Concordia’s Zero Waste Program wants your next great green idea!
From trailblazing campus composting initiatives to the Concordia University Centre for Creative Reuse (CUCCR), many projects that are actively reducing Concordia’s waste footprint have sprouted from the minds of students, staff and faculty.
Faisal Shennib, environmental coordinator for Environmental Health and Safety, has counted 17 waste-related projects initiated in recent years. Among them are the Dish Project, Concordia Stores’ Sustainable Notebooks, the Concordia Student Union’s Waste Busters and the Waste Not Want Not compost education campaign.
“According to information collected by our waste management service providers, Concordia’s diversion rate fluctuates between 45 per cent and 55 per cent,” says Shennib.
“While there is still some work to be done in terms of how we measure our waste, this data provides a benchmark to set goals for improved performance.”
‘Accelerate our progress’
Recently, Paul Blouin, manager of technical coordination and process improvement for Facilities Management, helped start a program to support new campus initiatives that divert materials from landfills.
Have a brilliant waste-reduction or waste-diversion idea you’d like to turn into reality? Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to pitch ideas to the new Zero Waste Concordia Program. Selected projects will receive support — which can include mentorship, space, or even funding — on a case-by-case basis.
“By focusing the community on the measurable impacts of their initiatives, we can get people thinking about the scale of our challenge and how to effectively accelerate our progress,” says Blouin.
Key initiatives already planned and envisioned for the next few years include low-waste offices, a furniture reuse initiative, improving event waste management, waste station improvements, tenant waste improvements and a sorting centre.
Want to make a commitment to help the university reach its green objectives? Find out how to become a partner in the Zero Waste Concordia Program.
