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 3 Comment

• Compartmentalizing Sustainability

  2008-07-22 16:58:05 UTC

  Hi all,
  
  I have worked with several university programs and always tried to foster sustainable behavior in them, but there's a definite tendency to treat sustainability as something separate from everything else that's core to the programs. It often gets compartmentalized into something that the "Sustainability Folks" do instead of permeating everybody's portfolios as it rightly should. So, do you people have ideas or know of research that explains why this happens and ways that it can be overcome?
  
  Thanks!
  Nick Gallant
  
  Outreach Coordinator
  UBC Waste Management
  86-2329 West Mall
  T:604-822-9456
  F:604-822-5209
  E: nick@recycle.ubc.ca
  Web: www.recycle.ubc.ca
   

• FSB in Waste Management at UBC-Vancouver

  2008-06-04 18:44:24 UTC

  Hi all,
  
  Each September UBC runs its one day long "Imagine UBC" orientation program that sees 6000-7000 first year undergraduate students oriented to campus by their second, third and fourth year level peers. The event is both a great challenge and a great opportunity for UBC's Waste Management Division, so I'd like to hear your input on how we can make the most of the opportunity to foster sustainable behaviour. Background and Challenge: UBC Waste Management both operates and raises awareness about our in-vessel composting, glass/metal/paper and e-waste recycling, and litter reduction programs at our Vancouver campus. The university setting has an inherently high population turnover rate, so it's important that each incoming cohort is well oriented to our waste management programs to ensure that we stride towards our waste diversion goals. At the same time it's challenging to do so because some of the systems (e.g. campus-wide composting) are unfamiliar to students and there are so many more exciting things vying for their attention on their first day here. However, if we get them doing it right away then you can imagine the amount of waste each cohort can divert over their 4 (5 or 6 in some cases) years at UBC. So, we'd love to hear about similar cases where successful initiatives have been implemented or ideas you might have on how to create maximal impact given the circumstances.
  
  Nick Gallant
  
  Outreach Coordinator
  UBC Waste Management
  86-2329 West Mall
  T:604-822-9456
  F:604-822-5209
  E: nick@recycle.ubc.ca

• Re: hand dryers vs. paper hand towels

  2008-04-20 07:22:10 UTC

  Two things I would mention here. First is a study that UBC prof John Robinson often mentions in presentations where he says that environmental impact of hand dryers versus paper towels depends on where you live. For example if you live in British Columbia, which gets ninety-some-odd percent of its electricity from hydro then the hand dryers are more environmentally friendly. However, if you live in Alberta, which produces most of its electricity from coal then it's better to use paper towels.We did have the pull-on cloth dispensers many, many years ago and the following are some of the reasons that we switched to paper dispensers: Second is some reasons why handcloth dispensers are no longer used at UBC as they once were. These reasons were cited by our superintended of custodial services. a.. High traffic, therefore high usage b.. Don't have the manpower to change the cloths on an hourly basis c.. High cost of laundering the towels or cost of contracting laundry services d.. Cost of maintaining dispensers as they are broken, damaged or vandalized often [students often kick the dispensers off the walls], therefore once the dispenser is down, we would have to wait for the repair and/or replacement to occur. This would then mean that students would have nothing to wipe their hands with. e.. Towel dispenser not a preferred option by most users in high traffic area. Hope this is useful in this debate.
  
  Nick Gallant
  
  Outreach Coordinator
  UBC Waste Management
  86-2329 West Mall
  T:604-822-9456
  F:604-822-5209
  E: nick@recycle.ubc.ca
  Web: www.recycle.ubc.ca

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