Two students and a professor are discussing banning single use plastics on campus. Grace (Student) I really think it's time the university took a strong stand on sustainability. The waste statistics from last semester were shocking so many disposable cups, utensils, and wrappers. If we ban single use plastics, we could drastically reduce campus waste. There are so many reusable alternatives now, it feels like the right move. Ruby (Student) I agree we need to do something about plastic waste, but I'm just not sure how practical it is to ban everything outright. For students on tight schedules, disposables are just convenient. I worry that a sudden ban might cause frustration and pushback, especially if there aren't enough reusable options available on campus. Prof. Anderson (Professor) That's a valid concern, Ruby. From a policy perspective, enforcement is also complicated. Would the ban apply only in dining areas, or to shops and events too? We'd need discussions with campus vendors and clear guidelines. Without a structured plan, it could be more disruptive than helpful. Grace (Student) What if we started with a phased approach? We could begin by banning plastic straws and cutlery, then expand to cups and containers over time. That gives people a chance to adjust, and the university can work with vendors to stock more sustainable alternatives like bamboo or compostables. Ruby (Student) That makes more sense. If there's a proper educational campaign alongside the phase out, people might be more willing to make the switch. Maybe posters around campus or reminders in the dining halls explaining why we're doing this highlighting the environmental impact could help change habits. Prof. Anderson (Professor) An educational campaign would definitely help. And we could gather data throughout the process track how much waste we're actually reducing each quarter and survey student reactions. If vendors are involved early, we might even negotiate better pricing on reusables to keep things affordable for students. Grace (Student) Exactly. I'd love to see campus cafés offer discounts for bringing your own container or bottle. That kind of incentive could really drive behaviour change. Plus, reusable items can be branded with the university logo turning them into something people are proud to carry. Ruby (Student) That sounds more appealing. If it's a gradual shift and there are perks involved, I think more students would get behind it. It just needs to feel like we're all part of the solution, not that it's being forced on us overnight. Prof. Anderson (Professor) So it sounds like we're in agreement on launching a phased reduction campaign. Let's draft a plan for gradual bans, involve campus vendors in product changes, and run a visible educational push. We'll assess community adaptation and waste reduction quarterly to inform next steps.