Waste Reduction
Waste Reduction is a key program of sustainability. Wants and needs for different objects should be carefully considered when buying something. The lifecycle of a product is something that should be well understood from producing to disposing.
Most of us were taught about the three R’s of sustainability when in primary school (reduce, reuse, recycle) but that has since expanded to five 5 R’s of sustainability (refuse, reduce, reuse, rot and recycle). We have worked hard to implement waste reduction programs to allow you to have an easier time being sustainable on campus. Here is a quick list of programs we have implemented to help students use the five R’s:
- Refuse: We actively encourage students who are able to use reusable items whenever able and possible. The Laurier Bookstore offers stainless steel straw sets, travel mugs, and reusable bags so that the next time you are out and about you can refuse single-use plastics wherever you go.
- Reduce: We have worked hard with Food Services to provide you with great Food and Drink Discounts to encourage you to be more sustainable. This includes a $0.40 discount for bringing your own mug to any food vendor location (save even more at Veritas! (link to Veritas)) and an awesome Eco-Container Program that allows you to reduce your environmental footprint.
- Reuse: Following a successful pilot in 2018, we now offer you a Freestore all year round, full of gently used items donated by the Laurier community! This helps you reuse items rather than creating new waste, and it’s free!
- Rot & 5. Recycle: We understand that not everything can be refused, reduced or reused so we have worked with Waste Management to provide you with organics and commingled recycling waste streams to allow you to properly dispose of the little waste that you do produce.
Organics
Did you know that when you send organic waste to the landfill it produces greenhouse gases, particularly methane, as it decomposes? Methane is 20 to 30 times more damaging to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. This is as a result of the decomposing organic scraps not being able to get enough oxygen in compacted landfills.
If you dispose of that same organic waste into the organic stream, decomposition generates carbon dioxide instead due to special treatment that allows it to decompose aerobically (decompose with oxygen). While harmful, carbon dioxide is significantly less damaging than methane and has the potential to then be absorbed by different plants and/or trees as a necessary nutrient. The compost can then also be used to provide nutrient-rich food for gardens and crops.
We offer organic waste streams in every building on campus and actively encourage you to consider where you are disposing of your organic waste before you throw it away!
Fun Fact: In 2014, there were over 162 composting facilities in Canada
Organics in Residence
Over the past several years we have been working to bring organics to Residence buildings at Laurier. As a result of a successful composting pilot in the 2018-2019 academic year in MacDonald House (a double dorm-style residence) and Leupold Residence (an all-female double dorm-style residence) we have worked with Residence and Facilities to provide organic infrastructure (i.e. bins) to several residences (Clara Conrad Hall and Bricker Residence) for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Accepted Items
- greasy pizza boxes
- Laurier take-out containers
- Tim Horton's cups (no lids)
- napkins, paper towels, tissues
- tea bags, coffee grinds and filters
- fruits and vegetables
- dairy and baked goods
- bread, pasta, grains, rice
- meat waste, including bones
- damp soiled newspaper
- paper bags, plates, cups
- candy
- eggs and eggshells
- sugar bags
- shredded paper
- microwave oven popcorn bag
Not Accepted Items
- plastics of any kind
- waxed paper
- grease and other liquids
- personal hygiene products
- Styrofoam
- condiment packages
- straws
- chewing gum
Move Out
The Move Out Program at Wilfrid Laurier University has operated for over 5 years and has successfully diverted over 25 tons of waste from landfill (which is the equivalent of four elephants in weight)!
During Winter Term exams, bins are placed in residence to collect four streams: e-waste, textiles, textbooks, and non-perishable food. These line up with the items that can be donated and recycled through our partnerships with the Waterloo Region Food Bank, Textbooks for Change, Tech Wreakers and Diabetes Canada. At the end of exams, members of the Sustainability Office team and volunteers go to each residence and bag and move the bins and items to the curb. The Grounds team then pick them up and move them to a warehouse. Once at the warehouse, the group works for a few days to sort and bag/box everything for the partners to then come to pick up.
We are proud of the success of the residence Move Out Program in the past few years and the amount of waste that we have diverted from landfill. With this success, the initiative was expanded last summer to include an August collection and a week-long Freestore Program for students as they return to campus.
Recycling Program
We get it, recycling can be really difficult to understand. Rules vary from region to region and with China taking less contaminated recycling now, knowing how to properly recycle and what can and cannot be recycled it may feel like an uphill battle.
