A couple of Trinity Western University students are making the campus greener, and it started with recycling a Township program for food and organic waste.
The Township Green Can program has provided a template for TWU芒鈧劉s new recycling initiatives.
And credit goes to two Environmental Studies students.
Both fourth-year student Jennifer Rumley and third-year student Tanya Drouillard saw the need for the campus to get more involved in organic waste diversion although initially, neither knew of the other芒鈧劉s efforts.
A life-long 91原创 resident, Rumley, who will graduate this spring with a BSc in Environmental Studies, was familiar with the Township of 91原创芒鈧劉s Green Can program for residential properties.
芒鈧揑 thought, 芒鈧渨hy can芒鈧劉t we do something like this on campus,芒鈧劉芒鈧� she said.
Over the summer, she sent an email inquiry to the Township Engineering Department.
芒鈧揑 asked if the Township could partner with TWU to help implement a similar recycling program to the one they already had in place.芒鈧�
Drouillard, an Abbotsford resident who worked part-time in the Township芒鈧劉s Solid Waste Department, was thinking along similar lines.
When Drouillard broached the subject with her Township co-workers, she learned of Rumley芒鈧劉s inquiry; by mid-summer, a committee, which included representatives from TWU and its food services supplier, Sodexo, as well as from the Township, was formed.
芒鈧揓ennifer and Tanya showed great initiative,芒鈧� said Krista Daniszewski, who serves as the Township solid waste coordinator. 芒鈧揟hey wasted no time in getting things moving along for the university.芒鈧�
The university芒鈧劉s waste and recycling services are still contracted out but what芒鈧劉s changed is how much waste goes into the landfill now that so much more is being diverted.
The Township helped with expertise and providing a template for the program so TWU didn芒鈧劉t have to start from the ground up.
As well the Township and Metro Vancouver helped with a waste audit at TWU to provide data on just how much waste could be recycled or diverted and the kinds of waste being produced.
With Sodexo芒鈧劉s cooperation, the project芒鈧劉s first phase, diverting back-of-house organic waste (food waste, paper towels, etc.) from the campus芒鈧劉 main food outlets, began last October.
The program is still relatively new but it芒鈧劉s estimated that to the end of December 2013, there芒鈧劉s been more than 2,000 gallons of organic material diverted.
This month, phase two rolls out: front-of-house organic waste collection in the main food outlets. By the end of 2014, the entire campus, including student apartments and dorms, will be participating.
It芒鈧劉s not just organic waste that will be diverted from the landfill.
New, clearly marked receptacles will help students, staff, and faculty recycle everything possible, from organic waste and paper products to refundable and non-refundable containers.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s always better to have corporations and organizations, like TWU, get involved in advance of Metro Vancouver芒鈧劉s upcoming 2015 landfill ban on compostable organics,芒鈧� said Daniszewski.
She also helped 91原创 School District #35 implement an organic waste collection program and said there are various efforts to help meet Metro Vancouver芒鈧劉s Zero Waste Challenge.
芒鈧揥e have a volunteer program for condos,芒鈧� she explained about the Green Ambassadors program.
As well institutions can consult her for guidance on waste and recycling issues.
