we believe this would be a small price to pay. There is, in fact, a shift in the beverage industry towards offering more options in aluminum cans and fewer plastic bottles, including for water. Larger multinationals such Danone, Nestle, Coca Cola and PepsiCo are launching some canned versions of water brands.

 

Q: Aren’t there some safety concerns with reusable alternatives to plastic containers?

A: We investigated the safety of reusables, and did not find any compelling evidence that SUP [Single-Use Plastic] contributed to safety. See, for example, this academic paper and this article.

 

Q: Will the SUP [Single-Use Plastic] ban at UTD make a significant impact on climate change?

A: Looking only at this initiative in isolation, no — the SUP [Single-Use Plastic] ban at UTD will not significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is a much broader problem that requires sweeping changes, which can only be taken by higher authorities. But we believe that small-scale actions like this one can send a strong message to policy makers that there is support for serious changes and can inspire individuals to be role models and activists.

 

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