At Laurier, we offer commingled recycling, which means all recyclable materials are mixed together in the same bin, collected and then sorted at a separate location. This makes it significantly easier to dispose of your recyclable materials while still helping to save the environment. However, even with commingled recycling, there is still important things to consider and follow to prevent contamination when purchasing or disposing of items.
Purchasing
The next time you go to the grocery store consider the items that you are putting in your cart.
Ask yourself: Is there a more sustainable option for this (i.e. can I find the same or similar product in a reusable container?) Could I purchase this elsewhere by bringing my own reusable container? (Zero Waste Bulk and Bulk Barn allow you to bring your own containers and avoid the fee of the container that is included in most pre-packaged products).
Disposal
When disposing of items, make sure to properly wash out all containers! Scrape out all organic waste that is left in the containers into the organics bin and rinse out containers before putting them in the recycling. Recyclables that are not properly rinsed out can contaminate recycling, cause a whole batch of recycling to go into the landfill!
Look at the recycling guides.On-campus, we work with a company called Waste Management to dispose of on-campus waste. We mainly recycle plastics 1-5 and 7 on campus so be sure to check the plastic listed on your container before disposing of it!
Electronic Waste
E-Waste, or electronic waste, is the fastest growing waste stream in North America and it does not decompose. When put in landfills, heavy metals and plastics leach into the soil and contaminate our groundwater.
To avoid this, our Physical Resources department has a program to properly recycle and dispose of electronic items. The money raised is used to subsidize our fluorescents disposal costs and is also donated to The Nature Conservancy. There is a drop-off location for e-waste items at 202 Regina St. loading dock at the back of the building. E-Waste is also collected during our yearly Move Out Program.
- Approved E-Waste Items: Monitors, towers, keyboards, laptops & computers, scanners, printers, computer mice, TVs, and fax machines.
- Unapproved E-Waste Items: Microwaves, photocopiers, movies, and LCD projectors.
Battery Recycling
Most types of batteries are accepted for recycling, however, Lithium (Li) batteries must have their terminals taped prior to depositing into the bin.
Batteries can be dropped off at the following Waterloo campus locations:
- Faculty of Science Room N1048
- ICT Room BA313C
- Accessible Learning Room 1C11
- Library Admin Room L2-213
Batteries can be dropped off at the following Brantford campus locations:
- ICT - RAC East RCE110
- Service Laurier - Grand River Hall GRH202
- Physical Resources - SC Johnson SCJ112
Recycle Your Cell
Our Office has partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) of Canada to responsibly recycle old cellphones on our Brantford and Waterloo campuses.
Why is this Important? Cell phones contain valuable minerals, including gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum (coltan). This program aims to reduce the impact of mining on great apes by removing mobile phones from the waste stream by remarking them for reuse or breaking them down for recycling. Phone refurbishment helps to reduce the demand for coltan mining in critical chimpanzee and gorilla habitat.
As Canadians, we create demand for these minerals by frequently upgrading our cell phones. As consumers, we can make a big difference by recycling our phones and reducing the demand for minerals.
What Can You Do? Drop off your old phone in the collection boxes at the U-Desks (Waterloo: first floor, Fred Nichols Campus Centre; Brantford: second Floor, Student Centre).
What Happens to Your Phone? Functional phones are refurbished and redistributed in developing markets. Some of these phones are also donated to hospitals in North America for patients who need access to emergency 911 calls. Phones, batteries and accessories that are not reusable are broken down and recycled according to the highest industry standards.
Textbook Recycling
At the beginning and end of each semester, the Laurier Bookstore collects used textbooks from students to re-sell.
Laurier also has a partnership with Textbooks for Change. They collect any post-secondary textbooks from the past 15 years. To date, the program has collected over 25,000 textbooks for over 220,000 students in East Africa – Which is valued at over $500,000 USD! Find a Dropbox on campus to donate your textbooks!
Zero Waste Week 2020
This year for our second annual Zero Waste Week, the Sustainability Office is running a Zero Waste Challenge! Grab a mason jar and track how much waste you produce from March 9th to March 13th. Check out the details below:
Guidelines for Students:
- Sign up for the Zero Waste Challenge
- Pick up a mason jar from the Sustainability Office at the Concourse on Monday, March 9th or use your own 500mL mason jar.
