FF8: Zero Waste Resolution
Members of the Undergraduate Student Government Environmental Accountability Committee proposed a resolution to the Forum on November 15, 2023 concerning the development of a comprehensive Twin Cities Campus zero waste plan. According to a statement from the University of Minnesota, the Twin Cities campus has a long-term goal to “divert 90% of its municipal solid waste from the HERC”, as well as to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050; however, there has not been any comprehensive plan from the University to accomplish this goal.
The Zero Waste Coalition of the Undergraduate Student Government proposed that the University of Minnesota begin the active development of a zero-waste plan with the involvement of student leaders, department leaders, other professionals, and community members. The goal is to encourage University leadership to develop a plan in a single year and implement the plan within a decade. Additionally, the Coalition implores the University of Minnesota to revisit their 2050 Climate Action Plan to further encourage zero waste initiatives through compensation, acknowledgement and recognition, and to measure zero waste progress.
Voting Results
This resolution and all of its stipulations were brought to the USG Forum Floor on the evening of of February 20, 2024 to be voted on by voting members of the organization.
Following presentation from the Committee and deliberation from the rest of Forum, the resolution passed with 32 voting members in favor of the resolution, 1 member against the resolution, and 1 member abstaining from a vote.
