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Sustainable UFV

UFV/Sustainable UFV/Sustainable campus/Waste

Waste

Waste management is important to helping reduce our negative impacts on the environment and our health. Without proper management, waste has the potential to pollute our air, water, and soil, and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Finding ways to reduce waste at UFV and solutions to common waste streams on campus is important in creating a more sustainable campus.

Reduce
We encourage and support the UFV community in reducing waste on campus.

Recycle
We look for new recycling solutions and have brought various specialty recycling bins to campus.

Audit
We aim to complete annual reviews of what is going into our waste at UFV

 

How is UFV taking action?

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Writing utensil recycling

According to the United Nations, around 9 BILLION pens are thrown away each year. Using the writing utensil recycling boxes on campus can help prevent plastic from entering our landfills or polluting the environment.

Toss your old pens, sharpies, markers, etc. in one of our specialty boxes, and we will take them to Staples to be properly recycled and used as material for other items!

 

Blue disposable gloves surrounded by a green recycling symbol

Glove recycling pilot

The Custodial team, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, have started a pilot project to collect the gloves they use on shift to be recycled. In the first 3 months of the pilot, the janitorial staff prevent 55 pounds of gloves from ending up in landfills and in the environment! 

 

Four bins - one for landfill, one for compostables, recycling, refundables

4 bin waste stations

Refundables

Refundable beverage containers are collected weekly by the Pathways group, this group collects 100% of the proceeds which funds their special needs employees.

Please ensure that coffee, tea, and other beverage cups are not placed in the Refundables bin. The mess has lead to many recycling centres rejecting bottles collected by Pathways, which has significant impacts on their group of exceptional individuals!

Do:

  • Plastic beverage containers (pop, juice, water, etc.)
  • Drink cans (pop, juice, water, etc.)
  • Glass beverage containers (pop, non-alcoholic beverages, etc.)
  • Carton beverage containers (juice, milk-please rinse)
  • Juice boxes (juice, kool-aid, etc.)
  • Empty any liquid

Don't:

  • Recyclable Paper cups (Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, McDonalds)
  • Compostable Paper Cups (Cafeteria, Fair Grounds, Spirit Bear Café)

Organics (Compost)

Do:

  • Food products (Fruit, Vegetables, Grains, Dairy, Meat, etc.)
  • Tea Bags, Coffee grounds, wooden stir sticks
  • Paper towel, napkins
  • Food soiled paper/cardboard

Don't:

  • Recyclable coffee/tea cups (Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, McDonalds)
  • Plastic utensils (Landfill)
  • Plastics #1, 2, 4, 5 (Mixed Recycling)

Mixed Recycling

Do:

  • Make sure recycling is clean and free from food residue
  • Rigid plastics including food containers and to-go cup lids
  • Metals (tin, aluminum foil)
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Empty coffee/tea cups (Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, McDonalds)
  • Milk cartons and jugs

Don't:

  • Stretchy plastics - plastic bags, sandwich bags, cling wrap etc. (Landfill)
  • Chip/Candy packaging - anything from food vending machines (Bring to B-150 or Landfill)
  • Food waste (Organics)
  • Food soiled paper/cardboard (Organics)
  • Beverage bottles (Refundables)

Landfill

Do:

  • Styrofoam
  • Stretchy plastics
  • Plastic utensils

Don't:

  • Batteries – Please bring to B150

 

 

 

Things you can do to make a difference

 

Make zero-waste swaps

Consider making zero-waste swaps! Try carrying a reusable to-go cup, water bottle, and cutlery in your bag and choose products with less or more recyclable packaging.

 

Study up

Check out Recycle BC and the BC Recyclepedia to learn more about waste management in British Columbia