Waste reduction and recycling
Ever thought it a bit strange that recycling practices should be so scarce at work when we do it all the time at home? Ever thought about how much space your recyclable waste takes up in landfill, just because there is no recycling facility in your office?
EnviroSMART is working toward the goal of reducing the landfill waste generated by La Trobe University offices by one-third by the end of 2007. By making small changes to our everyday work behaviour, we can do a lot to reduce the large amount of recyclable material that ends up in landfill and contributes to the destruction of our environment.
Recycling is a great way to minimise detrimental impacts on the environment. It reduces the need to expend energy and consume resources on production of new items, and cuts down the amount of waste going in to landfill.
One tonne of recycled paper instead of pre-consumer paper saves:
- Approximately 13 trees
- 2.5 barrels of oil
- 4100 KWh energy
- 4 cubic metres of landfill
- 31,780 litres of water
However, recycling is still a second-best solution for waste. La Trobe University endorses the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It is important not just to recycle the waste we create but minimise the amount of waste being created in the first place.
What is the Waste Wise recycling program?
Waste Wise is a program managed by Sustainability Victoria that aims to assist people in applying recycling and other wast efficiency practices to all aspects of life. La Trobe University has attained Bronze and Silver Certification and is currently working towards Waste Wise Gold Certification. Part of this is the implementation of a Green Office Program throughout the University. The Waste Wise office recycling program was the first initiative of the Green Office series and has been a success, reducing recyclables to landfill from offices by 25%.
Check out Sustainability Victoria's official Waste Wise Program.
Maintenance
The Maintenance Department and EnviroSMART open the Furniture Shed on the first Friday of every month and accept donations of old, unused furniture from around the University. If it is able to be fixed and done up it is sold or given away through the First Fridays Furniture program.
The Maintenance Department also has collection areas for recycling paper and cardboard, oil, scrap metal and batteries.
For more information please contact the Maintenance Department.
Colleges
In 2007 Glenn College built a shed for its recycling bins and paper storage once it was completed the shed allowed an extensive recycling program to be put in place, whilst reducing the risks of on-site paper storage.
Chisholm College has a successful recycling program in place which has helped reduce waste going to landfill by 50%. Every floor has paper and co-mingled recycling bins at each of the 12 towers and every room and office has a paper recycling bin.
Residential Services purchased paper and cardboard and co-mingled recycling bins en masse in 2008 to encourage students to participate more readily in recycling programs.
Mobile Phone Recycling
If you are upgrading or replacing your mobile phone in 2009, please recycle your old phone.
Our mobile phone recycler, Aussie Recycling Program, is donating $3 per phone to the Jane Goodall Institute to protect endangered Gorillas in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Office Bokashi (organic waste)
Many offices on the Bundoora Campus are using Bokashi systems to ferment their food scraps and other organic waste. This nutrient-rich fermented waste is used on La Trobe's Bundoora Community Garden. For more information, please visit our Bokashi page.
Recycling and waste management tips
- Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, cans and glass. If you don't have paper and comingled recycling bins contact EnviroSMART (envirosmart@latrobe.edu.au).
- Your toner cartridges are recyclable, Cart Collect is the University’s recommended toner recycling program.
- If you have a mobile phone provided by the University you can recycle it through the Aussie Recycling Program (ARP) collection box on level one of the library.
- Only print documents that need to be printed.
- If you are a student ask your lecturer if they will accept essays that are printed double sided.
- If practical, print double sided or squeeze two pages on to one.
- Staple together once used paper to make a pad for taking notes.
- Use durable, reusable mugs and crockery in your kitchen.
- Take your own mug to the coffee shop, avoiding the use of disposable paper cups and reducing the demand on precious resources especially water and trees for paper.
- Are hardcopies necessary? Try filing online or on disks. Offices at Glenn College have halved their paper use by filing on disks.
What can and can't be recycled
Check out what can and can't be recycled.