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EPIB The Trail Trail
Volume 8, 7, Issue 1 4
RU Refilling?
Weaning Rutgers off the landfill’s favorite bottle. by Brayden Donnelly
Rutgers University is renowned for its rich scarlet red, years of tradition, and influence on the Garden State. The University was born in a time when the word plastic had yet to be mentioned. Now, each staff member, student, and local resident finds themselves in contact with the substance and its many forms. Joining together the knowledge and awareness provided by this university, its staff, and diverse student body, we will be able to move towards a holistic understanding of how to best orchestrate the creation, use, and disposal of these plastics. The NJDEP has 854 registered dumpsites in New Jersey as of December 2014. Most of these sites find themselves full of disposable water bottles. In 2012, the NJDEP recorded that New Brunswick alone produced 572.49 tons of waste classified as “plastic containers”, and 183 additional tons of “other plastics”. The community needs to be aware of the huge burden throwaway plastics put on the waste stream and infrastructures. With all of the conveniences and progressive solutions they are associated with aside, do a great deal of damage to the planet. The Rutgers University and New Brunswick communities must not be alarmed or scared off by these numbers. Each individual has the opportunity to make a difference. That opportunity will start with the individual’s first step: Back to Table of Contents
