{"id":27671,"date":"2014-04-22T12:38:07","date_gmt":"2014-04-22T17:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=27671"},"modified":"2014-04-22T12:38:07","modified_gmt":"2014-04-22T17:38:07","slug":"brock-improves-waste-diversion-by-five-per-cent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2014\/04\/brock-improves-waste-diversion-by-five-per-cent\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock improves waste diversion by five per cent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"<\/a>

<\/p><\/div>\n

Brock has increased its University-wide waste diversion rate by five per cent.<\/p>\n

According to its annual waste audit for 2013<\/a>, Brock generated 1.94-million kilograms of solid non-hazardous waste.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“This is a great improvement from last year,” says Domenic Maniccia, director of Custodial Services<\/a>. “If everyone pitches in we should see this rate even higher next year.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The latest audit also highlights areas for improvement.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“Can we do more as a community?” asks Maniccia. “Absolutely. We have containers available throughout our campuses to easily capture these recyclable materials.”<\/p>\n

The University recently launched an enhanced coffee cup-recycling program<\/a> in March with new easy-to-use containers in lounges and high traffic locations across campus.<\/p>\n

“Another important factor is to also \u2018reuse’,” 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.”<\/p>\n

The Toronto-based Waste Reduction Group<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n