Could I sue my student Union for wasting our natural resources?

It is time to have a mandatory waste minimization policy at UBC?

I just came back from volunteering at the orientation BBQ organized by the graduate student society. This event is free and immensely popular amoung new comers. Around one thousand of graduate students line up for veggie, chicken and beef burgers. Many booth explaining student services are also present, many of them touching some aspect of sustainability.

What an irony and a missed opportunity! One of the first thing new students have seen coming to UBC is a huge pile of avoidable garbage! Student were offered non recyclable styrofoam plates to put their burgers in, and non recyclable plastic cup for their "full of sugar only" pop drink.

We have composting facilities at UBC since 2004 and obviously something is not working. 100% recycled paper plates and towels, compostable cutlery, recyclable glasses and proper information signs and bins would have made this event nearly waste free. How come the GSS is not doing anything to minimize its waste during this important event, and this year after year! Obviously they don't take the issue seriously enough and maybe it is time to have a mandatory waste minimization policy at UBC. This policy could fine association and organization at UBC that don't do the basic minimum to respect our environment.

UBC often brands itself as a leader in sustainability for various and legitimate good reasons, but today thousand of new students today would not believe so.