Brock has increased its University-wide waste diversion rate by five per cent.
According to its annual waste audit for 2013, Brock generated 1.94-million kilograms of solid non-hazardous waste.
Of this total, the University diverted 65.3 per cent of this waste – or more than 1.26-million kilograms – from ending up in landfills. Brock’s waste diversion rate, based on the 2012 audit, was 60.3 per cent.
“This is a great improvement from last year,” says Domenic Maniccia, director of Custodial Services. “If everyone pitches in we should see this rate even higher next year.”
Of the total amount of annual waste diverted at Brock, 327,000 kgs was composted, 898,000 kgs was recycled, 40,000 kgs was reused, and 500 kgs was reduced.
The latest audit also highlights areas for improvement.
The highest contributors to the University’s 1.94-million kgs waste stream are organic wastes (26 per cent), followed by mixed containers (cans, plastic and cartons) at 9 per cent and coffee cups at 4.6 per cent.
“Can we do more as a community?” asks Maniccia. “Absolutely. We have containers available throughout our campuses to easily capture these recyclable materials.”
The University recently launched an enhanced coffee cup-recycling program in March with new easy-to-use containers in lounges and high traffic locations across campus.
“Another important factor is to also ‘reuse’,” adds Maniccia. “The more we as a community reuse items such as food containers, water bottles, coffee mugs and bags, the less resources and energy are required.”
The Toronto-based Waste Reduction Group conducted the independent audit over seven days in November 2013. The provincial guideline for public institutions set by the Ministry of Environment is a waste diversion rate of 60 per cent.
