University of Victoria
OP-18: Waste Minimization and Diversion

The academic year of 2010/11 was the first year that comprehensive detailed data was collected.

Spot checks of the recycling stream on conducted regularly across campus. When recycling and composting bins are emptied, obvious and easier materials that have been incorrectly disposed are removed and are placed into the correct stream. If an area (location within a building) has a large amount of cross-contamination on a regular basis, the waste reduction team investigates to see why this may be happening. Corrective measures are put in place, such as emptying bins at greater frequency, increases or replaces signage, talks to users to identify barriers to clean stream disposal, and/or carriers out a mini-education/awareness campaign in the area.

UVic established a Waste Reduction Unit in 2009 which has helped the university increase its waste diversion rate. Rates continued to improve substantially between 2016 and 2019, and currently the university has achieved a waste diversion rate of 76% relative to the baseline rate established in 2010. This is largely the result of the implementation of more than 300 UVic standard three-bin waste sorting stations across campus in 2016. Each bin provides signage to help the user identify how to appropriately sort their waste materials. The program was further improved in August of 2017 when hundreds of compost bins were added to the original stations. Signage, social media, videos and posters were placed around campus to create awareness and education to shift waste-related behaviours to increase waste diversion and reduction. UVic also launched its own Recyclepedia search catalogue so users can find out the best ways to dispose of generated campus waste.

https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/waste/index.php

Every three to four years, Facilities Management Waste Reduction unit hires a third party waste auditing organization to conduct an external “Waste to Resource” assessment for UVic. The most recent assessment took place in 2018. During this assessment, landfill waste bin samples were collected from 40 unique source areas. The materials were sorted and divided into waste categories and weights of each material sub-category were recorded. The recorded data is then available to be used to identify new ways to reduce waste, maximize collection of recycling materials and optimize waste management efficiencies.

Every few years, UVic also conducts its own internal audit. The last one took place in 2019, in which visual observations and samples were obtained from various collection areas. These collection areas were identified from labels placed on the waste bags. The assessment material was collected in a designated location separate from the waste collection areas. The materials were divided into categories and weights of each material were recorded. The main categories were papers, organic waste (which included food waste but not yard and garden waste), plastics, glass, metals, wood, textiles and residuals. To determine the total waste generated for the remaining buildings on campus, generation rates from the sample buildings were applied to unaudited buildings. To achieve an accurate total, factors such as the size of the building as well as the types of activities were considered when extrapolating the generation rates campus wide.

UVic Purchasing Services and Food Services work with suppliers to reduce waste in a variety of ways, mostly in terms of minimizing packaging materials. Many perishable food items are now delivered in reusable rubber containers rather than cardboard and soft plastic (e.g. baked goods and meat). UVic's office supply vendor offer reusable/returnable packing boxes and trays. Administrative and academic units are encouraged to order supplies in bulk. The vending machine supplier has a computerized system that informs them when a machine needs refilling, reducing trips to campus.

UVic's surplus assets (e.g. furniture, electronic equipment and appliances) are handled by our Surplus Asset Coordinator who works with Purchasing Services and the Waste Reduction Unit to either repurpose, sell or recycle used assets. http://www.uvic.ca/purchasing/surplus/index.php

The UVic Free Store is run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers and offers all UVic students access to food essentials and free household items. Students can come and take anything they need and miscellaneous items are donated regularly to replenish available stock.
Additionally, the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) runs Subtext, a not-for-profit consignment bookstore staffed by students. They accept consigned textbooks and novels with an emphasis on bringing in editions that are current to the courses being offered on campus. Pricing is set by the seller, making Subtext a competitor for alternative used-book retailers.

UVic uses Papercut and does not offer any free printing for students in computer labs or libraries. All printers default to double-sided printing (single sided is the exception, not the norm).

Many administrative documents are now available online. These include income tax forms, memos regarding changes in administrative procedures, and timesheets.

Employee payroll is now almost exclusively performed with automatic deposit, as are payments between the university and the province and other large funders. Union voting and other employee surveys are done exclusively online. The Board of Governors have all been provided with tablets to review board meeting documents on rather than being provided with large amounts of paper documents prior to each meeting.

Additionally, most professors at the university now provide course syllabuses and other traditionally paper hand-outs online via “Coursespaces”, saving the university on unnecessary paper-waste.

UVic goes to great lengths to reduce waste generated by student move-ins and move-outs. Extra waste bins are set up to collect recyclables such as cardboard, paper and Styrofoam. Large bins are also set up to collect unwanted furniture, clothing and electronics. Information is provided to students and parents ahead of time on what collection services are available. Special E-Waste collection days are also hosted each April to collect recyclable personal electronic items.

https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/waste/student-moveout.pdf

Additionally, in the spring of 2019 UVic piloted its first move out Dump-and-Run. This was a collaborative effort between the Staff Sustainability Network, Residence Services, the UVSS free store, and the UVic Sustainability Project. The goal of the campaign was to divert waste associated with residence move out by providing drop-off tables in a common area in each residence building. Brochures were made available to students in residence and provided information on how to properly recycle or donate their unwanted items when moving out, as well as a map that indicated where recycling compounds, move out bins, and clothing drop-boxes were located throughout the residence areas on campus. The UVSS Free Store and Beacon Community Services charity organization redistributed the useable items that had been donated by students. This was a successful campaign that ended up diverting an estimated two tonnes of material from the landfill.

https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/sustainability-fund/projects/csf019dump-and-run/index.php

Special waste collection bins for hard-to-recycle items including Styrofoam, soft plastics, batteries and cell phones are established in key areas around campus.