Plastics Elimination Exceptions and FAQ
Exceptions
- Laboratory and medical instruments and products wrapped in plastic to maintain sanitary state.
- Trash bags (waste/garbage can liners) for labs, restroom, kitchenettes, food service, hospitals, and centralized collection areas.
- Resealable bags, paper bags with windows, patient belonging bags, specimen bags, cadaver bags and other medical bags required for safe and sanitary healthcare services.
- Balloons used for medical procedures.
- Balloons used for scientific research procedures.
- Balloons used for art installations and performances
- Bottled water during a water or medical emergency.
- Bottles needed to ensure accessibility.
- Bottles other than water and non-water beverage bottles.
- Bottles used in patient care settings where such restriction might impair patient care (e.g., individually bottles of nutritional supplements, restricted diets, etc.).
- Plastic straws available upon request.
- Hospitals: straws, stirrers, and spill plugs/sticks when clinically indicated for patient care.
- Specialty straws (shakes, Boba tea, etc.).
- Catering services, when reusable is not practical. When reusable is not practical, but composting facilities are available then BPI Certified is preferred.
- Hospitals/Health and Wellness Centers.
- Food packaging films and wraps (received from vendors) - including but not limited to minimally processed raw ingredients, prepared foods and sauces, prepared dressings and condiments in single serve and bulk packaging, soft drink syrups for use in machines, etc.
- Pallet wrap and shipping materials received from vendors, and for outgoing shipments when wrap is necessary for safe containment of the items being moved.
- Medical & hygiene products which are sealed in plastic to maintain sanitary state.
- Plastic wraps, films and industrial wrap used for medical, scientific, and artistic products and/or purposes.
FAQ
If you are using existing balloons (already purchased) is that OK as long the campus is not buying any new ones from this day forward?
What about instructional material such as plastic pipettes, and plastic slips for their glass slides?
What about hazardous waste streams, many labs collect waste in plastic containers, is this an issue even if it goes in the garbage?
Is there any grant funding going along with this initiative?
Will there be any efforts to purchase across SUNY in bulk to lower the cost of the non-plastic items?
Are there any particular alternatives SUNY System or others have identified?
How can we get students involved?
Where and when will the baseline reports be submitted?
What is the penalty for noncompliance & who is going to enforce compliance?
What is the threshold (if not listed in contractual agreements) that determines what is too expensive to move forward? For example, if switching from plastic beverage bottles to cans/cardboard increases the cost 295% - 400% does the campus make a self-determination that it is not affordable?
How should a campus handle campus community member with Celiac disease who needs to be cautious about certain alternatives to plastic, as some may contain gluten?
Are vending machines included?
Some changes may impact the cost of goods and services for Auxiliary vendors. Are colleges allowed to pass on the cost to students, faculty and staff?
Will childcare center directors and Lab Schools, be responsible for implementing these changes?
Are compostable products that are wasted into regular trash cans and going to regular landfills considered as non-compliant under this policy?
Still could use some help? Email us and we will get back to you shortly.
Sustainability
Service Building, 124
934-420-5779
sustainability@farmingdale.edu
Maia Roseval
Sustainability Manager, Committee Chair
Michael Cervini
Energy Manager
Jonathan Goldstein
Senior Director of Marketing
Marjaneh Issapour
Professor 10 Months
Zachary Licht
Senior Professional Relations Specialist
Orla Smyth-LoPiccolo
Professor 10 Months