Waste, Recycling & Composting

The greatest contribution a user can make to the campus waste management program is to limit waste production in the first place. The university promotes the five rules of waste management:

• Rethink the way you purchase and consume
• Reduce the waste you produce
• Reuse as much as you can
• Repair what's broken
• Recycle the rest

Action Plan 2009 - 2014 Goals:

• A streamlined, standardized, and consolidated Waste Management operating model by 2010.

• A waste diversion rate of 75% by 2012.

• Achieve a construction demolition waste diversion rate of greater than 75%.

• Ensure 100% of all university electronic waste is recycled domestically.

• Measure the amount of hazardous waste we produce annually.

2011 Waste Audit

Check out a video made on Waste Audit Day, Feb 18, 2011 for a great summary of UVic recycling and composting programs and results.

A full copy of our 2011 Waste Asessment Report is also now available for viewing.

Student Move Outs and Waste Reduction

Student move outs don't have to create so much waste! Check out our new Move-out Brochure to learn what to do with your unwanted items when you leave campus. We're adding facilities for you to recycling paper, cardboard, electronics, clothing, furniture and even give your left over non-parishable food for the food bank.

In-Building Recycling

We're in the process of updating and standardizing our recycling sorting stations in buildings across campus. Watch for new 3-sort stations broken down by:

• landfill waste
• mixed paper                                        
• all cans/bottles/hard plastics (no coffee cups, but lids okay)

For more details on what acceptable in each stream, check out the new signs.

Water Fountain Upgrades & WaterFillz

In an effort to reduce the use of bottled water on campus, we are upgrading over 50 water fountains across campus to allow for easy refilling of reusable water bottles. The Student Union Building also has a fountain (near handicap washroom on the main floor) with a handy spout for easy water bottle refilling.

We've also purchased a new portable water bottle filling stations, the WaterFillz. The unit is available for use at outdoor events around campus. Contact action@uvic.ca to have this gorgeous machine featured at your next event.

Food Waste Composting

In 2008, more than 300 metric tonnes of food waste was diverted from Hartland Landfill.

The CRD estimates that as much as 23 per cent of waste in Hartland Landfill is made up of food waste. UVic started composting all food wastes from operational activities on campus (places like the cafeteria or food outlets in the SUB) in 2003 and the program has grown steadily over the years. We now estimate that 80% of all food waste on campus is composted! Find out more about how we do it here.

There are a number of centralized secondary consumer compost drop stations on campus that are open to students, faculty, staff and visitors. For a map of our convenient locations, go here.

Above: A student uses one of the three centralized compost stations on campus

Acceptable items:

• Vegetable and fruit peels and pits
• All paper coffee cups (lids removed and excess liquids dumped out)
• Left over foods (including cooked foods and foods with meat or dairy)
• Paper napkins, and paper plates
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags
• Wooden stir sticks or chopsticks
• Plants and cut flowers

DO NOT PLACE PLASTIC BAGS INTO THE BINS -- EVEN IF THEY STATE THAT THEY ARE "COMPOSTABLE".

OFFICE COMPOST PROGRAM

Departments can receive a FREE office compost bin to help divert wastes from lunchrooms and common kitchens. Call 853-3160 to find out more information on our Office Composting Program.

General Recycling Information

This information is for general students, offices and visitors on campus.

Please avoid the use of PLASTIC BAGS for RECYCLING & COMPOSTING -- do not put recyclable material into plastic bags as this contaminates the bins.

Corrugated cardboard: Break down boxes, remove tape and place outside of office or in designated outdoor containers.

Mixed paper: office paper, newsprint, scrap paper, notebook paper, phone books, cardstock and boxboard can be recycled in office and classroom blue bins as well as any of the centralized recycling stations.

Plastic bottles, containers & hard plastic coffee cup lids: Bottles, cans and hard plastic containers with #1 - #7 printed on the bottom can be recycled in any designated outdoor containers and in centralized recycling stations. Rinse out containers.

Glass bottles and containers: Glass bottles and jars can be recycled in any designated outdoor containers and in centralized recycling bins. No broken glass or mirrors. Rinse out containers.

Metal and aluminum tins and cans: Metal and aluminum tins and cans be recycled in any designated outdoor containers and in centralized recycling bins. Rinse out containers.

Batteries: There are 4 drop box locations for personal batteries: the University Centre, the Student Union Building, Bob Wright Centre, and the Ian Stewart Complex. No damaged batteries please.

Electronics: All electronics, computers and digital data (cds, diskettes, and other discs) can be recycled through Purchasing Services. Simply fill out a Surplus Equipment/Supplies Declaration Form and they will come pick up the equipment from you. Contact Stephen Wylie, Surplus Asset Coordinator, for more info.

Furniture: Broken office furniture can be recycled through Facilities Management. Simply send in a service request to have it picked up by truck services.

Polystyrene (Styrofoam): Packing foam can be placed in a clear plastic bag (call FMGT at 7616 to order) and left in the hallway or by stairs for the janitors to pick up. More details here.

Soft plastics: There is one drop station in the Student Union Building for plastic bag recycling.

Toner cartridges: Most suppliers take them back for recycling. If not, please call the Waste Reduction Unit at 853-3160 to arrange a pick up.

Clothing: The Canadian Diabetes Association has several Clothesline drop boxes on campus that accept clean, resalable clothing, linens, blankets, shoes, hats, handbags and towels. For locations, check the map in this brochure.

Hazardous Waste

The University of Victoria’s Hazardous Waste Management Program is designed to deal with any hazardous wastes on campus, so that no wastes are to be released to the sewer or the regular garbage. All hazardous wastes are collected and prepared for off-site disposal by hazardous waste specialists. To request a pick-up of your hazardous waste click here .

Zero Waste Events

We've created a new Zero Waste Events guide to help you host campus events that minimize the amount of waste normally produced and to better capture as many items as possible from going to the landfill. Find the brochure here.

Move Out Brochures

Moving offices or just cleaning out unwanted clutter or outdated furniture or office equipment? Check out the new handy Office Move brochure here.

Special information for moving out of Student Residences is also available in here.

Love A Mug Campaign

UVic's first "Love A Mug" campaign held in October during national Waste Reduction Week was a huge success! We sold special $5 reusable mugs that included one free coffee or tea, across campus at all of food outlets. And we encouraged the composting of disposable paper coffee cups by placing a sticker on them that read "Compost Me!". We estimate that all together we saved about 2,700 cups from going to the landfill that week.

Watch the "Maggie Gets Mugged" video of fabulous Applied Theatre students' performance as part of Love-A-Mug week here.

Tips for reducing your material impact

• Simplify your life. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less and create less waste in the future.
• Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, batteries, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc. Check out the wide variety of reusable products available in the Bookstore or Student Union Building.
  
• Purchase sturdy binders that can be reused each semester.
• Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e. paper napkins, pre-made sandwiches, salad dressings, etc.).
• Instead of buying these items new, save and reuse all: bags, rubber bands, twisties, boxes, and packaging material. This is especially handy when winter break comes around or you are packing up at the end of the school year.
• Avoid creating trash wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. Ask in advance specifically not to be given these items.
• Carry a mug with you wherever you go for take out beverages. On campus, and in many places throughout the city, you get a discount for using your own mug.
• Print papers, reports and assignments on double-sided paper. If possible, purchase paper that has high post-consumer recycled content. Both the Bookstore and Zap carry a variety of paper options.
• When possible, avoid a take-out bag altogether when purchasing small food items on campus.
• In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product?