A sorting system introduced in the Student-Alumni Centre last fall has made strides in its goal to reduce landfill waste.

Launched by the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) in September, the system has seen the Centre’s contributions to campus waste reduced from 7.75 per cent in 2019 to 2.36 per cent last year.

The project is part of a larger plan introduced by BUSU in 2022 to advance environmental sustainability initiatives across its buildings and businesses. The sustainability plan was developed with support from Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC).

“We are thrilled to see BUSU making progress towards their Sustainability Plan. Seeing plans put into action and the tangible impact these actions have on the overall University is very exciting,” said ESRC Centre Administrator Amanda Smits.

The project began with an experiential education opportunity offered through a Contemporary Environmental Issues course taught by Jessica Blythe, Associate Professor in the ESRC, in 2022.

Working with BUSU employees Kayleigh Rossetto, Director of Governance and Advocacy, and Dave O’Connor, Director of Social Enterprises, students in the class developed plans to help with waste sorting in the Student-Alumni Centre.

“Experiential education opportunities like the waste project with BUSU are invaluable for our students and the University,” said Blythe. “Ideas developed by the students are making our campus more sustainable, and students develop real-world skills that they can highlight and apply when seeing career opportunities after graduation.”

All waste from food businesses at Union Station is sorted by student staff to ensure more than 95 per cent is either recycled or composted.

On top of food waste, BUSU’s social enterprises only use materials that are environmentally friendly and won’t end up in a landfill, from biodegradable containers and cutlery to recyclable packaging.

Brock conducts annual waste audits to determine the quantities and composition of waste generated on campus, collecting 24-hour samples of trash, recyclables and organics from 30 buildings. In 2023, for example, the audit tracked 1868 kilograms of garbage, 535kg of mixed recycling and 12kg of organics.

In addition to the waste reduction project, BUSU recently implemented energy-efficient lighting units within its buildings and businesses. This switch will reduce lighting costs by 67 per cent, resulting in at least $12,450 in savings annually and paying for itself in less than nine years.

BUSU’s sustainability initiatives are covered through the Green Levy, a $1.27 per credit fee charged to all undergraduate students.

For any questions regarding BUSU’s sustainability initiatives, contact krossetto@brockbusu.ca. Visit the BUSU website for more on BUSU supports and services.

For questions regarding to Brock’s sustainability initiatives, visit the sustainability at Brock web page or email sustainability@brocku.ca