The Sustainabilitree

I can't imagine how many posts you are going to see this year telling you about all the sustainable things you can do to respect the planet and still have a good time. Well, we thought we would also put together a list of the easiest things you can do too, except our list will be bare bones and only give you the "greenest" options. No razzle, no dazzle, all killer, no filler. Sorry that these suggestions are pretty christian focused. Don't use wrapping paper, put your gift in a reusable bag instead. I have honestly been doing this for years. I throw my gifts in a sack and present them to my friends and family each year. Nobody cares that the gift is in a reusable bag, and if they want they can even keep the bag afterwards (I mean who doesn't have a 1000 of these things all about anyways).  I think I might even be as bold as to say that some people are relieved that they don't have to deal with that paper afterwards. It might seem innocuous but wrapping paper i...

If there was one thing that you wish you could recycle but don't think you can, what would it be? Cosmetics, shoes, wipes? Well we are looking to add a few new recycling programs on campus and we need your input!! Is Recycling Good? There are some really good arguments out there that suggest recycling systems are broken. And I am not going to lie... they make a lot of sense. On the one hand, many people don't understand that recycling is an energy intensive activity that sometimes takes more energy than it might be worth. Recycling programs, especially curbside ones, don't recycle all the products they could... or sometimes companies promise their products are recyclable but they aren't actually in your city. But on the other hand, doing something is better than doing nothing, right? Getting onto the habit of trying to recycle helps lead to other positive environmental behaviours. And asking for more recycling will help push for better recycling and events and in your c...

Si nous devons revenir sur la façon dont tout cela a commencé, il faut être honnête et commencer par une déception. Je n'ai pas obtenu le poste de coordinatrice de la durabilité que je voulais (clin d'œil à mon incroyable collègue). On pourrait donc penser que ce n'est pas un très bon départ.  Eh bien, la vie est pleine de surprises et trois mois plus tard, je reçois un appel me disant que je devais vraiment postuler à ce poste de coordinatrice du recyclage. J'étais passionnée par la question des déchets et cela ne pouvait pas être si éloigné du développement durable, alors pourquoi pas ? Me voici, un an et quelques mois plus tard, en train de réfléchir à ce parcours absolument incroyable.  Je suis entrée dans le bureau des immeubles sans aucune attente et avec un esprit très ouvert. J'y ai trouvé un sentiment d'appartenance et d'acceptation qui s’est avéré assez rafraîchissant, surtout après un parcours professionnel compliqué depuis mon arrivée au Canada. ...

When I go back and reflect on  how all of this started, I have to be honest and start with disappointment. I did not get the sustainability coordinator job that I wanted (wink wink to my amazing colleague). Not off to a very good start , you might think . Well , life is full of surprises and three months later I got a call encouraging me to apply for the recycling coordinator position . I was passionate about waste, and it could not be that far from sustainability , so why not? Here I am, one year and a few months later, reflecting on this absolutely amazing journey.   I walked into the F acilities office at uOttawa with zero expectation s and a very open mind. T here , I found a sense of belonging and acceptance that has been quite refreshing , especially after a rocky career path since moving to Canada. I landed here in 2018 with two suitcases and a desire to pursue a career in s ustainability. I have been blessed in finding jobs easily but findin g m...