- During Zero Waste Week from March 9th to March 13th, try to keep your jar as empty as possible. Only put your garbage in the mason jar – keep composting and recycling as you usually do. You can do it at home, school or both!
- Use the hashtag #ZeroWasteLaurier on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to share your progress
- Fill out the follow-up survey by March 20th, 2020 to be entered into our prize draw (separate prizes for staff and faculty)
By completing the follow-up survey, you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 14 prizes!
- 2 x $75 to Zero Waste Bulk;
- 4 x $50 to Zero Waste Bulk;
- 4 x $25 to Full Circle Foods; and
- 5 x $20 to Copper Branch
Terms and Conditions
Laurier Sustainability Office Giveaway Rules
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
- Eligibility: This giveaway is open only to students who have a valid Laurier ID number. Wilfrid Laurier University’s affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies (collectively the “Affiliates”), and Affiliate's immediate family members (parent, child, sibling or spouse) are not eligible to participate in the giveaway. The giveaway is subject to all applicable federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
- Agreement to Rules: By participating, the Participant (“You”) agree to be fully unconditionally bound by these Rules, and You represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, you agree to accept the decisions ofWilfrid Laurier University as final and binding as it relates to the content of this giveaway.
- Giveaway Period: The challenge begins on Monday, March 9th. Registration for the challenge will be accepted online starting on Monday, February 10th at9am EST. All follow-up surveys must be received by Friday, March 19th, 2020 at 11:59pm EST.
- How to Enter: The giveaway must be entered by completing a Zero Waste Challenge Registration survey in addition to the follow-up survey that will be open until Friday, March 19th, 2020 at 11:59pm EST. The entry must fulfill all giveaway requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion ofWilfrid Laurier University. You may enter only once. You must provide the information requested. You may not enter more times than indicated by using multiple email addresses, identities, or devices in an attempt to circumvent the rules. If You use fraudulent methods or otherwise attempt to circumvent the rules, your submission may be removed from eligibility at the sole discretion ofWilfrid Laurier University.
- Prizes: The Winner(s) of the giveaway (the “Winner”) will receiveone of 14 prizes - 2 x $75 to Zero Waste Bulk; 4 x $50 to Zero Waste Bulk; 4 x $25 to Full Circle Foods; and 5 x $20 to Copper Branch, valuing at $600 for the Kitchener and Waterloo campuses. For Brantford students, they will be eligible for one of five zero waste kit bundles with an approximate retail value of $300 total. Actual/appraised value may differ at time of prize award. The specifics of the prize shall be solely determined byWilfrid Laurier University. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted. The prize is non-transferable. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any and all taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of Winner. No substitution of prize or transfer/assignment of prize to others or request for the cash equivalent by Winner is permitted. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Wilfrid Laurier University to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.
- Odds: The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
- Winner Selection and Notification: Winner will be selected bya random drawing under the supervision of Wilfrid Laurier University. Winner will be notified by direct message within five (5) days following selection of Winner. Wilfrid Laurier University shall have no liability for Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize within five (5) days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return a completed and executed declaration and release as required, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner selected. Receipt by Winner of the prize offered in this giveaway is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY WINNER (AT WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY’S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY, AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS WINNER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED.
- Terms & Conditions:Wilfrid Laurier University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the giveaway should virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyondWilfrid Laurier University’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the giveaway. In such case, Wilfrid Laurier University may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Wilfrid Laurier University. Wilfrid Laurier University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the giveaway or website or violates these Terms & Conditions. Wilfrid Laurier University has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the giveaway, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same user from different IP addresses; multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by giveaway rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the giveaway may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such attempt be made, Wilfrid Laurier University reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.
- Limitation of Liability: By entering, You agree to release and hold harmlessWilfrid Laurier Universityand its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers, and directors from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from: (i) such entrant’s participation in the giveaway and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize or any portion thereof; (ii) technical failures of any kind; (iii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any transmissions, telephone, or Internet service; (iv) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion; (v) electronic or human error in the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries.
- Disputes: THIS GIVEAWAY IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OFCanadaAND Ontario. As a condition of participating in this giveaway, participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this giveaway, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Ontario having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances shall participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable legal fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this giveaway). Participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
- This giveaway hosted byWilfrid Laurier University andis in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.