SORT IT OUT

UBCO’s Climate Action Plan 2030 establishes a 50% less waste (per capita) reduction target by 2030, progressing to a zero-waste community in waste disposal for the Okanagan campus. Achieving this goal will require institutional changes and strong participation from the UBCO community. Through collective community action everyone at UBCO can contribute to building a zero-waste campus.

 

WASTE REDUCTION

Reducing waste generation is the most important way we can improve waste management. UBCO has a number of initiatives to green our operations, reduce Office Paper consumption and related emissions, make sustainable Purchases (Guide), and promote the use of reusable containers, including Green2Go and Cups.

Why Sort? | Where Can I Sort? | What Goes Where?

A-Z RECYCLEPEDIA

Wondering what goes where? Use the Okanagan campus’ interactive search tool to find out what goes where on campus.

Search Now

NO PLASTIC OR SINGLE-USE FOOD WARE

UBCO Food Services has taken steps to eliminate single-use plastic straws and cutlery and encourages the reduction of single-use to-go products, including cups and containers, by offering discount programs at UBCO to reduce waste and protect our planet.

StrawsSuck | Green2Go | Cups

KEEP OUR COMPOSTS CLEAN

UBC Okanagan works with Spa Hills Farm to pick-up and process all organic and compostable material deposited into the yellow compost bins found across campus. The expanded list of acceptable material includes all organics, food, meat, wooden utensils, chopsticks, pizza boxes, napkins, coffee filters, tea bags, and containers stamped compostable.

Why Sort? | Where Can I Sort?

SORTING GUIDES & RESOURCES

Access and download Sort It Out materials, including signage and posters, as well as online resources to learn more about waste sorting. Materials can also be printed and posted on sorting stations to aid users in sorting waste, as well as educate and promote a zero-waste community.

Get Sorting Guides & Resources | More FAQs

LET’S CHOOSE TO REUSE
We’re working together to reduce single–use items on campus.

Bring your reusable cup to campus and receive a $0.50 eco-discount at campus food outlets. You’ll save $0.50-$2 a week, or $50-100 per year and you’ll reduce waste to the landfill!

Learn how reusing and sorting helps material avoid the landfill: Why Sort?
YOUR WASTE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

“Your Waste, Your Responsibility” is a desk-side recycling program launched to encourage the responsibility of building occupants to empty their own recycling and waste receptacles by providing offices with large receptacles for recycle materials and small containers for waste. The program also serves to direct all compostable and recyclable materials into the correct handling system.

Request Your Bins

IMPROVING RECYCLING COMPLIANCE

Every building foyer and hallway has designated Recycling Stations with signage clearly communicating the campus’ recycling program.

Diversion streams are:

Blue Bins – Recyclable Items
Green Bins – Refundable Items
Yellow Bins – Compostable Materials
Pink Tubes – Batteries & small e-waste (i.e. cell phones)
Grey Bins – Waste

Where Can I Sort?
WASTE AUDITS

Waste audits are conducted on a bi-annual basis with measures to educate the campus community about the importance of recycling.

Click here to view the waste audit reports previously completed.

 

 

 

Do your part and Sort It Out.

Watch a short video on How to Sort Your Waste at UBC Okanagan.

 *This short video was developed by 2018/19 GEOG491D students. Supported by UBC Okanagan’s Sustainability Office, Facilities Management and Food Services departments, the project’s objective is to create a peer-to-peer educational tool to increase awareness of current waste and recycling issues and improve sorting compliance, which has relevance to the campus community as a whole.

The video, along with short social media-ready clips, are key components featured on UBCOTV.

Digging Deeper