University of Alberta
OP-T2-43: Move-Out Waste Reduction

Each year thousands of students move out of the University of Alberta’s student residences. In order to help students divert waste from the landfill, the Office of Sustainability partners with Residence Services, Facilities and Operations, and various organizations to implement Eco Move Out. UAlberta’s Eco Move Out program began in April 2012. In addition to UAlberta’s existing recycling system (which collects paper and cardboard, glass and light metals, beverage containers and plastics), Eco Move Out provides residents with options to reduce waste by donating non-traditional items to bins for reuse or recycling. Every year in April and July Eco Move Out bins are made available inside and outside several residences to collect electronics; non-perishable food items and toiletries; empty personal care and beauty containers; and reusable clothing and household items. The materials collected between April 14 and May 5, 2014 totaled 9,586 kgs (21,090 lbs), which is an increase of 1,001 kgs over Eco Move Out 2013. Materials were broken down into the following categories for North Campus and Residence Saint-Jean: • 1,292 kg of electronics, to be recycled by Shanked Computer Recycling • 5,071 kg of clothing and household items donated to Goodwill Industries of Alberta • 2,010 kg of furniture and electronics donated to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore • 568 kg of food and toiletry donations for the Campus Food Bank • 1,114 empty personal care and beauty containers sent to Terracycle to be transformed into recycled plastic In addition, the Augustana Campus Eco Move Out program collected 458 kg of clothing, 66 kg of electronics and 12 kg of food that were donated to local organizations. A total of 51% of the materials produced as part of residents moving out was diverted from landfill. This number was calculated based on the total weight of materials recycled/donated as compared to the materials that went to landfill. On June 5, 2014, the University of Alberta’s Office of Sustainability received an Emerald Award for its innovative Waste In Residence programming – a submission which included Eco Move Out. This is the Province of Alberta's highest recognition for environmental excellence.