Oswego State Student Association Senator Eusebio Omar van Reenen brought a resolution before the Senate on Tuesday calling for a reduction, and eventual end to, the use of disposable plastic cups in the dining halls on campus.

van Reenen cited the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, which Oswego State President Deborah Stanley has signed. The Commitment calls for signatories to cut back on environmentally destructive behaviors and programs in favor of more sustainable practices.

Oswego State pursues a carbon-neutral environmental impact by the year 2050, according to its Climate Action Plan.

van Reenen said he feels that the sustainability goals of the school are at odds with the use of non-recycleable plastic cups, which now account for over 70 percent more use than the paper hot-beverage cups available.

van Reenen’s resolution also mentions how many students in the dining halls opt for the plastic cups over the available glass cups for cold beverages like soda or juice, as they are readily available to students at the beverage stations.

van Reenen’s resolution, which he tabled at this meeting and hopes to bring to a vote in the next SA senate meeting, calls for a stop to the ordering of the plastic cups in the 2018-2019 school year in favor of paper cups for the iced coffee for which the plastic cups are used currently.

Photo: Alexander Gault-Plate | The Oswegonian