Single-use water bottles to be phased out at FedUni

FEDERATION University Australia will ban the sale of single use plastic water bottles at all of its university and TAFE campuses across Victoria in 2019.

In a bid to eliminate the environmental impact of the 18,000 plastic water bottles currently sold every year, bottled water will no longer be available for sale on campus.

The university is encouraging staff and students to fill reusable bottles at free at drinking water stations to be installed across all campuses.

To assist with the roll out of the single-use bottle ban FedUni is introducing self-branded glass and metal water bottles for purchase.

The backpack friendly glass bottles are wrapped in a blue silicon strap that doubles as a handle while the metal bottles are a thermos style shape.

“It’s up to universities to practice what we preach around sustainability,” said Colin Marshall, FedUni’s director of campus life.

“On one hand we have researchers doing world leading environmental research but on the other, we’re selling plastic water bottles that pollute our waterways.

“We have some of the best tap water in the world so there’s simply no need to buy bottled water and as a university, we need to be part of the war on waste and help change people’s behaviour.”

The university’s Student Senate, a representative student body, said it is excited to see the university listening and taking real action on sustainability.

“Having the water bottle refill stations on campus is a fantastic idea,” said Francis Licciardi, Student Senate sustainability representative.

“It makes it easier for students to do the right thing for the environment without causing any financial stress.”