Waste

Dalhousie diverts over 60% of materials from the landfill

Dalhousie University aims to reduce and divert solid, liquid, and hazardous waste from the landfill. Targets of up to 75% are outlined. A formal University Waste Management Plan will be released in 2012.

Dalhousie supports the waste management hierarchy of Rethink (purchasing to reduce waste), Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Disposal. A number of programs are delivered to address each strategy for the nine material streams that have been identified on campus.

Rethink/Reduction

• Sustainable Purchasing – workshops and Tips sheets on reduction.
  
• Paper policy – to be released in Fall 2011 - will focus on topics such as electronic business processes and green meetings.
• Efforts have been made to reduce the number of phone book directories printed - contact Directory.Changes@Dal.ca to remove your name from the list of those who will receive paper copies of the phone book.
  
• Efforts have also been made to reduce disposable cups (through discounts for reusable mugs and bags), and packaging (ex. green cleaning case study [PDF - 386 kB]).
  
• Waste Bin exchange: Contact a local custodian to give back your office waste bin and receive a blue recycling bin and mini-waste bin that you can use to transport paper/organics/recyclables and waste to the four-bins stations.
• Visit Reduce Your Waste to find information on reducing, reusing, recycling and composting your waste in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has a goal to reach a disposal rate of 300 kg per person, per year by 2015. That’s 1/4 less waste than we generate today, but we’re confident we’ll achieve this goal.

Reuse

• All Goods are redistributed at the University through a internal notification as outlined in the purchasing policy [PDF - 100 kB] (disposal of surplus goods). Materials such as furniture that are not used on campus are often given to non-profits through the Purchasing Department.
• At end of every year, student groups help operate the "Dump and Run", a large community garage sale. Proceeds go the charity.
• Do you have clothing and household items you are not using? Call up the Clothesline® and donate them. They will come to your place of residence to pick up the items. All funds raised from resale will go toward the Canadian Diabetes Association.
• Dalhousie's Environmental Health and Safety Office is purchasing a chemicals database to improve the efficiency of the Chemical exchange program.

Recycle/Compost

• Four-bin stations are in hallways in every building on campus for organics, paper/cardboard, recyclables, and waste. Organic bins are also in kitchens and yard waste is collected for composting. Used vegetable oil is recycled and made into other products. The Office of Sustainability also prepared a report on the use of vegetable oil as fuel [PDF - 471 kB].
  
• Electronics are recycled on campus.
• Construction and Demolition debris and white goods are recycled during large projects by outside firms and on campus jobs.
• Acetone is recycled on campus and other hazardous chemicals and compounds are mixed and/or stored to render them non-toxic.
• Universal waste such as fluorescent lights have mercury removed before being crushed to reduce volume going to the landfill. Paints are recycled through local Enviro-depot programs. Batteries (call 494-2470 for information), toner cartridges (sent back to Ricoh agent), and cell phones are also recycled.

Education

• Student guide to waste management [PDF - 514 kB] is distributed through a number of venues including the campus green guide.
• Employee guide to waste management [PDF - 514 kB] is electronically promoted and posted on bulletin boards.
  
• A waste sorting activity [PDF -  777 kB] is incorporated during O-Week.
  
• Office of Sustainability developed a NS ICI waste management guide, audit process, and audit calculator for the University and ICI sectors in Nova Scotia.
  
• Waste events are planned during campaigns such as Waste Reduction Week and Recycle Mania.
• The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Management, with the assistance of students and employees, conduct a number of waste audits to identify contamination rates, amounts, and trends.
  
• All four-bin stations on campus were relabeled with consistent and descriptive stickers (over 903 bins). New colour coded bin toppers are being added to all new bins.
• Further research is being conducted on C&D waste diversion, lab solid waste, and system efficiencies and market opportunities.