Drink prices will increase from $1 to $1.25
By Ian C. Beck ’12
THE ROUNDUP
In the near future the student body will find something different on campus; something small, but nonetheless important.
Brophy and Michaels plan to completely eliminate the use of Styrofoam cups in exchange for new, recyclable cups in an effort to become more sustainable; a change that should occur by the inception of this year’s Summit, Feb. 22.
The new cups were originally slated to debut when students returned from Christmas break Jan. 4, but that has now been pushed back.
The change comes in response to students requesting a transition toward a more sustainable school environment and the Summit on sustainability a year ago.
“It’s important to explain the implications that when people make decisions to live more sustainably in concert with the environment, that often comes with a cost, and there is a cost to this,” said Brophy Principal Mr. Bob Ryan.
The new cups will cost Michaels 25 cents more than Styrofoam to purchase, which will mean an increase in drink prices from $1 to $1.25, but there are other benefits from the new program.
Along with eliminating the old types of cups, Michaels has also allowed Brophy to sell their own cups that can be refilled at the Great Hall. Refills will cost 75 cents.
These will be a 20-ounce bottle that comes in either stainless steel or plastic with a short straw that can be pushed down so students can safely store their bottles in their backpacks without fear of spilling.
A contest for the design of the bottle was sent out to all students encouraging them to submit a design to Mrs. Patty Mazier by Thursday, Jan. 14. The cups will be ordered soon and will be available for purchase on the first day of the Summit.
“Well, it’s a start,” said Mr. Ron Douglas.
Brophy has been making some real efforts in the last year to become more sustainable. Other changes include lowering of temperatures in all the buildings by two degrees and an increased effort to recycle.
“(It’s) really important to me … (it’s) significant for all of us,” Mr. Ryan said of becoming more sustainable.
Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Mazier are heading a new green committee and “have done some great work” this year, Mr. Douglas said. New recycling bins are just one of the products of their efforts to make Brophy greener.
Mr. Douglas said that a key thing the community needs to do is develop a culture that recognizes “the effect we have on each other and our planet.”
“The biggest thing students can do is challenge each other to recycle,” he said, adding that it is students who will eventually be the deciding factor in the success of Brophy’s green movement.
“Students are willing to get on board, more so than we give them credit … there’s always a number that don’t care,” Mr. Douglas said.
One of the students who does care is Anthony Nguyen ’10, who has been emptying the recycling bins once a week for his work study program.
“For some students, it is mostly about convenience,” Nguyen said in an e-mail.
“If they have something they want to get rid of, they’ll seek out the nearest (bin) and toss it in. They won’t check if the item is recyclable or not and sometimes, they won’t even check to see if the bin they just threw it in is a regular trash bin or a recycling one.”
Editor’s Note: Originally published Dec. 16 and updated Sunday, Jan. 17 with new information about cost and the date of the recyclable cup transition originally slated for Jan. 4.