Unsorted food container. Courtesy of the authors.
What can we learn about UVic’s trash sorting habits and the efficiency of provided disposal stations?
When we decided to take this course, we had no idea how impactful and informative the term project would be. The idea of sorting through campus trash was something we were not thrilled about, but the results and patterns we saw emerging through our research were well worth it. The main objective of the final project was to take a closer look at waste disposal habits and attitudes on UVic’s campus. To do this, our class decided on three questions of interest: are people sorting correctly, why do people throw away what they do, and what percentage of the waste is related to COVID PPE. Our group, TRASH CAN do it, focused mainly on if the UVic population was sorting correctly, what percentage of waste was related to COVID PPE, and if the sorting stations were still effective on a University Campus where individuals are extremely conscious of their environmental impact and sustainability. In the post below, you will read about our findings and our suggestion to the University of Victoria in furthering its goal of a sustainable campus.
Waste disposal habits on UVic’s campus
I will be the first to admit that the anxiety around properly sorting waste on campus is overwhelming. Especially when in a rush to make it to class on time or when trying to take a bus. As hard as I try to sort appropriately, I know there are some instances that I have just tossed what I was carrying in the garbage without a second thought as to if and how it could be dismantled and recycled. According to our findings, I am not the only one on campus that does this. In fact, 47.3% of the UVic population incorrectly sort their trash when eating or passing through the Jamie Cassel’s Building and the attached Mystic Market.
Graph displaying the number of participants and their response to the 1-10 scale.
Courtesy of the authors.
The remaining trash samples collected — a solid 52.7% — were correctly sorted at this location. But are people as conscious about their recycling and sorting habits as our data suggests? According to our survey numbers, participants were confident in their sorting practices — 25% rated their habits 9 out of 10 when presented with a scale. However, most of our participants rated their disposal habits between 5 and 8 on the same scale which seemed to match our garbage collection data. So, if understanding the guidelines isn’t the problem, what is?
Just how effective are UVic’s receptacles?
The provided waste disposal bins, known on campus as ‘Sort it out’ stations, are adequate in number. Or so 60.2% of all participants (128 class collected surveys) stated. When it came to how accessible and visible what can and cannot go into the provided bins, participants were less certain about its efficiency. This is rather concerning especially when the population of UVic’s campus is hurrying from one side of campus to the other relying heavily on visual cues to decide where their trash goes.
A current copy of the ‘Compostsm’ image on sorting stations. Courtesy of the UVic website.
In fact, nearly all our survey participants stated that the signage that accompanies the ‘sort it out’ stations is confusing and lacks adequate information. 58.1% of our incorrectly sorted trash was compost despite there being compost bins beside the recycling and landfill bins. Could it be that people are in a rush or have poor sorting habits? Perhaps this is one of the reasons. We believe that it has to do with the signs stating what is accepted. Not only are there generic images of what can be placed in specific bins, but there is small print that excludes certain items. As mentioned above, we are visual creatures, and having more of a campus-specific sign with a noticeable distinction between accepted and not accepted would help proper waste sortation.
But what about COVID?
Unlike other groups, we found a whopping 0% of COVID PPE at our location. This begs the question of where these objects are being disposed of on-campus and if UVic’s population is using more sustainable and reusable means of PPE. In short, the answer that we have discovered is yes, the majority of staff and students are using reusable masks. The switch from disposable masks to reuseable is something that has been encouraged not only on campus but globally as well. As much as we would like to believe that the pandemic has been ‘good’ for the environment, it hasn’t. In fact, a video published by DW News makes it incredibly clear that the pandemic and disposable masks have been detrimental to the environment.
What Can We Do About It?
We highly suggest that UVic’s sustainability office further assess the effectiveness of the ‘Sort it out’ program. Current methods of waste disposal and sorting are no longer adequate for the evolving sustainability practices and garbage disposal behaviors of UVic’s population.
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