Plastic Reduction Policy

 

 

 

Student Council Believes that:

 

1. Worldwide production of plastic totals roughly 300 million tons, and half of it is disposable but only 10-13% of plastic items are recycled.

 

2. Unrecycled plastic is sent to landfill, where it is buried or breaks down over time into tiny toxic particles which make their way into food and water supplies.

 

3. Unrecycled plastic is an ecological challenge which requires a response from each of us.

 

 

 

Student Council Further Believes that:

 

1. Both the Students’ Union and University have made strategic commitments with regard to sustainability.

 

2. Neither the Students’ Union or the University currently have a defined commitment to reduce their single-use plastic consumption.

 

3. The Students’ Union and University have the opportunity and platform to educate the UWTSD community of students and staff, and to be exemplar organisations in relation to the consumption and recycling of plastic.

 

 

 

Student Council resolves that:

 

1. The Students’ Union should develop and publish a Plastic Reduction policy by the end of December 2019. The Policy should include the following:

 

a. a commitment to avoid single-use plastic wherever possible within SU activity,

 

b. single-use plastic consumption within SU activity should be tracked and a report made to Trustee Board and Student Council annually on consumption,

 

c. SU staff, officer and student representative clothing purchased by the SU should be made of cotton (or any other natural fibre) and no include polyester (unless it is made from recycled materials),

 

d. where products are to be purchased, care should be taken to purchase the most sustainable materials and avoiding single-use plastics wherever possible.

 

e. engagement between the SU and suppliers should be undertaken during each purchase process to enquire as to the packaging process and to reduce or eliminate excess plastic packaging wherever possible.

 

f. SU staff and officers should receive training and information of how to properly dispose of materials to ensure that environmental impact is kept to a minimum. This information should be shared with students via the SU website.

 

g. any plastic items used by the Students’ Union which are unable to be recycled should be retained and used to create eco-bricks.

 

 

 

2. The Students’ Union should draft and submit a University Plastic Reduction Policy for consideration by the relevant University committee by the end of the 2019-20 academic year. The policy should call on the University to measure and report on its plastic consumption and recycling, commit to purchasing the most sustainable products wherever possible, and pledge to avoid purchasing polyester clothing for its staff and/or students.

 

 

 

3. The Students’ Union sabbatical officers should lobby the University to adopt a University Plastic Reduction Policy