Plastics Reduction

UMass Amherst is dedicated to reducing single use plastics from entering the environment doing harm to natural ecosystems and human health.  We are reducing plastics on campus through a number of initiatives...

Indoor Hydration Stations

There are over 246 hydration stations on campus and counting! Bring a reusable water bottle with you every day to reduce the amount of single-use plastic water bottle waste on our campus. View the complete list (updated after new installations) of hydration station locations on campus.   

Single use plastic water bottles tossed in the ocean. Text on the image says "246 hydration stations. 3.3 million plastic water bottles avoided. #UMassProud" Brita filter hydration station installed into wall, you can fill your water bottle at these refill stations

Plastic Bag Ban

UMass complies with the Town of Amherst plastic bag ban since January 2017, also known as Article 36: Single Use Plastic Bag Ban Prohibition. The bylaw was written by UMass sustainability science graduate student (now alumni) Keven Hollerbach.  

Outdoor Events

The campus offers outdoor event water stations in an effort to reduce single use plastic bottles at large outdoor BBQ's and other campus sanctioned events.  These water stations provide free, filtered and cooled tap water to the campus community.  To request these stations at your next event, contact the UMass Physical Plant at (413) 545-6512 or Auxiliary Enterprises at (413) 577-8094.

 Two hydration stations with three water dispensers each. The stations are maroon with UMass logos and say "refreshing filtered water here!"