In a Canadian-first for universities, Trent is eliminating all single-use cups for one week, March 2 to 6, building on the University’s reputation as a green leader.

Small, everyday changes (like going paper cup free) are one way that consumers can make a big impact in waste reduction and plastic pollution. With this in mind, all members of the Trent community are being asked to remember their reusable mugs for all hot beverages as food service outlets across the Peterborough campus eliminate single-use cups for a full week.

“The Trent community embraces many sustainability initiatives. As one example, our campus already uses refillable mugs at about seven times more than the national average. With this initiative we are doing even more,” says Mark Murdoch, director of Trent University Food Services. “The Breaking Up with the Paper Cup initiative will help remind the community that a series of little changes can help change the world.  We hope that students, staff and faculty will challenge the way they think about reusable hot beverage cups.”

Partners from across the University, including Starbucks, Tim Hortons and the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), are coming together to support the green effort. Collectively 2,000 reusable cups are be given away to the community during the week.

Trent University is continuously building on its reputation as a leader in environmental sustainability, particularly as it relates to on-campus dining. Recently Trent University’s dining facilities, at Lady Eaton College (LEC) and Gzowski Dining Hall received certified green star restaurant designation from the Green Restaurant Association (GRA).

See the #BreakingUpWithThePaperCup video