2008 Woodie Awards
Canvas Or Plastic? UConn Should Choose Wisely
Our Opinion
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Commentary
The phrase "go green" resonates everywhere these days, from the UConn campus in Storrs all the way to Ireland. Recently, in an attempt to be eco-friendly, this nation passed a 33-cent tax-per-bag on plastic bags. In what can only be considered an overwhelming success, plastic bag usage dropped a resounding 94 percent in the first week of the initia
Ireland has the right idea. In America, there is more talk about "going green" than actual participation. Most people won't do anything about the environment until there is either a global crisis or they are forced to by the government and Ireland is indeed forcing citizens to comply with this tax. Many people are not motivated enough to help the environment unless it is directly affecting their wallet or pocket book. It is unfortunate that most people will not help unless their loose change is at risk, but if it is the only motivation, it is a valid one for the government to exploit.
UConn, seemingly along with the rest of America, has tried to start recycling programs and environmentally friendly initiatives, but people still throw garbage out their car window or use high volumes of hairspray so a few messy strands won't be out of place. If the U.S. government won't implement a tax on plastic bags or start planning an eco-friendly way to help the environment, then UConn at least should do its part to become an eco-friendly leader.
Besides concerns about global warming, there is also a concern of running out of space. There is not an endless amount of space for plastic bags to continue piling up as waste. With every school, convenience store and grocery store in America using plastic bags, the chemical waste and garbage landfills continue to run out of space. Plastic is the hardest consumer product to recycle and the most cumbersome to get rid of. Bags are certainly reusable but most people don't care to reuse them when they are readily available at every corner convenience store.
There is currently a push to get rid of plastic bags at the Co-op and utilize only reusable canvas bags instead. The Co-op already distributes canvas bags when students get Textbooks To Go, a program that bundles students' textbooks for convenience. The problem is, most students store the bag away and never use it again. That has to change. If the environment is to be saved at all, UConn should stop using plastic bags. Since students usually have a backpack or shoulder bag with them anyways, there is no use for extra bags. It is time for UConn to actually become eco-friendly, rather than just talk about it, by similarly reducing its use of environmentally harmful plastic bags.
Ireland has the right idea. In America, there is more talk about "going green" than actual participation. Most people won't do anything about the environment until there is either a global crisis or they are forced to by the government and Ireland is indeed forcing citizens to comply with this tax. Many people are not motivated enough to help the environment unless it is directly affecting their wallet or pocket book. It is unfortunate that most people will not help unless their loose change is at risk, but if it is the only motivation, it is a valid one for the government to exploit.
UConn, seemingly along with the rest of America, has tried to start recycling programs and environmentally friendly initiatives, but people still throw garbage out their car window or use high volumes of hairspray so a few messy strands won't be out of place. If the U.S. government won't implement a tax on plastic bags or start planning an eco-friendly way to help the environment, then UConn at least should do its part to become an eco-friendly leader.
Besides concerns about global warming, there is also a concern of running out of space. There is not an endless amount of space for plastic bags to continue piling up as waste. With every school, convenience store and grocery store in America using plastic bags, the chemical waste and garbage landfills continue to run out of space. Plastic is the hardest consumer product to recycle and the most cumbersome to get rid of. Bags are certainly reusable but most people don't care to reuse them when they are readily available at every corner convenience store.
There is currently a push to get rid of plastic bags at the Co-op and utilize only reusable canvas bags instead. The Co-op already distributes canvas bags when students get Textbooks To Go, a program that bundles students' textbooks for convenience. The problem is, most students store the bag away and never use it again. That has to change. If the environment is to be saved at all, UConn should stop using plastic bags. Since students usually have a backpack or shoulder bag with them anyways, there is no use for extra bags. It is time for UConn to actually become eco-friendly, rather than just talk about it, by similarly reducing its use of environmentally harmful plastic bags.
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