In 2017, the University of Waterloo created the Environmental Sustainability Strategy that set out goals which include becoming a zero-waste (90% waste diversion) campus by the year 2035. Becoming a zero-waste campus will require a large shift in the way the campus operates, and students and employees will each need to do their part to limit their waste sent to landfill. Waste diversion is a key factor we are focused on. It is the process of diverting waste from the landfill (i.e. sorting divertible waste into the recycling and organics streams).
From the perspective of waste management, our key goal is to divert as much waste from landfill as possible. This will be achieved through a shift in behavior and infrastructure on campus.
Shift: Zero campaign
The Shift: Zero campaign was created to promote the campus' shift towards zero-waste and to guide students and employees on how they can actively do their part in waste reduction. The Shift: Zero campaign focuses on five key areas to support the transition and make behaviour change convenient and impactful:
- Engagement and training
- Reducing and eliminating waste
- Maximizing recycling
- Capturing organics
- Expanding reuse programs
For more information on campus Waste Management please click below buttons. Any questions regarding Waste Management can be emailed to Dennis Araujo.