Turning Blue Java green

As finals and term papers approach, students are increasingly preoccupied with their school work and need affordable ways to stay awake late. Columbia Dining Services offers reduced coffee prices when students fill up reusable mugs instead of paper cups. However, Dining Services charges customers more for refilling a non-Blue Java mug than one brought from Blue Java. To encourage students to practice eco-friendly habits, Columbia should offer uniform discounts for all cups.

Dining Services has made strides to become greener by removing trays from John Jay Dining Hall and serving sustainable and locally grown foods, but its coffee-serving practices lag behind. Students who use their own refillable mugs are charged more than those who use Blue Java mugs or even disposable cups. In some Blue Java locations, refilling a personal mug costs 50 cents more than refilling a Blue Java mug. An incentive for Dining Services to continue this practice may be to encourage students to buy cups from Blue Java. Unfortunately, such business tactics may force students to prioritize their pocketbook over helping the environment when they purchase coffee. Students should not have to make that choice.

While it may seem difficult to determine what to charge for a mug due to varying sizes, baristas at other shops, such as Starbucks, decide refill prices by comparing the size of the customer’s mug to thier standard cup sizes and then offering the patron a flat discount. With a new pricing policy, students should hold up their end of the bargain by using refillable mugs, both to take advantage of the lower prices and to decrease campus waste.

Charging lower prices for coffee-mug refills will encourage students to be more environmentally conscious in their daily routines. By using discounts to incentivize eco-friendly behavior, Blue Java will help Columbians keep up with their fast-paced lives while making it easier to go green.