PEACE OUT, PLASTICS

Single-use plastics ban on its way to being implemented campus-wide

The Sustainability Committee’s Single-Use Plastic Ban Proposal has made it all the way to the office of the President. If President Richard Benson signs the proposal, the policy will become a university wide goal, making UTD the first university in Texas to commit to eliminating single use plastics.

The proposal already passed through all four universitywide governing bodies: the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Student Government, and the Graduate Student Assembly. It’s also garnered the support of over 1,300 students who have signed the plastic ban petition. Dorothee Honhon, Chair of the Sustainability Committee said the UTD holds a Gold ranking for sustainability by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability for initiatives such as its composting program and bike friendly certifications. But the University still has a level above to reach.

“We believe that this banning or phasing out single use plastic fits very well in this current set of initiatives led around sustainabil -

Potential

Spring 2023

ity,” Honhon said. “On campus, it would be sort of the natural next step.”

The Sustainability Committee’s plan for phasing out plastics follows a framework from the Post-Landfill Action Network, a national organization leading plastic bans at universities across the nation. 18 universities and colleges have signed onto PLAN so far,