Trash on Campus

Trash on Campus

         By Kendra, Liza, Tess, Joe and Grant

Amidst the fast pace of college life, students do not think twice about what goes into their trash can. Items that are mobile, clean, and easily disposed have become prominent at the University of Denver, and most likely at college campuses across the nation. The general trend that our trash journal revealed is similar to the thesis proposed in the Garbage Project: our trash reflects our values.  Our individual behavior in regard to trash reflects that most college students will choose products and practices that are the least time-consuming and most beneficial to them. However, when analyzed as a collective attitude of a university, the seemingly trivial habits of individuals adds up to a measurable amount of unnecessary landfill. Nonetheless, we came to a consensus that the forced awareness of our trash disposal in Journal 3 prompted us to throw away less. Thus, it can be concluded that general awareness of what products we are using and disposing of will lay the foundation for bringing about a change in habits.

The pattern most recognizable in our data was the high usage of plastic bottles. College students are always in a rush, from sports practices to classes to nights out. It is far more convenient to grab a plastic bottle of water on the way out the door than to refill a reusable bottle. A reusable water bottle must be taken around, and in today’s fast paced world, this feels like a burden that is not worth the gain. In fact, many students do not even realize that there is any problem whatsoever with using plastic water bottles; it’s just a part of life. Without the necessary awareness required to bring about change, there will be none. However, in recent years, the word has gotten out and many students have begun to switch back to using reusable aluminum bottles, nalgenes, and refillable sports bottles. The University of Denver even handed out reusable bottles during orientation week, a very smart decision to make it easy for students to become more environmentally friendly, although many of those bottles ended up in a landfill.

The data found on our college campus is similar to the trends in society. The problem of plastic bottle waste is seen everywhere from stadiums, to beaches to trash cans - basically anywhere except recycle bins. Just as college students are living busy lives, so is the rest of the world. When someone is in a rush to get somewhere, grabbing a plastic bottle on the way out is quick and easy. Primarily, plastic bottles provide convenience. It is just as convenient to dispose of plastic bottles in the quickest way possible, even if that means not properly recycling it. This is a problem as it quickly fills up our landfills and contributes to the litter we see. In our society today, Strasser points out that people “save and fix less and throw out more, for the habits of reuse [have] always been intertwined with the skills of household production” (Strasser 199). Sustainable practices of reuse have disappeared as people have come to accept the ease of disposability. Old habits are unable to support current lifestyles. The use of reusable water bottles is now more important than ever and could save resources and our earth.

Purchasing and utilizing a reusable bottle is an easy first step that many can take towards becoming green. Once a student has a reusable bottle, it can be used at one of campuses many bottle-fill stations. These stations even show the number of plastic bottles that are saved from the landfill just from the use of a reusable bottle, making people feel as part of the green movement. This awareness may motivate people to pay closer attention to their other habits, where they can then learn from them, and change. One might be inspired to continue their green ways and purchase a reusable coffee mug or replace the plastic forks and knives in their dorms with reusable ones. The importance of using a sustainable bottle is greater than most might think.  Some results aren’t obvious but they are there and every bit of effort is going to make a change in today’s trash epidemic.

People in today’s society don’t think that throwing away that one extra water bottle can make a large impact, but that seems to be everyone’s mindset. With 1,500 plastic bottles consumed every second, people are unaware of the harm these plastic bottles are causing the environment, especially when 80% of all purchased water bottles are ending up in the landfill after one time use.  Additionally, the plastic bottles are becoming harder and harder to reuse as the plastic is becoming thinner, in an attempt to appear more “eco-friendly”.  Some plastic bottles leach hazardous toxins into the water, particularly when they are left in the sun, making them less appealing to reuse.  It seems to be easier to buy an entirely new water bottle than to reuse your existing one that may appear to be worn out.  This example of planned obsolescence is resulting in enormous amounts of plastic waste in landfills. Since bottling companies are portraying their product for one time use, single-use bottles are more convenient and safer to the consumer.  Bringing awareness to consumers can ultimately change society’s wasteful habits.

The amount of plastic cups airlines use every six hours

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