Whereas, Cornell’s commitment to sustainability—demonstrated through initiatives such as the world-renowned Atkinson Center—stands in stark contrast to the continued use of plastics that contribute to severe environmental damage on this campus. The toxic chemicals commonly found in plastic can take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years or more to decompose, and with less than 10% of plastic in the world actually being recycled, plastic waste continues to accumulate at an alarming rate in landfills and oceans,
Whereas, single-use plastic is actively detrimental to the health of the Cornell community. Microplastics are increasingly being found in the brain, testes, heart, stomach, lymph nodes, placenta, urine, breast milk, and semen, and are associated with adverse effects, including cancers, diabetes, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity,
Whereas, Cornell’s commitment to building “A Community of Belonging” and “Changing Lives through Public Engagement”—a pledge to serve “our community, our state, and the broader world, learning about their needs and strengths, and applying the knowledge we create for the benefit of society”—requires attention to the broader social impacts of plastic production and waste. Plastic production and waste, particularly, threaten the health and livelihoods of low-income communities. In the United States, predominantly African American and Indigenous communities are vulnerable targets for petrochemical corporations, which intentionally dump toxic waste from plastic production. Water contamination in these communities restricts access to reliable drinking water, further contributing to illness and widening existing health disparities,
Whereas, a commitment to “Respect for the Natural Environment” and the goals of Cornell’s research demand careful consideration of the ecological impacts of plastic use. Plastics harm ecosystems in numerous ways. Plants exposed to microplastic particles exhibit reduced growth due to stress, changes in chemical composition, disruptions in hormone regulation, and reductions in photosynthesis through altered chlorophyll. Studies have also revealed that 1,557 species across both marine and terrestrial environments ingest plastic, while 99% of marine species contain microplastics, which can block digestive tracts and pierce internal organs, causing animal mortality. Current research further confirms that microplastics damage animal livers and cells and disrupt reproductive systems, threatening population growth,
Whereas, banning plastics can save money for the university in the long term due to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced waste processing burdens, and other environmental and social harms,
Whereas, Cornell’s tap water quality is excellent, and healthier for bodies and ecosystems than plastic-bottled water,
Whereas, the SUNY system has banned single-use plastics. Cornell opting out of this policy to avoid a ban on single-use plastics is shameful for an Ivy League university that prides itself on sustainability,
Whereas, other colleges and universities, including the University of Virginia, University of Colorado-Boulder, and the University of California, have already phased out or are in the process of phasing out single-use plastics, and some units within Cornell are already doing so, including the Statler Hotel and several dining facilities,
Whereas, the student body has wanted to ban single-use plastics since 2010, including the passage of a Student Assembly plastic bottle phase-out resolution, which was never implemented,
Be it therefore resolved, Cornell University shall eliminate single-use plastics according to a five year phase-out program from the date a ban is passed,
Be it further resolved, where elimination is not practical, single-use plastic products will be replaced with BPI-certified compostable products. The university may make specific, limited exceptions for health, safety, and research where there are no existing alternatives,
Be it finally resolved, Cornell will adhere to its stated values of sustainability and equality by phasing out single-use plastics.
