Cooper Campus Outreach Team Partners With Student Union

According to the Ocean Conservancy, "The average person uses 1.6 straws per day. It’s no wonder they’re among the top ten items collected every year during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup...Unfortunately, many more continue to make their way into our ocean, where they pose a real danger to sea turtles, albatross, fish and other ocean wildlife."

In an effort to reduce plastic straw use, the Cooper Center Campus Outreach team is collaborating with student, staff, and research groups to decrease straw use behaviors.  We are increasing awareness through signage posted throughout the Student Union advocating for post-consumer composting and recycling.  Signage work has been done in partnership  with Compost Cats and Office of Sustainability.

In addition, this "Skip the Straw" campaign has a secondary mission to encourage student use of “Fill it Forward,” to become aware of global and social impacts of water consumption by contributing to water projects in developing countries

Initial Results: Over 600 students are now incentivized to contribute while receiving prizes