Starting with the Doon Campus, G.R.E.E.N., the Greater Recycling Environmental Education Network,” has implemented a new waste diversion program in classrooms, heading, in due time, to the campuses at Waterloo and Guelph. We, as Conestoga College, are a trend-setter because this system will permit us to pre-sort waste items for more efficient disposal and recycling.
G.R.E.E.N. is an advisory group consisting of CSI; Conestoga Students Inc, and various College employee group representatives, reporting through Physical Resources, with its primary focus on increasing environmental issues knowledge and corresponding program participation for the students of Conestoga College. They set out to ensure, as a committee, that things build towards the growth of some of Conestoga College’s overall initiatives – being environmentally friendly and having stewardship within the community. Using this initiative, the new diversion system was put into classrooms as of Thursday, October 15th, 2009. Over the summer, a four tiered system was put into the cafeterias, the same structure but compost is included.
G.R.E.E.N. wants to stress the 3 P’s system behind the new initiatives:
- PARTICIPATION – raise awareness and education levels to get people involved in/using the program.
- PROPERLY SORT – reduce contamination, thus raising the waste diversion rate to a minimal goal of 60%.
- PAY OFF – satisfaction of knowing you have sent your material to the proper facility not a landfill; the good behind recycling and being environmentally friendly from seeing the end point of the process.
The system:
- BLUE: recyclable items such as cans, glass bottles, plastic water bottles
- GREY: paper, magazines, newspapers, posters, small cardboard that has not been contaminated with food
- BLACK: items that cannot be placed in the recyclable categories such as contaminated paper products, coffee cups that cannot be placed in compost, school supplies, waxed paper, wrappers, clam shell containers, styrofoam, grocery bags
- COMPOST IN CAFETERIA: all food waste, paper coffee cups, cutlery from Cafeteria – no plastics, cardboards, containers, aluminums. View Sorting Poster
Although this is new to all, there is a sincere growth potential behind it. Conestoga is encouraged to partake in the system, get involved, and set an example.
We are stewards.
We are responsible.
We care.
With the continuous efforts of the staff working hard to ensure this goes as smoothly as possible, all growing pains will gradually become non-existent.
Let’s all work together to make this impact on the College a memorable one. Let’s show other colleges that this can be done, and become a leader in the waste diversion efforts.
For more information on this please contact mshewman@conestogac.on.ca.