Western adopts London's recycling model

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By Heather Travis
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Milk cartons and drink boxes no longer have to be pitched into the garbage on The University of Western Ontario campus; they will find a new home and purpose in recycling blue boxes.
 
Western’s Physical Plant has brought the university’s recycling program in line with the City of London to make it easier for the community to participate in the green initiative. Because of differences between the recycling programs in the past, many members of the Western community expressed confusion about which items made the cut for the bins.
 
Previously, commonly used items, such as milk cartons, drink boxes and plastics with the recycling number four and five could not be diverted from waste. A recent waste audit revealed a plateau in participation in the recycling program and in order to continue the recycling trend, the university decided to adopt the same sorting habits most people were accustomed to in their home.
 
Although the changes to the recycling program come with an increased financial cost, Physical Plant expects it will encourage participation and prevent recyclable items from ending up in the trash.
 
Currently, the university recycles less than 40 per cent of consumer and office waste. Including construction waste, the university’s diversion rate is about 80 per cent.
 
New labelling with an icon or symbol illustrating acceptable items will be placed on the hundreds of recycle bins across campus, including residence buildings. Information sessions will be hosted in the fall to inform new students about the program.
 
The increase in the collection stream is the latest step in the university’s Green Plan, which was instituted in 1991.
 
Physical Plant is also unveiling a diversion program for office furniture. The used furniture will be sent to a de-manufacturing site where it will be dismantled into separate materials for recycling and only the fabric and non-recyclable materials will be sent to a landfill.
 
For more information about recycling programs at Western, visit the Environment and Sustainability website at uwo.ca/ppd/sustainability.

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