Colby College
ER-2: Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign

Colby began its "Take Back the Tap" initiative, a campaign to reduce bottled water use and to educate communities on water quality, in 2008. The Environmental Coalition, Colby’s main environmental club on campus, has been in charge of promoting this campaign. The group has hosted many events, including screenings of water quality films like Tapped and Blue Gold, water tastings to test if students can taste the differences between bottled water and tap water, and tabling to educate students, faculty, and staff and to encourage them to sign petitions in support of Take Back the Tap. Group members have also worked with Colby’s dining services, administration, and athletic teams to join the movement to reduce bottled water use. The Environmental Coalition has also turned its attention to the Waterville community, working with businesses and schools in the area to reduce their bottled water use and provide screening of water quality films in public venues.

On Earth Day 2011, Colby announced that it would eliminate the purchase or sale of bottled water in most campus venues. By using bulk containers, reusable water bottles, and pitchers of tap water at events, the EAG estimated that more than 10,000 plastic water bottles will be removed from our recycling and waste disposal flow each year.