Free Reusable Bag Proposal UMD SGA Sustainability Committee, Fall - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Free Reusable Bag Proposal UMD SGA Sustainability Committee, Fall 2017 Background SSC - An arm of the Student Government Associations Executive Branch Advocating for sustainable solutions to issues that affect the UMD Undergraduate
UMD SGA Sustainability Committee, Fall 2017
Background
SSC - An arm of the Student Government Association’s Executive Branch Advocating for sustainable solutions to issues that affect the UMD Undergraduate population Beginning of semester - committee member concerned about the distribution of plastic bags on campus Explored tax and ban - after meeting w/Dining Services, began to explore creative solutions
The Plan
We’d like to make reusable shopping bags free and available to students who shop at on-campus shops
Bags would be available on the counter when students check out - they’d be free to take as many as they need or choose to use plastic bags Once they’re returned to their dorm/apartment, they can return bags to designated drop off location at their convenience Bags would then be collected by volunteers or staff and returned to the shops, where
Student can choose to use a plastic bag or a reusable, which is available on the counter
Student Makes Purchase
Once products have been unpacked, bag can return to drop-off zone in dorm
Student Returns Home
The bags are picked up and returned to the shop, where the process begins again
Bags Collected
Student Feedback and Support
SGA Constituent Polling “Do you think that the usage (or overuse) of plastic bags at on-campus shops is an issue that the SGA should address? Yes - 118 (74.68%) No - 40 (25.32%) “If you had access to free reusable shopping bags, would you choose to use them over plastic bags?” Yes - 146 (92.41%) No - 12 (7.59%) In addition, we received over 200 signatures of support
Next Steps
Our goal? We’d like to see a pilot program in a North-Campus Community Things we need: Partnerships with Dept. ResLife and Dining Services, maybe Facilities Funding! (next slide) Exposure Potential Measures of Success: Overall # bags used (can be compared to plastic bags used) % of bags that leave the cycle Student satisfaction with program and Dining Services overall
Sources of Funding
Initial Funding: 2 Potential Options Student Government Association Committee Reserves Office of Sustainability Sustainability Grant Moving Forward More possibilities: advertising? Likely that most bags won’t have to be replaced