黑料不打烊 aims to become zero-waste by 2035 by attaining a diversion rate of 90 percent, based on the 听In 2023, the University鈥檚 diversion rate was 39% and the total waste was 3,087 metric tonnes. Achieving a 90% diversion rate would therefore significantly reduce 黑料不打烊鈥檚 environmental impact, and 黑料不打烊 aims to divert 70% of its waste from landfill by 2030.
To achieve this target, 黑料不打烊 will have to make changes in the campus infrastructure, supply chain, programs, and bolster education and engagement initiatives.听听听听
The scope of the target includes day-to-day waste produced on both the downtown and Macdonald Campus. The target does not include hazardous waste; as of 2022 it includes construction and demolition waste.听听
黑料不打烊鈥檚 zero-waste target is based on benchmarking from as well as internal contextual elements. Among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 15 research-intensive peer institutions in Canada, five universities have committed to reaching an 80% waste diversion rate or more.听
Learn more about waste reduction at 黑料不打烊
Progress to Zero-Waste
Percentage of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 waste diverted from landfill since 2015, with anticipated diversion rate in 2030 and reaching zero-waste (90% diversion) by 2035.
*Construction and demolition waste was included in addition to day-to-day waste in calendar years 2022 and 2023; this will continue in future reporting
听
Recent efforts to support the University鈥檚 Zero-Waste Commitment听
-
Installing over 700 multi-stream sorting stations.听
-
Expanding compost collection to over 25 academic buildings and all residences.
-
Creating standardized signage.听
-
Developing educational materials and outreach programs, including for lab waste.听听
-
Launching a pilot project to recycle personal protective equipment (PPE) in selected 黑料不打烊 labs.听听
New Actions Towards Zero-Waste听
As 黑料不打烊 progresses towards its zero-waste target, additional interventions will include:听
-
Reducing the volume of items entering 黑料不打烊鈥檚 waste stream and improving sorting practices.听听
-
Strategically eliminating single-use items, along with materials that contaminate other waste streams.听
-
Identifying key areas for tailored approaches, as 黑料不打烊 has already begun with its laboratories.听
-
Waste education and behaviour change campaigns.
Get involved in Zero-Waste at 黑料不打烊
- Learn how to reduce waste with the Zero-Waste Knowledge Base听
- Organize low-waste events with the Sustainable Events Certification
- Practice proper waste management using 黑料不打烊 Building and Grounds鈥� Rethink React Waste Sorting Guide听
- Recycle 黑料不打烊-owned electronic equipment by contacting your building鈥檚 IT Asset Steward and/or IT Technical Steward
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 黑料不打烊 aim for a 90 percent diversion rate?
This percentage is based on the internationally recognized standard that zero-waste means achieving a diversion rate of 90% or higher, per the . In 2019, the University鈥檚 waste diversion rate was 37.6% compared to an estimated 15% in 2016.
What does diversion rate mean?
A diversion rate is the percentage of waste diverted away from landfill. At 黑料不打烊, this means the percentage of waste composted or recycled.
Where can I dispose of my organic waste on 黑料不打烊's campuses?
You can find sorting stations with compost streams in 27 academic buildings on the downtown campus:鈥��
- 680 / 688鈥疭herbrooke听听
- Arts听
- Brown Building听
- Old Chancellor Day Hall听
- Durocher 3465听听
- Education听
- Elizabeth Wirth Music听听
- Ferrier听听
- Frank Dawson Adams听听
- Gelber听
- Genome听
- James Administration听
- Leacock听
- Life Sciences Complex - Animal Centre听
- Life Sciences Complex - Cancer Centre听
- Life Sciences Complex - Bellini听听
- Ludmer听听
- Martlet House听听
- McConnell Engineering听
- McIntyre Medical听听
- McTavish 3610听听
- Penfield 1085听
- Penfield 1086听
- Pulp and Paper听
- Redpath Library听
- Rutherford Physics听
- Trottier听
You can find sorting stations with compost streams in eight buildings on the Macdonald campus:听听
- Barton听
- Centennial Centre听
- CINE听
- Macdonald-Stewart听
- Parasitology听听
- Raymond听
- Technical Services听
Organic waste disposal is also available in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 dining halls on the downtown campus. There are Eco Stations for organic waste located in Carrefour Sherbrooke, New Residence, Bishop Mountain Hall, Douglas Hall, and Royal Victoria College dining halls.鈥�
Learn more about Food Services鈥� sustainability initiatives.听
Why is composting not available campus wide? When will it be available everywhere?
黑料不打烊鈥檚 long-term goal is to offer organic waste collection at buildings across its campuses鈥攁n important step in the journey to zero-waste by 2035.鈥��
However,鈥痯ilot locations鈥痬ust first鈥痙emonstrate鈥痮ngoing success. With continued education, we鈥痟ope to鈥痵ee鈥痑 shift in campus culture and awareness. Once contamination鈥痠s consistently below the allowable threshold at pilot locations, we will be able to better advocate for campus-wide鈥痮rganic waste collection.
How can I properly dispose of organic waste if compost isn't collected in my building on campus?
As鈥痮rganic waste collection expands,鈥痶he University will continue to evaluate the location of bins on campus. Until then, please鈥痙ispose of all organic waste in鈥痶he closest鈥痓uilding that does have鈥痗ompost collection.
What happens to compost generated at 黑料不打烊?
Organic waste generated at 黑料不打烊 is鈥痚ither processed at鈥痶he composting facility at D茅p么t Rive-Nord鈥痮r鈥痑t a city compost site in the Southwest borough of Montr茅al.鈥�
Some of the compost produced at鈥痶he D茅p么t Rive-Nord facility鈥痠s redistributed to local municipalities--many of which鈥痷se鈥痶he compost鈥痜or landscaping. In鈥痮ther鈥痬unicipalities, compost is sold or given away to citizens, or placed back on agricultural land.鈥��
The remaining compost from the D茅p么t Rive-Nord facility is used directly on the landfill at D茅p么t Rive-Nord.鈥疉fter covering 40鈥痬eters鈥痮f compacted garbage with clay, the facility places composted topsoil on the top and revegetates it.鈥�
Most of鈥痶he compost processed by the city鈥痠n the Southwest borough鈥痠s redistributed to Montr茅al鈥檚 residents, community gardens, and鈥痭eighbourhoods鈥痶hrough projects in urban agriculture and public works horticultural projects.鈥�
What can I compost at 黑料不打烊?
Any organic waste item can be composted on campus. That includes鈥痩eftover food, paper towel, tissue, and cardboard food containers. Please refer to the following list for additional guidance.
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Fruits and veggies | Liquids |
| Meat and fish | Inorganic material |
| Leftovers | Disposable coffee cups which are not marked as compostable |
| Tea bags and coffee grounds | Chemical products (including paper towels soiled with chemical products) |
| Cardboard containers, paper plates and pizza boxes | Animal waste |
| Newspapers, napkins, tissue and paper towel | Plastics marked "compostable", "biodegradable", or "#7 PLA"听 |
Why can鈥檛 I compost or recycle plastics marked 鈥渃ompostable,鈥� 鈥渂iodegradable,鈥� or 鈥�#7 PLA鈥� at 黑料不打烊?
The composting sites that receive waste from 黑料不打烊 do not have the infrastructure required to breakdown plastic #7 (PLA).听听
In a compost pile, a PLA package could take up to 1000 years to decompose. Plastic #7 (PLA) is not recyclable either. In Montreal, the recycling centers do not currently have a method to reuse PLA products. Therefore, PLA products are destined for the landfill.听
