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Past Plastic
Eliminating single-use plastics will reduce microplastics in the environment, reduce equity issues associated with manufacturing and disposal of plastics, and reduce emissions that cause climate change.
Climate Crisis
The manufacture and the disposal of plastics increases the amount of greenhouse gases released into the environment, heightening the climate crisis.
Microplastics
Plastics that remain in the environment for a long time and degrade into small pieces are called “microplastics” that are ingested and inhaled by people and animals, and linked to a range of health issues.
Equity
Plastic resin, the feedstock for single-use plastics, is produced in petrochemical factories, the majority of which are built in low-income communities and communities of color. Also, if not successfully recycled domestically, SUPs enter the international waste stream, where plastic waste overwhelms markets and ecosystems in lower-income countries. Also, the climate crisis disproportionately affects low-income communities and countries.
The solution to the single-use plastics crisis is eliminating our dependency on these products, and embracing a circular economy. The circular economy is a regenerative model that seeks to separate economic activity from the consumption of finite resources in order to design out waste and pollution, keep items and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. In February 2021, GW President LeBlanc announced that GW would eliminate single-use plastics, and the policy will go in effect on July 1, 2021.
As part of its commitment to eliminating single-use plastics, GW is installing water bottle filling stations in every residence hall and academic building on campus, as well as several outdoor locations.
At GW, we're envisioning a world where single-use plastics are a thing of the past.
Where we can move beyond relying on them to promote a healthier planet and the greater good.
As we call on the community to join the collective effort, we will get past plastic.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Purchasing
- Can I buy a bottle of water or other single-use plastic item while I’m traveling on GW business and using my P-Card for purchases?
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Yes. While the intent of the single-use plastics elimination effort is a culture change around the way we at GW purchase single-use plastic items, the policy is specific to university operations and activities held on GW property (owned or leased). Still, all members of the GW Community are encouraged to travel with their reusable items when feasible.
- My department or student organization would like to use a caterer for an event. What should we do if the caterer is not able to avoid all single-use plastics?
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First, look for a caterer who is able to avoid any single-use plastic in your order, and use reusable items whenever possible. Request that your caterer avoid single-use plastic items as indicated in GW’s list found on page 2 of this document. You are not required to find a new vendor if the request cannot be accommodated, but you are encouraged to work with your caterer to avoid plastic in packaging, cutlery, service ware, and condiments as much as possible.
- I purchased single-use plastics for my department/organization/office with my own money, before I knew about the elimination but after the policy was officially announced. Will I be reimbursed for this purchase?
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Individuals in the GW Community should take all reasonable efforts to avoid using single-use plastics on GW property where alternatives are available. Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that their team is eliminating the use of single-use plastics, with the understanding that it will take some time to transition to a new way of purchasing items. The university will review and audit purchases on a regular basis and the Office of Sustainability is available to help find alternatives.
- Can I still purchase single-use plastics with GWorld dollars?
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Since GWorld dollars are your personal funds, yes, GWorld dollars may be used to pay for single-use plastics. However, purchases of single-use plastic items with GWorld dollars will not be reimbursed by the university.
- Will purchases on a P-card be included in the single-use plastics elimination effort?
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Yes. P-card holders are expected to adhere to the single-use plastics elimination effort by avoiding all purchases of the single-use plastics included in the elimination list.
- How will the university enforce purchases of single-use plastic made on a P-card?
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Training will be provided for P-card users and approvers. Where alternatives to single-use plastics are not feasible, exceptions are determined by the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school. Additionally, audits of P-card purchases and procurement will be conducted to determine areas for improved performance.
- Can supervisors approve an expense report if single-use plastics were purchased?
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All purchases of single-use plastics on the elimination list require approval by the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school.
All purchases of single-use plastics on the elimination list require approval by the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school.
Rules for Using Plastic
- Are there any repercussions for using single-use plastics on campus? If so, what?
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While disciplinary actions would not be taken for using single-use plastics on campus, all members of the GW Community are encouraged to avoid the use of single-use plastics and use reusable items when feasible.
- How does the elimination of single-use plastics impact people with disabilities who need to use plastic straws?
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Plastic straws have been banned in DC since January 2019. Regarding customers with disabilities: "Please note that DOEE recognizes some customers with disabilities require plastic straws as a reasonable accommodation to consume food or beverages. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the DC Human Rights Act, some customers may request single use plastic straws to consume food and beverages. Regulated entities must keep a stock of plastic straws available to meet these needs and remain compliant."
