The Waste Free UBC initiative was launched by environmentally-concerned individuals in different campus departments, to reduce the waste produced by the UBC community.

Participating UBC departments:

• Alma Mater Society
• Building Operations (Custodial Services)
• Building Operations (Waste Management)
• Campus Sustainability Office
• Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Common Energy UBC
• Risk Management Services
• Student Housing and Hospitality Services
• Supply Management
• University Neighbourhoods Association

Representatives from these and other departments work together on the Waste Free Committee to make the University more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

About the program

The purpose of the Waste Free UBC Committee is to:

• support Waste Management’s objective to divert 55 per cent of UBC’s waste
• raise campus-wide waste reduction awareness by strengthening existing programs
• organize Waste Free events
• develop communication and engagement strategies to activate the UBC community, including residents of UTown@UBC
• align Waste Free initiatives with the UBC Sustainability Academic Strategy and the UBC Campus Sustainability Plan
• leverage the “campus as a living lab” concept by finding synergies between faculties, administration, departments and organizations to improve campus-wide waste management

Waste Free UBC is a platform to collaborate and share resources between participating stakeholders. The Waste Free Committee meets monthly.

Some of the initiatives thatWaste Free UBC supports include:

• Regular printer cartridge round-up
• Deskside recycling
• Disposables
• Composting
• Litter at UBC

Projects in the works

The UBC Brain Research Centre launched a Styrofoam recycling pilot project currently underway. UBC Waste Free is exploring how this program could potentially be turned into a campus-wide program in the future.

Waste Free UBC is also examining improved access to recycling and composting in public spaces on campus.

The Waste Free Committee has participated in the scope of work preparation for a solid waste audit of UBC Point Grey campus and the University neighbourhoods in 2010.  This initiative will inform changes and improvements to UBC policies, waste reduction strategies and infrastructure required to move towards a target of zero waste .

Call to Action
Take action and participate Waste Free UBC call to actions. Visit the program pages to learn more.