The Plastic Bag Pollution Solution

Over the last 10 years, we have produced more plastic than we have during the past century. Not to mention, more than 50% of the plastic that we produce gets used once and then thrown away. In fact, enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the Earth four times!

One of the least useful plastic products produced is, not surprisingly, the plastic bag. The average plastic bag has an average use time of only about 12 minutes before it is disposed of to remain in landfills, oceans and other places for thousands of years! Annually, approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Not to mention, their production consumes copious amounts of fossil fuels which are non-renewable resources.

On the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus, we are no stranger to the plastic bag epidemic. At all retail locations on campus, plastic bags are offered to carry food and material items purchased. Recently, RPI Dining Services has begun handing out reusable tote bags to students signed up for a meal plan. These reusable, recyclable tote bags are made out of coated water-resistant polypropylene. They can be used to carry groceries, meals-to-go and even books and merchandise purchased at the campus store.

Here at RPI, we are taking the necessary steps in order to reduce the amount of plastic waste currently residing in landfills. Not to mention, providing students with free reusable tote bags!