- Over the years my department/student organization/office has accumulated a lot of single-use plastic utensils service ware (plates, cups, forks, etc.) from caterers and through P-Card purchasing. Can we still use it?
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Yes. Departments and student organizations are permitted to use their backstock of single-use plastic items until this inventory is exhausted.
- Can I bring my own single-use plastic item, which I purchased with my own money off-campus, to use on campus?
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Yes, this is permitted. Still, all members of the GW Community are encouraged to use reusable items when feasible.
- How does the elimination of single-use plastics impact people with disabilities who need to use plastic straws?
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Plastic straws have been banned in DC since January 2019. Regarding customers with disabilities: "Please note that DOEE recognizes some customers with disabilities require plastic straws as a reasonable accommodation to consume food or beverages. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the DC Human Rights Act, some customers may request single-use plastic straws to consume food and beverages. Regulated entities must keep a stock of plastic straws available to meet these needs and remain compliant."
- Does the elimination of single-use plastics include plastics needed for art projects for Corcoran students?
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Exceptions may include purchases for art projects where alternatives to single-use plastics may be prohibitive. If there is no readily available alternative to the single-use plastics used in your project, you may continue to use single-use plastics. Such exceptions are to be determined by the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school.
- Does the elimination of single-use plastics include plastics I need for my lab or medical research?
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If there is no readily available alternative to the single-use plastics used in your lab or medical research, you may continue to use single-use plastics. This issue will be revisited periodically as alternatives to single-use plastics are developed and brought to market. To aid the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school, clarification can be made on the P-Card purchase or invoice. Still, all members of the GW Community are encouraged to avoid the use of single-use plastics and use reusable items when feasible.
- Are off-campus events hosted by a GW organization included in the elimination effort?
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The Single-Use Plastics Policy applies to activities on campus. To aid the supervisor of purchases at the department, division, or school, clarification can be made on the P-Card purchase or invoice that the event took place off-campus. Still, all members of the GW Community are encouraged to avoid the use of single-use plastics and use reusable items when feasible.
- Are off-campus students responsible for following this policy?
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The Single-Use Plastics Policy sets forth GW’s commitment for a changed culture in our community.
- If our offices uses single-us plastic hot beverage machines for coffee or tea, such as Keurig or Flavia machines, what should we do?
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Offices can switch to one of these options:
Compostable pods - available for Keurig machines
- If you have a Keurig machine, your options include:
- If you opt for the compostable pods compatible with a Keurig Machine, these pods should NOT be disposed of in either the recycling bin or waste bin. Pods must be separated and stored for compost pickup.
- Does the policy prohibit Athletics from purchasing electrolyte beverages like Powerade or Gatorade which come in single-use plastic bottles but not cans?
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If there is no readily available alternative to the single-use plastics used to serve these beverages, you may continue to use single-use plastics. This issue will be revisited periodically as alternatives to single-use plastics are developed and brought to market.
If there is no readily available alternative to the single-use plastics used to serve these beverages, you may continue to use single-use plastics. This issue will be revisited periodically as alternatives to single-use plastics are developed and brought to market.
Resources
- Is there a buying guide or other list of recommended products I should purchase instead of purchasing a single-use plastic product?
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A list of potential alternatives to single-use plastic will be made available in the future for members of the GW Community to consult.
- What differentiates a single-use plastic from a multi-use plastic? Is there a resource for this?
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A single-use plastic is intended to be used once and then disposed of. A multi-use, or reusable plastic item, is intended to be used indefinitely. Some items are clearly intended to be used multiple times, such as a sturdy reusable plastic shopping bag sold by the grocery store as an alternative to a single-use plastic bag. Others may be more ambiguous -- you may reuse a single-use plastic fork multiple times, washing it in between uses, but the item is manufactured and intended to be used only one time before disposal, and therefore falls under the GW single-use plastics policy.
- How does this relate to COVID safety protocols?
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Recommendations made in the GW Single-Use Plastics Plan and the supplementary guide are secondary to official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since guidance from the CDC changes frequently, please be sure to check their recommendations. The purchase of single-use plastic where there is no disposable alternative (e.g., compostable disposable alternative) based on current CDC guidance will not be prohibited by GW.
- Is the commitment to eliminating single-use plastics going to raise the cost of living? How can we ensure the shift will be an equitable one, not overburdening lower-income students?
- Feedback is essential to ensuring that equity issues are addressed. Please email [email protected] with any equity-related concerns related to the single-use plastics elimination effort.