READING TEXT
Is banning single-use plastic the right option?
Read first, then answer the questions. Select an underlined word to see its meaning and save it below.
Original fictional learning scenario. People, dialogue and personal experiences are created for language practice.
A school planned to remove disposable cups from its café. The proposal seemed straightforward until staff began mapping how drinks were actually served. Some students brought reusable cups, some forgot them, and some needed containers that were easy to grip. Washing facilities were limited during busy periods. Rather than abandon the aim, the school tested a returnable-cup system with a deposit and several accessible designs.
It tracked how often cups came back, how they were cleaned and what happened when someone could not pay the deposit immediately. The trial revealed problems that the original announcement had not mentioned. It also produced practical improvements. The debate became less about whether a ban sounded decisive and more about whether the replacement system worked. Removing an item from a purchasing list was only one part of changing the service that had relied on it.
