“uOttawa is committed to becoming a zero-waste campus.” This is probably something you’ve heard several times during your time as a student here. What does that mean though? How are we trying to be a zero-waste campus? What are the measures and initiatives we are implementing? Many articles on this blog explain exactly this, but this one, in honour of Plastic Free July, will focus on how we are trying to limit our plastic intake.
Friendlier
Friendlier is Food Services most recent initiative to reduce plastic waste, one we are excited to be supporting. It is a reusable plastic container program that was launched in June at Premiere Moisson on-campus and will in the fall, be brought to other on-campus food retailers including Go Cafés and Elements. The way it works is that when you order a meal that comes in a Friendlier container, you pay a small deposit of 50 cents, and to have that deposit returned, scan the container once finished with your food, return the container to the Friendlier container bin and then finally, you will collect the deposit once it arrives at the facility where it will be washed to be reused. This program will ensure the University complies with the federal government's single-use plastics ban. It will help to remove thousands of single use plastics per year from being sent to landfill as a result of our campus!
The Free Store
The Free Store is another way of reusing plastic materials as well as many other materials. This allows us to reduce waste or plastic being thrown out because everything in the free store is items that are no longer wanted and were headed for the landfills even if they still worked fine. So, if you want to look for some second-hand kitchenware, books or clothes that are being given away for free, go to 100 Thomas More Private!
Reusable Mug Discount
Another way we reduce how much plastic is being used on campus is by putting a discount on anyone who brings a reusable mug instead of using the single-use plastic ones at any of the on-campus food retailers. This is also encouraged through Muggy Mornings which is something we do in collaboration with Camino and Health Promotion where we give away free fair-trade coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to anyone who brings their own reusable mugs.
Period Project
The Period Project is another initiative meant not only to reduce plastic but to inform those who use menstrual products that there are options for sanitary pads and tampons that are environmentally friendly. Basically, these are free, accessible, and sustainable period products that are in several washrooms across campus.
Plastic Bottles
One of our biggest successes in reducing plastic on campus would be the banning of plastic water bottles and plastic bags from being sold on campus. Instead, to encourage students to bring metal water bottles, we make our water fountains extremely accessible and convenient for water bottle refills and we offer the option for uOttawa reusable bags.
Banner Bags
We’ve been looking into ways that we can reuse plastic and one of the things we’ve done was save old uOttawa banners that were headed for the landfill and instead, upcycled them into these awesome tote bags that can be bought for 10$ at the office of the campus of sustainability. The organization that does this for us, EcoEquitable, is a non-profit that gives social skills to immigrants.
Pen Recycling
Our most recent and current project in development is our new prototypes for pen recycling bins. While we already have pen recycling bins, not a lot of people are aware of them, so we are currently creating ones that are shaped like a pen made from sustainable material. The goal is to encourage students to use these bins for their pens and raise awareness of the existence of the bins. There will be two sizes for them; desktop bins that will be offered to EcoChampions and larger bins that will be placed in areas where there are a lot of people.
These are some of our many initiatives to reduce plastic on campus! Now that you know about them, make sure to take full advantage of them! Going plastic free has never been easier!
~ mélanie plante, co-op student