Green Procurement

Single use plastic products are those designed or likely to be used by a consumer only once before being discarded. Single use plastic products may be made from fossil fuel-based plastics or biobased materials (bioplastics) or a combination of both. They may be recyclable or compostable. 

• Definition: They are not designed for reuse but are meant to be disposed of directly after use. Single use plastic bags are not recyclable in Cortland County because they are too thin and lightweight and must be recycled in specialized third-party recycling programs. 
• Application: Include, but are not limited to grocery bags, takeout bags, resealable bags (i.e. Ziploc bags), other types of shopping bags, “cellophane” bags, produce bags, and plastic wrapping on utensil sets. Plastic-lined paper bags (shiny, wax coating) and paper bags with plastic windows, which are commonly used for bakery and other food items and included because the plastic components prevent them from being compostable or recyclable. 
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Grocery / take out bags - 8/1/2024
    • Eliminated – not used at any campus entities including Cortland Auxiliary Services dining and bookstore 
  • Resealable, loose product, individual bags, i.e. Ziplock, plastic lined paper bags, and paper bags with cellophane windows. - 50% by 8/1/2025
    • Progress - 25.88% reduction (FY 23-24 report)
  • Trash bags for individual offices and classrooms - 8/1/2025
    • Progress - 33.33% reduction (FY 23-34 report) 

• Usage: Most commonly used for decorative purposes at campus events and celebrations.
• Special Considerations: Although compostable balloons are available, they are used with plastic or plasticized ribbons or ties that generate plastic waste and contaminate composting facilities. Therefore, compostable balloons are not an acceptable alternative to traditional balloons.
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Celebrations (balloon release) - Immediately 
    • Eliminated
  • Celebrations (other than balloon release) - 8/1/2025
    • Eliminated
  • Signage and wayfinding - 8/1/2025
    • Eliminated

• Applications: Single use plastic bottles are used for individual servings and bulk delivery of beverages including water tea, juice, and soda, may be used as part of routine or emergency operations .

• Special considerations: Single use plastic beverage bottles are not only purchased by campuses or related entities in support of campus activities but may also arrive on campus from individual purchase at off campus locations, and brought onto campus for events or personal consumption. Beverage bottles may also be part of office pantries or centrally funded amenities

• Non-water beverages include but are not limited to: soda, juice, dairy, tea, etc.

• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Water bottles for retail, dining, catering and offices - 8/1/2027
    • Progress - 4.81% reduction (FY 23-24 report) 
  • Water bottles for resident dining (pay one price dining) - 8/1/2025
    • Eliminated

• Usage: Most commonly used by food services, dining halls, coffee shops, snack bars, and at campus events. May be used for take-away or grab and go service from dining halls, cafes, marketplace.
• Special considerations: They are also used when space and labor are limited, to avoid the washing of reusable dishes.
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Food service containers in resident dining (pay one price) - 8/1/2026
    • Progress - 51.36% reduction (FY 23-24 report)
  • Cafe, retails, snack bars and grab-and-go - 8/1/2027
    • Progress - 2.71% increase (FY 23-24 report)
  • Non-water beverage bottles for retail dining, catering, and offices - 8/1/2027
  • Non-water beverage bottles for resident dining (pay one price dining) - 8/1/2027
    • Eliminated

• Usage: Commonly utilized throughout campus and associated with beverage consumption, often in some dining halls and catered events. Single use plastic straws, stirrers and spill plugs are all items prevalent in coffee sales.
• Special considerations: These items in particular are difficult to effectively recycle based upon their size.
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Straws for dine-in and take-out drinks - 8/1/2024
    • Eliminated
  • Stirrers for dine-in and take out - 8/1/2024
    • Eliminated
  • Plastic spill plug/ splash stick for dine-in and take out - 8/1/2024
    • Eliminated

• Usage: Traditionally utilized throughout campus to consume or serve food. Typically provided in food courts, some dining halls and on-campus restaurants, offices, box lunches and catered events.
• Special considerations: These products are often made of black plastic. Black plastic is difficult to recycle because the sensors used for automatic sorting in material recycling facilities are not able to detect it.
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Dine-in - 8/1/2025
    • Eliminated* - only used when dishwash machine is down 
  • Take-out - 8/1/2027
    • Progress - 42.28% reduction (23-24 FY report) 
  • Catering - Optional 
    • Progress - 12.33% reduction (23-24 FY report) 

• Definition: A general term used to describe many different materials that are used to secure or hold items within a container or while transporting multiple containers at the same time.
• Usage
  • Food grade plastic wrap, shrink, and skin film packaging is most commonly used on campus in institution-run and on-campus 3rd party food services, dining halls, coffee shops, snack bars, and at campus events for food preparation, service and storage. Food grade plastic wrap, shrink, and skin film packaging is also used by vendors to package raw or minimally processed ingredients, bulk and individual servings of prepared sauces, foods, and dressings, soft drink syrups, and other food and drink products for delivery to campuses.
  • Industrial wrap is commonly used by campuses to package materials for transport on and off campus and by vendors to package materials for transportation, as pallet wrap or as cushioning inside packages.
  • Plastic wraps and films may be used for medical and scientific practices or purposes.
• Special considerations: Plastic wrap and film packaging is often used in the food supply chain to extend shelf lives and minimize food waste, so efforts to eliminate these plastics must be balanced with efforts to minimize food waste. Plastic wraps and films are often marketed as “recyclable”. However, these products are not often recyclable in single-stream recycling programs, as they require special accommodations, and may not be recyclable if contaminated by food or other materials.
• 100% Elimination Date and Progress
  • Food preparation and storage plastic film - 8/1/2027
    • Progress - 11.98% increase (FY 23-24 report)
  • Industrial wrap generated internally to manage warehouse goods, shipping materials for outgoing packages - 8/1/2028
    • Pretty much eliminated – used sparingly and rarely purchased