RPS creates new water bottle refill program

Visit any Residential Persons and Services dining center on campus and there will be rows and rows of aluminum bottles on the shelves for sale. These bottles are part of the new refill program launched by RPS this semester.

The chief goal of the refill program is sustainability, said Sandra Fowler, RPS dining Services director.

In launching the program, there is hope that the new system will reduce the landfill and could save money, Fowler said.

Bottles can be purchased at RPS dining locations for $3.99, and each subsequent refill costs $0.55. The only beverages that can be used under the refill program are sodas, teas and lemonades. The program excludes milk, coffee and fruit juices.
This is not RPS’s first attempt at a refill program.

This is the fifth launched program since 1996. The difference this year lies in the bottles — all previous receptacles have been plastic, but this year they are aluminum.
Sophomore Ashley Dillon said she thought investing in a bottle made both financial and environmental sense.

“I have a small meal plan, and every time I’m sure it adds up. So I’m sure it saves money, and the environmental advantage was a plus,” Dillon said.

Freshman Steve Ambrosini did not share the same positive sentiment that Dillon did, however. Ambrosini said the lack of financial incentive was the reason behind his choice not to participate.

RPS staff members said they have already seen the results of the program, and there has not been as much refilling as they had hoped. This was the case at Wright Quad Food Court, which Fowler said is one of the top two program participant locations.

Wright Food Court General Manager Mark Winstead said there hasn’t been much success in the return rate for refills and attributed this lack of return to on-location “hydration stations.”

He said students are more often seen using their own receptacles and filling them with water rather than paying for another beverage.

Fowler also noticed the trend of bottles being purchased yet not refilled. Yet, because of success at certain locations such as Wright and Collins Living-Learning Center, she said she remained optimistic about the potential of the program.

Winstead said Wright has been selling about 100 water bottles a week.