Student Assembly

Dear Adam,

Thank you for communicating the Student Assembly Resolution 28, “Student Support for a Campus-Wide Plastic Bag Fee.” I appreciate the Assembly’s commitment to sustainability efforts and the reduction of the number of plastic bags distributed on campus. While I am supportive of a Campus-Wide Plastic Bag Fee, there are some complications (such as the use of Big Red Bucks and tax laws) that need to be figured out before a campus-wide fee can be enacted, particularly in the dining units.

Cornell Dining is dedicated to sustainability, as demonstrated in its practice of composting, instituting “trayless” dining, sourcing locally or regionally grown produce, and using biodegradable containers and labels in its Freshtake Grab-n-Go products. Currently, most of the dining units offer plastic bags for to-go items; they only use plastic bags for purchased products at Bear Necessities, Jansen’s Market, and Big Red Express. Cornell Dining will continue to work with the SA and the SA Dining Committee to advance a good business model that works to create sustainable actions, including bags.

The Cornell Store agrees that instituting a “usage fee” for plastic bags is the right thing to do for sustainability. Beginning i February 2013, the Cornell Store plans to charge five cents per plastic bag. They will create signage to explain the program and they will pass along the collected fees to a Green Revolving Fund or another venue. If an on-campus entity requests bags for an event, the Cornell Store will charge them the actual cost of the bags as a means of discouraging plastic bag usage. They will also offer reusable bags for sale, beginning in the spring. They may waive the fee during certain big campus weekends (such as Graduation or Reunions) but that is still to be determined and they are open to suggestions.

Sincerely,

David Skorton