Greening Princeton, a campus pro-sustainability group, estimates that the clubs collectively go through as many as 12,000 plastic cups each weekend. By switching to reusable cups similar to those used at dinner, clubs could cut down on expenses and reduce the amount of waste they produce. And while it might initially cost money to purchase additional cups, this expense would pay for itself over time. As with other such changes the Editorial Board has supported in the past, this represents yet another way in which students can make a small lifestyle change which would have a positive impact on the environment.
Despite the benefits, this policy could pose a number of health risks if not implemented properly. If a sick student’s cup touches the tap while it is being refilled, then there is the potential for all cups subsequently filled at the same tap to be contaminated. Of course, this problem could arise at any club when a cup is refilled, whether the cup is reusable or disposable. But the potential for contamination increases when a club supplies only reusable cups. To its credit, Terrace has recognized this hazard and made clear to its membership that cups must not come into contact with the tap. Other clubs that implement the policy should take similar steps to ensure that those behind the bar — whether club officers or members on tap duty — take the appropriate sanitary precautions.
In an e-mail, Greening Princeton told the Board that it will be more difficult to fully implement this policy in clubs where drinking games are popular. It would not be practical, the argument goes, for the clubs to provide many fresh, reusable cups each time students want to play a drinking game. We agree that this could be problematic, but to work around these problems, clubs could give disposable cups to those playing drinking games and reusable cups to those who are not. But worry over drinking games should not be the factor that derails this sustainability effort.
Even if the policy were only implemented on a limited basis, switching to reusable cups would still be a dramatic improvement over the current system. Each club should consider how such a policy could be successfully adopted and should follow Terrace’s lead as quickly as possible.
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