Fall 2016
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee
Whereas, In 2010 the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) signed the Talloires Declaration, and reaffirmed it in 2014, which establishes environmental sustainability as a top priority for our organization. (Citation 1)
Whereas, Community College Students are exposed to recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which, does not biodegrade, but into smaller fragments over time and these fragments absorb toxins that pollute our waterways, contaminate our soil, and sicken animals (which we then eat).
Whereas, Other preventative measures, such as recycling have not worked in the United States: As our National Recycle Rate for PET (plastic bottles specifically) has “the export of recycled PP bottles in 2014 to 25% of that collected. Since, the effort started in 1990’s.” (Citation 2)
Whereas, Sierra College has saved over 15,000 water bottles since implementation of refillable water bottle stations since July of 2016.
Resolved, That the SSCCC encourages the CA State Legislature to pass legislation creating a grant program to incentivize CCC’s to install water bottle refilling stations among other sustainable practices, to be funded by AB 888,(Citation 3) or any other funding source.
Citations 1: ULSF | University Leaders For A Sustainable Future | PROGRAMS & SERVICES : Talloires Declaration. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2016, from http://www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html
Citation 2: A. (2015). 2014 UNITED STATES NATIONAL POSTCONSUMER PLASTICS BOTTLE RECYCLING REPORT. Retrieved from
http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/images/pdf/resources/reports/Rate-Reports/2014_US_ National_Postconsumer_Plastic_Bottle_Recycling_Report.pdf
Citation 3: Assem. Bill 888, 2015-2016, Reg. Sess. (Cal 2015)
Whereas, Community College Students are exposed to recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which, does not biodegrade, but into smaller fragments over time and these fragments absorb toxins that pollute our waterways, contaminate our soil, and sicken animals (which we then eat).
Whereas, Other preventative measures, such as recycling have not worked in the United States: As our National Recycle Rate for PET (plastic bottles specifically) has “the export of recycled PP bottles in 2014 to 25% of that collected. Since, the effort started in 1990’s.” (Citation 2)
Whereas, Sierra College has saved over 15,000 water bottles since implementation of refillable water bottle stations since July of 2016.
Resolved, That the SSCCC encourages the CA State Legislature to pass legislation creating a grant program to incentivize CCC’s to install water bottle refilling stations among other sustainable practices, to be funded by AB 888,(Citation 3) or any other funding source.
Citations 1: ULSF | University Leaders For A Sustainable Future | PROGRAMS & SERVICES : Talloires Declaration. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2016, from http://www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html
Citation 2: A. (2015). 2014 UNITED STATES NATIONAL POSTCONSUMER PLASTICS BOTTLE RECYCLING REPORT. Retrieved from
http://www.plasticsrecycling.org/images/pdf/resources/reports/Rate-Reports/2014_US_ National_Postconsumer_Plastic_Bottle_Recycling_Report.pdf
Citation 3: Assem. Bill 888, 2015-2016, Reg. Sess. (Cal 2015)