Radford University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

In March 2021, Governor Northam signed Executive Order 77 requiring all state institutions to cease buying, selling, and distributing the following plastics: disposable plastic bags, single-use plastic and polystyrene food service containers, plastic straws and cutlery, and single-use plastic water bottles by July 21, 2021. These product cessation efforts are part of a longer-term single-use plastic reduction effort guided by EO77 and align with the work of RU’s President’s Task Force on Sustainability to develop a new RU Sustainability & Climate Action Plan.

Over the past two months Radford University’s EO77 Working Group - comprised of representatives from University Services, Dining Services, Facilities Management, Housekeeping Services, Procurement, Environmental Health and Safety, and Sustainability - have been meeting regularly to craft a cessation plan, alternative strategies, develop resources, and create educational opportunities to help guide the University community through this transition. We recognize that there will likely be a significant amount of adjustments across campus and we appreciate your willingness to work alongside us through this process. Over the next few weeks we will go live with various resources to assist in the transition. Here are some important dates and milestones to remember:

July 21: Immediate Cessation Impacted Items
EO77 calls for the cessation of "buying, selling, and distributing" of the following items after July 21, 2021:
- Plastic Cutlery (alternatives include reusable or compostable cutlery)
- Plastic + polystyrene food containers (alternatives include reusable or compostable food containers)
- Plastic Straws (alternatives include compostable straw or sippy-cup lids)
- Single-use Plastic Bags (alternatives include reusable bags or paper bags)
- Plastic Water Bottles (alternatives include reusable bottles, hydration stations or aluminum cans)

After July 21, Radford University employees are not to purchase any of these items. You may use your existing inventory of these items and then replace them with an acceptable alternative.

Plastics Pollution Reduction Plan
Per EO77, Radford University will develop a Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan to phase out and eliminate the buying, selling, or distribution of other non-medical single use plastic and expanded polystyrene from campus operations, targeting a 25% reduction per year.

- 25 percent reduction by December 31, 2022
- 50 percent reduction by December 31, 2023
- 75 percent reduction by December 31, 2024
- 100 percent reduction by December 31, 2025

Plans will also identify additional needs and opportunities for reducing all solid waste, including plastics and polystyrene, from University operations and facilities, and diverting such waste from landfills through composting, reuse, recycling, and other strategies.

The Radford University Sustainability Office has conducted a series of webinars and workshops over the last semester focuses on reaching faculty, staff, and students. These webinars reached a wide variety of campus constituents and were attended by event planners, administrative office managers and assistants, and student organization leaders.

Additionally, the Sustainability Office coordinated a working group of campus stakeholders from Facilities, Housekeeping, Environmental Health and Safety, Procurement, Dining, University Services, and Waste/Recycling. Through a series of planning meetings, this group developed a Cessation and Phase Out Plan to eliminate certain single use plastics and reduce all campus single use plastics by at least 25% by December 31, 2022.

By the end of the Fall 2021 semester, Radford University had taken steps to cease purchasing single use plastic water bottles, dining cutlery and takeout containers, straws, and plastic bags. Supply chain shortages have interrupted the ability of the University to consistently provide acceptable alternatives to single-use plastic, but overall we have recorded the following positive impacts:

Estimated Volume Reduction in Cubic Yards
DALTON: Polystyrene Cups & Bowls (any size): 8.531
DALTON: Polystyrene Food Trays & Plates: 248.063
DALTON: Polystyrene Hinged Containers: 457.031
DALTON: Single-Use Plastic Cups & Bowls (any size): 59245.714
DALTON: Single Use Plastic Cutlery:0.571
DALTON: Single-Use Plastic Plates (any size): 2.268
DALTON: Single-Use Plastic Stirrers: 0.710
DALTON: Single-Use Plastic Straws: 3.577
DALTON: Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles (any size): 2513.455
NATIONAL BRANDS: Plastic Bags - Carry-out, grocery and convenience stores: 1353.143
NATIONAL BRANDS: Plastic Bags - Sandwich or small storage bag: 0.682
NATIONAL BRANDS: Polystyrene Cups & Bowls (any size): 8.269
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Hinged Containers: 55.714
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Food Service Containers (take-out): 17.143
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Cups & Bowls (any size): 83.410
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Lids (any size): 16.814
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single Use Plastic Cutlery: 6.286
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Stirrers: 0.243
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Straws: 9.569
NATIONAL BRANDS: Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles (any size): 11545.972
VENDING: Single Use Plastic Water Bottles (any size): 314.182

The Highlander Cup Residence Hall Sustainability Competition is a semester-long competition aimed at teaching and engaging students with sustainability in their residence. The Power Down Competition. For this challenge, residence halls will be competing against each other to reduce energy use based on last year baselines. Each challenge lasts one week and is accompanied by intentional programming, flyers, and social media. The education and outreach in each hall will be primarily conducted by Resident Assistants. Curriculum was collaboratively designed by the Sustainability Office and the Office Housing & Residential Life.

Positive measurable impacts included a reduction electricity consumption. Compared to the baseline, residential students reduced electricity use by ###### kW hours.