Proper sorting at recycling stations gives material another life, separate from the landfill. Using reusable foodwares and travel mugs reduces waste at the source.
Avoid the Landfill
Did you know that UBC Okanagan campus’ 2022 waste diversion rate was 35%? This means that only a third of overall waste generated by the campus in the last year was sent to a recycling or composting facility instead of to the landfill.
A thorough one-day inspection of the campus’ waste habits, undertaken during the 2022 Bi-Annual Waste Audit, identified that 88% of the audited waste generated by the campus was not ‘true’ waste and contained recyclable, refundable and compostable materials. All this material ends up in the landfill where the risk of soil, water and air pollution increases, and the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) is created, which is twenty times worse than carbon dioxide (CO2).
Garbage is often caused by contamination, created when certain materials are mixed into the wrong bin and cannot be removed. This makes it hard to recycle properly because an otherwise reusable resource has to be sent the landfill.
Practicing good sorting habits is simple and also supports to reduce the campus’ carbon footprint. Many recycling programs already exist on the campus, including:
| § Lab Plastics Recycling Program | § Pipet Tip Box Recycling Program |
Visit the UBC Okanagan A-Z Recyclepedia for a complete list of what’s recyclable on campus and available programs. Click here for Sorting Guide information.