Sustainability at UTM
During your stay in UTM Residence, it is important to learn about how you can live a sustainable lifestyle and protect the environmental well-being of the campus.
To learn more about sustainability on campus, stay connected with the Sustainability Office!
Email: sustainability.fmp@utoronto.ca
Instagram: @sustainableutm
Waste Disposal by Residence
Location | Where to dispose of waste |
|---|---|
Erindale Hall | The waste room |
Roy Ivor Hall | Waste bins outside the building |
OPH (Oscar Peterson Hall) |
|
Schreiberwood Residence McLuhan Residence (Townhouses) | Bring waste outside to regional bins |
Waste Diversion, Reduction, & Sorting
Waste Diversion
What is waste diversion?
Waste diversion is defined as all items that go into the recycling or organics bin, and therefore diverted from landfill.
To help the campus achieve a higher diversion rate:
- Read the signage on bins carefully before throwing out your items in the garbage rooms, outdoor Region of Peel yard bins, or common eating areas.
Unsure how to sort your waste? Use Region of Peel’s (RoP) Waste Sorter App to help with sorting waste on residences.
Separate Your Waste by:
- Emptying leftovers or unfinished food into organics. Dump liquids in a sink when possible.
- Place emptied food containers into landfill (or recycling if made of clear plastic and is clean).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Sort your waste items before throwing them out in the garbage. Last resort is throwing items in the garbage to avoid contaminating the recycling stream. Please do your due diligence first!
The 5 R's
Remember that waste diversion considers reducing and reusing comes before recycling. Finding ways to reduce your waste is the most effective method to combat the growing demand for environmental resources.
Refuse: Think about what you really need before buying. Saying no to unnecessary items helps reduce waste from the start.
Reduce: Manufacturers should minimize waste in products and packaging, but customers can also choose items with less environmental impact. The best way to cut waste is to avoid creating it.
Reuse: Use items again for their original purpose or find a new use for them.
Recycle: Place items in an appropriate recycling bin.
Rot: Compost organic waste like food scraps and garden waste. Composting returns nutrients to the soil naturally.
Waste Reduction
Reduce your waste by utilizing Hospitality's reusable container and BYOC programs.
OZZI Program
OZZI is a reusable container program. The OZZI container can be reused up to 300 times!
To get an OZZI container, visit the Hospitality Office located in DV 3127.
BYOC Program
The BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup) Program allows you to get a discount when you're buying coffee on campus, if you bring a clean, reusable cup!
- Fair Trade Tea and Coffee: 25¢ off (Available at the Davis Food Court, North Side Bistro, Fair Trade Café, and Colman Commons)
- Starbucks: 10¢ discounts on tea and coffee
- Tim Hortons: 10¢ discounts on tea and coffee
Always remember to return your plates and cutlery back to Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH)!
It is important to return plates and cutlery back to where they belong to avoid the overconsumption (or over purchasing) of these items.
Waste Sorting
Review the table below for tips on sorting common waste items:
Item | Waste Stream |
|---|---|
Coffee cups and lids (e.g. Tim Hortons) Takeout and instant food containers and lids | Garbage/Landfill |
Cardboard boxes (e.g. Amazon boxes) | Flatten them and place in paper recycling or the outside recycling bin |
Food (e.g. food waste) | Organics |
Clear plastic containers | Recycling if clean |
Flexible packaging (e.g. chip bags, chocolate bar wrappers) | Garbage/Landfill |
Plastic Wrap or Film (e.g. Ziploc bag) | Garbage/Landfill |
Textbooks | Students can drop off old/used textbooks in the Textbooks For Change drop box located on the second floor of the Davis Building. |
Additional Ways to Live Sustainably in Residence
Reduce your energy consumption while in residence to help lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decrease water use.
- Turn off lights when you leave the room
- Turn off and unplug electronics (TV, laptop charger, etc.) when not in use
- Do laundry when you have a full load
- Keep doors and windows closed when the A/C or heat is running
The reflective nature of windows can be deceiving to birds, making them appear as open spaces to fly into. But you can help reduce these incidents!
- Place decals or stickers on windows to help birds recognize solid surfaces
- Reduce the attractiveness of windows as potential flight paths by turning off lights
- If you find an injured or deceased bird, reach out to @utm_wo on Instagram or contact the nearest wildlife rehab center for guidance