Was this really an unreasonable suggestion?

[Kingfisherfly]

I am involved in organising a sporting event, involved in that I am part of the volunteering team, but basically do as I'm asked on the day, I'm not one of those putting in the real work to make it happen.

One of the volunteer team had suggested we should consider paper water cups, not pastic for future events, and there's been a bit of discussion about how the plastic ones are recyclable, recycling isn't really the answer, paper cups are more expensive, and someone has suggested asking competitors to bring their own reusuable cups (which is becoming more common at these types of events).

Then someone has had a strop about how the organising team has more than enough to do and this is supposed to be fun, not political.

Is it political to raise envirommental issues? Does being volunteer led mean nothing should ever be challenged or changed?

I'm staying well out of it, but the original suggestion was very gently and politely made, and didn't seem unreasonable to me?

Talking about recycling and switching from plastic to paper isn't political at all, it's common sense.

It wasn’t unreasonable but it was a bit naive. Paper cups have a plastic coating inside which makes them waterproof so are a bit greenwashy.

It’s absolutely not reasonable to try and push your environmental agenda on everyone else when they’re just trying to have fun. Take that elsewhere.

I would also be shooting such a ridiculous suggestion down in flames.

It can get really frustrating when you're knee deep in organising an event, and someone pipes up with a 'helpful' suggestion that inevitably ends up creating more research/sourcing/running around for the - usually small few - that are driving the event. It may be that sentiment that bubbled over rather than any outright hostility to environmental topics

Not completely unreasonable but a bit annoying.

I would say more irritating than unreasonable. I’d probably just roll my eyes if someone started banging on about recyclable cups.

Won't people bring their own water bottles to a sporting event? I can't imagine them not doing so, unless the event is for 5yos.

And it's not political, it means a lot less clean up time.

I don’t think there’s any difference in clean up time is there? I’m imagining those white disposable plastic cups vs paper cups, both of which get chucked away after.

It is a completely reasonable question, recycling and sustainability issues are just normal decisions to make in the course of event planning.

The person calling it 'political' is being silly.

They are absolutely not.

I don’t think it’s political - it’s more social and environmental.

As to whether it’s a reasonable suggestion - it may depend on your setup. We switched from disposable cups to reusable ones at cricket matches because we have a clubhouse with easy washing up facilities and storage for the cups (alongside the squash etc) so it’s not much more trouble - someone volunteers each time to provide biscuits and they’re on the hook for washing up, but it takes 5 mins and isn’t any worse than collecting all the empty disposable ones that get blown away.

But say if you were in the middle of nowhere and you didn’t know all the groups turning up and we’re going to be needing to spend ages chasing them all up to make sure they all bring individual reusable cups, dealing with people who forgot and now have no cup, bringing back up options, taking them home, washing them up etc - still doable but more hassle and organisation.

I don’t think the cup type stops anyone having fun.

I think if people are freely giving their time they need to be listened to - although meetings also need to be managed so that they don’t spend too long on discussions that stray too far from the agenda.

i also think all events should consider the environment. That’s not political. I’ve volunteered for our pta and other local charities and never encountered anyone who didn’t want to consider the environment.

Not an unreasonable suggestion at all but the person having the strop should have said 'Great idea, can you come back with some practical options for us next time please?'

You do find that with volunteer organisations some people whinge and moan about how they do everything but won't actually let anyone else take responsibility for anything.

If it's political, why should their politics trump that of others?

(I don't think it is political, just routine)

It is always the naysayers who make a fuss. They stop others just getting on with tasks.

Yes
I agree with this.

suggested we should consider paper water cups, not pastic for future events, and there's been a bit of discussion about how the plastic ones are recyclable, recycling isn't really the answer, paper cups are more expensive

If the plastic cups you use are recyclable and cheaper to buy than the suggested paper cups then yes it’s an unreasonable suggestion. Why opt for something that’s more expensive?

It never used to be political until nutbar climate change deniers made all environmental matters political about 10 years ago and they’re sneakily importing more of their politics from the US. For normal people, basic science is not ‘political’. Plastic takes thousands of years to biodegrade, paper biodegrades significantly faster, even wax-coated waterproof paper cups. But I’m sure the terminally offended will be along to point to some bullshit Facebook research ‘proving’ that plastic is good for the environment. Likely sponsored by the oil industry.

Well his argument was that plastic is plastic, it has an enviromental cost to manufacture, and recycling also carries an enviromental cost.

But, it was only a polite suggestion that it could be considered.

ask people to bring a water bottle . Perfectly reasonable to consider the environment

Agree. It will also save the event money and the volunteers time - so win, win, win.

Also agree that the pro-oil / anti green lobby are seeding discontent in the population for their own commercial gain - when it’s just common sense to reduce costs and waste.

It's not political, it's just practical.
Neither is it an 'agenda' or 'ridiculous' , and I wonder how disengaged or in denial you'd have to be to roll your eyes about it, like some posters on here.

Yes, I agree and that has been suggested. In fact it seems to be that which tipped this person over the edge.

A paper cup also has an environmental cost to manufacture, actually it’s more than a plastic cup when you look at the breakdown

Having been in the position of organising volunteer-managed events, I would say this is more about people nitpicking small details rather than anything to do with paper and plastic cups.

It seems to be a feature of events that involve volunteers that people offer a lot of 'helpful' opinions and suggestions without thinking through the extra hassle or work that they involve. It can be very annoying to give a lot of time and effort to something only to have people say 'Why is it blue and not green?' or 'why don't we have sandwiches as well as cakes?' It is absolutely fine for someone to suggest something if they themselves are willing to do all of the fiddly nonsense to make it happen. Otherwise, they can FTFO as far as I'm concerned.

I should point out that it is a different thing if suggestions are requested and the organising committee is ready to make a change.

The way forward is to ask people to bring their own bottles, but have cups available for those that don’t. There will be plenty of parents who have the same “political” views.