University of Calgary
OP-18: Waste Diversion

• Recycling Infrastructure Standard – Phase 3 of the campus recycling and waste infrastructure standard occurred. 60 interior 3-gang units, the first 100 exterior 2-gang units, 570 large and small kitchen organics units, 1500 desk side mini-waste bin and recycling units as well as 600 untouchable Rubbermaid square units were introduced to campus to continue with the standardization of infrastructure. The areas on campus with a high concentration of food vendors, kitchens and kitchenettes as well as main interior and exterior pedestrian routes were the main focus. • Organics Collection Operations – To expand the list of acceptable organics to the composting program, the University of Calgary entered in a contract with a vendor capable of providing infrastructure and trucking for the loading, hauling and disposal of approximately 1200 metric tonnes per year at an Alberta Environment approved composting facility. The contract began with 2 collection areas and has expanded to include 9 additional sites. 100% of leaf & lawn material continues to be composted on campus grounds. Between the existing programs, 624 tonnes of compostable materials were diverted in this fiscal year.  • Waste Hauling Contract changed to a Resource Management Contract – Historically the University had entered in hauling agreements for waste and recycling. At the end of the existing hauling contract a new RFP (Request for Proposal) was put out to find a Resource Management Partner. Within the document the company is responsible for managing waste and recycling streams from the Universities facilities including all regularly generated solid, non-hazardous waste and recyclables. Phase I includes the transition from existing service; Phase II includes improvement on existing service levels through a service audit, and new program development and implementation to increase diversion. Data reporting is an integral part of the new Resource Contract.  • Education and Outreach – To engage the staff, students and public on campus to utilize the waste diversion infrastructure several new and continued education components have been utilized including: new short videos developed to educate and encourage students, increased messaging on screens in the Dining Centre, education during club orientation seminars and the SustainabilityON Residence Coordinators program, and piloting improved signage on the infrastructure to determine its effectiveness. • Waste Diversion – There are ongoing programs to reduce, reuse and recycle waste generated on campus, addressing more than 20 material streams. New programs developed and implemented by the end of the 2012-2013 fiscal year include:, improved signage, development of a Zero-Waste Event program, expansion of the pre-consumer organics program, introduction of a pilot Mini-Bin program with changes to desk side collection services and centralization of responsibility where appropriate to consolidate and standardize service delivery. • Data Management and Reporting - Facilities Management & Development initiated project to review operational process and to implement an integrated data management system with ARCHIBUS which includes an environmental module with tracking and reporting capabilities for recycling and waste. The project will expand on the waste tracking tool currently used to track and maintain data for over 20 material streams managed on campus. When completed, the project will better enable evidence-driving sustainability programs within recycling & waste. The project will go live March 2013 • Residence Services – Residence-wide recycling is available to all 2600 tenants. Individual recycling is available in each student’s room and each building is equipped with a recycling area. Materials diverted from the buildings include glass, plastic, metal, cardboard and paper. A part of Phase 3 of infrastructure standardization includes Residence Services. The infrastructure will be specific to the challenges of each building while maintaining consistent messaging and signage. Education regarding the waste diversion initiatives are being added into the introduction package and training of Community Advisers.