Today@Dal

In September, Dal News highlighted major waste management plans for this year. The following is an update on progress made since the September article.

Waste Management Collection changes on the Halifax Campus:

• Two waste compactors have been added to the Hancock parking lot and will be in operation by January. This will allow us to compact our own waste which will help us divert more of it from the landfill.
• Locked outdoor collection bins have been installed in key areas. All materials will be picked up at the buildings by Facilities Management trucking crews and brought to the warehouse where organics, recyclables, paper and garbage will be picked up for reuse or disposal.

AC Waste Collection Changes:

• Royal Environmental Group has taken over the collection of organics, paper, cardboard and blue bags from Miller Waste Systems. Clients should not notice any change in service levels.

Battery Recycling Program:

• The battery box program has been rolled out to all campuses. For more information on this program visit the Solid Waste Management site.

Styrofoam Initiative:

• Halifax Campuses - Styrofoam is not accepted broadly by Halifax or in the recyclable bin; however a lab specific pilot for expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) in the Tupper will continue. FM staff take the material to a local manufacturer for recycling. An expanded program for other major lab buildings is under review.
• AC campus – Colchester has announced that Styrofoam will be added to the recyclable stream broadly.  Please ensure that material is clean of tape and labels and other contaminants.  Material goes in the recyclable containers.  

Bin Standards Implementation

• A waste bin guideline has been developed and tested over the last couple of years.  It is consistent with other organizations’ efforts to reduce waste contamination.  Currently over 40 to 60 per cent of the garbage stream is contaminated with material that should be in other bins. Implementation of the standard includes pre-audits; communication of the standard; implementation of the standard including removal of stand-alone garbage bins, new signage, and new bins and follow-up audits.  The standard will be implemented at the AC and Sexton campus by the winter of 2016 with plans for Carleton and Studley by spring/summer 2016.