There are few objects more ubiquitous at any college party than the red Solo Cup.
Memorialized in popular culture (Toby Keith, anyone?), this plastic receptacle is the medium with which thousands of Chapel Hill partiers enjoy their beverages weekly.
Few consider that every one of those cups they’ve used is and was destined for the landfill. Orange County Solid Waste Management straightforwardly recognizes this fact and directs those they serve to throw these cups away.
Forward thinking members of the Greek community have set out to tackle waste problems in the past. Delta Kappa Epsilon more than halved its trash output in 2014 under the direction of head cook and house manager Meg Miller. Elly Withers, a particularly passionate member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, was the UNC Greek recycling intern in 2013.
Unfortunately, efforts surrounding the omnipresent containers have fallen short of a sustainable solution. Aaron Bachenheimer, the director of Fraternity & Sorority Life and Community Involvement, said his office was unable to fill Withers’ position after she graduated. He said some chapters were shipping cups to a company called TerraCycle for recycling at its locations.
Any hosts, Greek or otherwise, should reconsider using red Solo Cups at their parties unless they plan to use TerraCycle or a similar program. Party organizers should buy compostable cups in bulk for as little as 11 cents per 12 ounce cup, or encourage a BYOG (Bring Your Own Goblet) policy, which would also encourage people to keep track of their drinks more diligently.
