Straw bans? Composting buckets? Wisconsin campuses adopt dramatic `green` changes

Before heading to class, Jenessa Gilarski tucks silverware, a nonbreakable plate that belonged to her grandmother, a silicone straw, a water bottle and a stainless steel travel mug in her backpack.

The daily ritual is to avoid plastic.

Fueled by concerns over the environment — underscored by a new United Nations report on the imminent effects of climate change — dramatic changes are taking place on college campuses, whether in the construction of buildings or the habits of students like Gilarski.

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Ken Notes: I recently served on a panel for the FET (Federation of Environmental Technologists) annual conference. The best give away in the exhibition hall were the stainless steel straws from PEGEX a system to track hazardous waste.

I am not sure we can ban straws but if we try we should be able to reduce our refuse stream exponentially. Our president is imposing tariffs on items we need, what if they imposes a tariff on packaging by weight and then gave the proceeds to recyclers and landfills. At least then we would see some cause and effect benefits (i.e. less packaging and landfill funding).