With 15 more water bottle refill stations and four more “gooseneck” attachments to be installed by the end of June, University of Michigan students, faculty and staff can more easily help reduce waste by filling a reusable bottle at one of 300 campus water stations.
The stations have met with overwhelming support, as more than 75 percent of staff and 74 percent of students reported using refillable water bottles, according to recent surveys by Planet Blue and the Sustainability Cultural Indicators Program.
“Refilling a reusable bottle is cheaper, better for the environment and more convenient than purchasing one-time-use plastic water bottles,” says Barbara Hagan, sustainability administrator in the Office of Campus Sustainability.
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. recycle rate for these bottles is approximately 30 percent. The rest are taking over landfills, littering roadways and polluting waterways.”
The university installed two bottle refill stations in Mason Hall in 2010. When the station had more than 270,000 uses in one year, the decision was made to expand the number of locations.
The initiative has been sponsored by several units and student organizations, including the Graham Sustainability Institute, Central Student Government, Office of Campus Sustainability, University Housing and Students for Sustainability.
In addition, water refill stations support the university’s 2025 sustainability goal to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills by 40 percent, as compared with 2006 levels, and to strengthen the sustainability culture on campus.
“Enthusiasm for participating in this type of environmentally sound, sustainable initiative has been tremendous,” says Keith Soster, director of Student Engagement. “U-M students are involved and actively seek out ways to make a difference. This project is just one example.”
In 2012, the university also implemented the Planet Blue Water Bottle Initiative, which supplies all first-year undergraduates and incoming faculty and staff with a reusable water bottle when they arrive on campus.
Kim Kyro
Think what a huge impact the university could make if they allowed empty water bottles into The Big House and other sports venues on campus and placed filling stations around the stadium. Other sports arenas allow this i.e. the Detroit Tigers without any security problems. It seems the university is more concerned about the money they are making on the Absopure contract than they are about the environment.
Kerim YILMAZ
How can we request one? We don’t have these stations at NCRC, at least the building where I work at.
Barbara Hagan
These have been installed in heavy student traffic areas. Many departments have installed them but would be responsible for the cost. Start with letting your facility person know you are interested. There is a guideline to get you started. http://sustainability.umich.edu/media/files/Bottle%20Refill%20Station%20guidelines%202016.pdf
Amanda Louks
Is there a contact person who can answer questions about getting these installed in other buildings or areas?
Robert Schultz
Agreed. The initiative could use a wider scope so that all water fountains are outfitted as such, even if it takes provost backing. Furthermore, remove bottled water from vending machines.