University of Winnipeg set to ban bottle water sales on campus

The University of Winnipeg is about to become what is believed to be the first university in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water on campus.

Over the next several months, the sale of disposable water bottles will be phased out on the downtown campus. The decision comes as a direct result of a referendum last week where almost three-quarters of students voted to support the ban.

It is one of several recent green initiatives the university has undertaken, including a campus wide composting program introduced last August.

University president Lloyd Axworthy said the ban is part of a growing awareness around the world about the importance of accessible water. He said the university is happy to reduce needless plastics.

More than 38,000 plastic water bottles are sold on the campus every year.