Choose to Reuse: Even More Hydration Stations Quench Thirst and Reduce Waste
With the launch of the Choose to Reuse campaign in 2011, the original station was christened outside the Office of Sustainability in Reynolda Hall. The fleet of stations has now grown to nine. The growth of this student-initiated project reflects a desire to reduce plastic water bottle waste.
According Mother Nature Network, an environmental nonprofit, 1.5 million bottles of plastic waste are generated each year. These refilling stations are thus a great stride to cutting down our campus’s contribution to the waste, avoiding the use and disposal of over 122,000 plastic bottles and counting.
Thirsty Deacons can see how much waste they are reducing as they refill their reusable bottles. Each station gives users immediate feedback, keeping tally of the amount of water bottles that are avoided.
Not sure where to go to fill up? Here’s a tally of the existing stations as of the end of February 2013 and the equivalent number of standard-sized disposable bottles that would have been consumed:
Reynolda Hall, first floor outside Office of Sustainability: 29,706 bottles
Reynolda Hall, ground floor outside Fresh Food Company (sponsored by Budget and Financial Planning): 8,888 bottles
Benson University Center, ground floor outside food court near Pugh auditorium: 6,840 bottles
Z Smith Reynolds Library, outside ground floor atrium restrooms: 14,625 bottles
Winston Hall, second floor: 5,626 bottles
Worrell Professional Center, School of Law Wing: 25,340 bottles
Worrell Professional Center, Babcock Graduate School Wing: 31,112 bottles
Manchester Athletic Center, second floor: 1,958 bottles
Miller Center in the first floor weight room facility (installed this week): 20 bottles
Coming Soon:
Tribble Hall, first floor A Wing
Reynolds Gym, ground floor outside of the pool locker rooms
Miller Center, ground floor near the fitness center
Scales Fine Arts Center, two locations to be determined
For an interview with Frannie Speer, the former intern who initiated the Choose to Reuse campaign, check out this month’s Where are They Now column.
By Kiana Courtney, Communications and Outreach Intern