Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2013
Location
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-20-2013 9:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2013 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Environmental Sciences
Abstract
The bottled water industry is polluting, costly, and dangerous to the health of the consumers and the environment. Chemicals in the plastic bottles often leach into the water, which can be harmful to the consumer. Water bottles also create many problems after disposal, often ending up in landfills or in waterways rather than being recycled.
This report looks into what needs to be done to eliminate the sale of disposable plastic water bottles at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU). It discusses the negative effects of the bottled water industry, and why a ban would benefit IWU students, faculty, and staff. What other college campuses have done to eliminate bottled water, and how their strategies could be applied at IWU is discussed, but it is recognized that every campus is different and has its own unique challenges to overcome. Therefore Illinois Wesleyan’s particular case is considered in-depth, including a look at Bloomington, IL’s public drinking water, IWU’s current stance on sustainability, and the views of the IWU community.
Included in
The Feasibility of Eliminating Disposable Plastic Water Bottles at Illinois Wesleyan University
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
The bottled water industry is polluting, costly, and dangerous to the health of the consumers and the environment. Chemicals in the plastic bottles often leach into the water, which can be harmful to the consumer. Water bottles also create many problems after disposal, often ending up in landfills or in waterways rather than being recycled.
This report looks into what needs to be done to eliminate the sale of disposable plastic water bottles at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU). It discusses the negative effects of the bottled water industry, and why a ban would benefit IWU students, faculty, and staff. What other college campuses have done to eliminate bottled water, and how their strategies could be applied at IWU is discussed, but it is recognized that every campus is different and has its own unique challenges to overcome. Therefore Illinois Wesleyan’s particular case is considered in-depth, including a look at Bloomington, IL’s public drinking water, IWU’s current stance on sustainability, and the views of the IWU community.