Single Use Plastic-Free MAHSA

 

‘Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus’ is a project by MAHSA University that aims to measurably reduce plastic waste and pollution on its campuses and thus eliminate plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on people and the environment.  

The objectives of this project is to develop single-use plastic-free campuses, to help the students to grow as responsible citizens who can manage and protect their own environment, to improve the practices on campus to build a safe environment, to create awareness among students about the hazards of plastic, and to educate the students about the good ways of managing the disposal of plastic.

“It’s pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where the effort necessary to extract oil from the ground, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it appropriately, truck it to a store, buy it and bring it home, is considered to be less effort than what it takes to just wash the spoon when you’re done with it”. 

The environment is getting polluted at a never-before pace sparing no mediums due to plastics. Plastic is a hazardous element in society that poses a major threat to the livelihood of humankind and other beings on Earth. To save our country from this destructive hazard, it has become a key responsibility of every citizen not just to “Say No to Plastics” but also to create awareness among the community as a whole to stop this pollution and leave behind a green and pollution-free place for our future generations. With a strong support for this cause, MAHSA University commenced the implementation of a phase-wise ban on the use of plastics particularly single-use plastics on its campuses from April 2022 onwards.

PHASE - I  

Green Warriors Launch
1^st week

April 21^st - The University deployed a team of GREEN WARRIORS for the mission comprising Faculty advisors who will ensure the planning and implementation of this phase-wise plastic ban in the campus. 

  

Conducting a Plastic Audit
(3 Weeks 2 Days per Week) 

Plastic audits will be conducted through multiple approaches and will set the stage for our plan of action for a plastic-free campus. No matter which approach we choose, we will try to be transparent to students and other campus residents about why we are conducting a plastic audit. The sooner we start to educate and reach out the better. 

Procurement Inventory
5^th Week

A procurement inventory provides more verifiable data on campus plastic presence and insight into campus procurement practices. This will require communication with campus dining services, cafes and other eateries.  

Formulating a Plan
6^th Week

Target Locations 

Pre-Planning 

During 

Clean-Up 

Welcome to MAHSA Styrofoam Free Campus Campaign
7^th Week

The use of polystyrene (Styrofoam™) to-go containers is prohibited for all establishments serving food in MAHSA University.  All food vendors and restaurants are required to use only compostable or recyclable to-go food service ware. 

Bring-Your-Own-Everything Campaign 
8^th Week

We’ll serve you delicious food, but you’ll need to bring your own reusable cup/thermos, plate/bowl, utensils, handkerchief, etc.  

 

PHASE - II

Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics
9^th Week

• Building awareness comes first. If people know the problem with plastics they will be a lot more likely to assist and accept the change. 
• The next step is the identification & implementation of replacements for alternative food and beverages that are sold in the canteen which comes in plastic packaging.  Remind Others About the Waste Hierarchy! Refuse, Reduce, Reuse BEFORE Recycle 

 

10^th Week

• Refusing Single-Use Items or Providing Upon Request 
• Set up clear signage for refillable water stations, water fountains, and waste bins  

 

11^th Week 

• Ban on Single-use plastic packing materials in Cafeteria & stores.  
• Ban on Single-use plastic bottles of 500ml, 1 litre volume for in-house meetings and events  
• Reduction in usage of Single-use plastic banners  
• Selling Reusable Bags 
• Ban on the use of plastic materials used for decorations at various events.  
• Implementation and compliance are the key targets of this week.  

 

12^th Week 

Banning and/or Taxing Single-Use Bags  

 

13^th Week Onwards (Repeat once every 3 months) 

• Green Warriors will thoroughly monitor the implementation of the ban and meet frequently to assess & discuss the extension of the ban.  

• They will also prepare the agenda for the next phase of the ban implementation.  

• All departments/faculties/wings inside the campus are responsible for organising or hosting events and activities on university premises and ensuring compliance with the theme.  

• The Committee will be responsible for ensuring that restricted items are not sold or distributed in catering outlets on campus.  

• The Committee will also be responsible for ensuring that catering and retail outlets will use eco-friendly materials for their packing or serving of food & beverages.  

SEVEN REASONS TO GO (SINGLE-USE) PLASTIC-FREE 

1. Massive carbon footprint: Single-use disposable plastics have a massive carbon footprint. Whether made of petroleum or plants, plastic manufacturing is not efficient due to the scale of production. 

2. Emission of dioxins: Both the production and disposal of single-use plastics often emit massive amounts of dioxins, a highly toxic by-product linked to increased cancer rates and other human health effects. 

3. Plastic lasts forever: Plastic can never be broken down by natural processes; every particle of plastic that has ever been created still exists in a form toxic to all terrestrial and marine life. 

4. Use up the valuable landfill space: Not all localities have the infrastructure to recycle single-use plastics; thus, many recyclable plastics take up valuable landfill space. When not able to be recycled or landfilled, they are often sent to incinerators, emitting environmental toxins into the atmosphere. 

5. Plastic poisons our food chain: It is increasingly found in the ocean and guts of marine life, extending to affect the health of human populations who rely on fish and other marine life for food sources. 

6. Save money: Going plastic-free can save you money! Relying on reusable items enables you to avoid the constant purchasing of disposable items. 

7. Throw-away culture: Single-use plastic items perpetuate a wasteful, throw-away culture. Our society is far too valuable to be thrown away. 

ALTERNATIVES TO SPECIFIC MATERIALS 

Lids, Straws & Stirrers 

- Wooden stirrers 

- Compostable lids 

- Paper or reusable straws 

- Also, encourage students to bring their own cup or mug 

Bags 

- Cloth bags, either purchased or homemade out of old pillowcases or T-shirts 

- Paper bags (consumers must be encouraged to reuse them or dispose of them properly, i.e. compost or recycle.) 

- Cardboard boxes (again, consumers must be encouraged to dispose of them correctly.) 

Bottles 

- Water fountains with gooseneck spouts 

- Fountain beverage machines 

- Pitchers (for bulk liquids) 

- Reusable water bottles (preferably not plastic!) 

Cutlery 

- Compostable ware 

- Old-fashioned metal spoons, forks, and knives! 

- Metal chopsticks w/ carrying case 

- Reusable bamboo ware (that can eventually be composted!) 

- Reusable spork knives 

Plastic Film 

- Compostable film 

- Reusable containers with lids for catering type events 

- Aluminum foil (make sure to recycle it!) 

- Wax paper 

Dishware & To-Go Containers 

- Compostable boxes 

- Wax paper 

- Jars, sturdy to-go containers 

- Reusable dishware made out of durable products like ceramic or harder plastics 

- Stainless steel options  

 

THE PRACTICES 

The hazards of plastic are a complex one that requires cooperation from all the students and staff members of the organisation. The usage of plastic articles is so widespread that they cannot be so easily removed from our daily lives. To tackle this problem, the University planned to implement the following practices: 

• Plastic items to be prohibited inside the campus 
• A large number of dustbins to be provided at many locations in the campus 
• The dustbins installed to be cleared regularly by the attendees 
• The canteen staff to be instructed to use paper cups and plates instead of plastic cups and plates. 

 

EXPECTED IMPACT OF THE PRACTICES 

• Plastic goods will not be used anymore by our students inside the campus. 
• Reusable cups, plates, paper cups and plates will be used in the canteen. 
• Awareness regarding the hazards of plastic will be created among students and staff. 

ARE YOU READY TO BE PART OF THE GREEN WARRIORS IN MAHSA? 
THEN LET'S WALK THE TALK! 

Words by: 
Dr Nagarajah Suryadevara 
School of Bioscience
Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience & Nursing