GO FOR THE GREEN
Go for the Green is a month-long energy-saving competition between residential communities at Western. During the month of February, on-campus communities compete to see who can reduce the most energy consumption compared to previous years. Learn more at Go for the Green!
OUR MISSION
The Housing Sustainability program aims to provide on-campus residents with educational programming and initiatives that value and prioritize sustainability in the residential experience. In alignment with Western’s Sustainability Action Plan and University Residences Initiative for Student Engagement (URISE), our programming is designed to prepare students for life after on-campus living, educate students on sustainability, reduce on-campus waste, and help students save money through programs like the Resident Checkout Program.
Western's Sustainability Action Plan
"Western inspires graduates who create a sustainable world by integrating social, economic, and ecological justice (SEE) practices into their lives..." and fosters "an appreciation and understanding of the impact of human choices on people around the world and the planet itself."
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EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Western’s Sustainability Action Plan, adopted in September 2017, guides action and promotes accountability for sustainability initiatives around campus. Residence hall education aims to improve student's understanding of wellness in line with the Sustainability Action Plan’s four “pillars”, by expanding student's awareness of how local actions can impact global ecology, social equity, economic vitality, and human health.
The goal of Housing Sustainability's educational programming is to prepare on-campus residents for life beyond Western by providing resources that can build habits to save money, make a positive impact on the environment, and promote personal wellness. By combining educational and interactive activities, we offer on-campus residents a holistic sustainability education alongside their residence hall experience.
Education and engagement in the residence halls use sustainability education to build inclusive communities through interactive activities, aid in career preparedness by promoting critical thinking and promote personal wellness, all in line with URISE's goals for on-campus communities.
Event Schedule for 2023-2024
Categories |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
---|---|---|---|
Theme |
Food Waste |
Energy Consumption |
Earthwise Living |
Events |
October 13, 3-6pm, VU MPR 605: DIY Spooky Treats October 21, 7pm, Residence Halls: Sustainable Pumpkin Carving |
Go for the Green Competition |
Earth Week Clothing Swap |
RESIDENT CHECKOUT PROGRAM
When moving on campus, residents have access to a large inventory of over 2,100 suggested on-campus essentials valued at almost $52,000, available for checkout through the academic year free of charge.
The Resident Checkout Program offers both short- and long-term items, for a wide range of essentials available to all students living on-campus. Before buying items for your stay in the residence halls, check what’s available through RCP for free!
RESIDENCE HALL COMPOSTING
Western's program is one of the first residence hall composting programs in the nation. All on-campus residents are supplied with the resources, education, and support they need to compost effectively.
There are several outdoor compost waste “toters” located in each residential community Waste Dropoff Areas, where residents can deposit their compostable materials. We recommend that you empty your composting bucket once a week and before session breaks and ends.
Additional education and engagement activities for composting etiquette and food waste will be provided throughout the year to facilitate effective composting within the residence halls. Events like the Sustainability Extravaganza, UR Facilities Amenities and Offerings, and DIY(Do It Yourself) low-waste swaps Makerspace activities are offered to provide community-oriented learning spaces for students to expand their knowledge about food waste reduction. In addition, weekly audits of compost toters determine compost contamination levels in each residence hall and inform composting curriculum for the year.
Each resident's room/suite is equipped with a composting bucket, an instructional sheet, an instructional sticker, and a roll of biodegradable liners. Birnam Wood and Buchanan Towers house one compost bin per apartment/suite to be kept in the kitchen area of each apartment/ suite. Students are supplied with 25 liners per bin each quarter, so it is recommended that students use liners only for their compost bins. Residents can contact their front desk staff to acquire additional liners if needed.
COMPOST 101
Composting correctly is important to create a sustainable world. If our compost is too contaminated, the load will be thrown into the landfill, negating the benefit to the environment and our urban spaces.
Compostable | Not Compostable - Contaminated Materials |
Vegetables, fruit (all parts) | PLU stickers (labels on vegetables & fruits) |
Meat, bones | Fat, grease, excessive oil |
Tea bags, coffee filters | Rubber bands & twist ties |
Coffee grounds | Plastic, metal |
Dairy | Plastic-lined paper (paper cups, some takeout containers) |
Compostable plates, utensils, takeout boxes with proper labels | Food soiled plastic |
Food soiled paper towels & cardboard | Cardboard & paper without grease stains |
Not all 'compostable' advertised materials are actually compostable. When determining if a material is compostable or not, look for food stains & these labels.
Food scraps & soiled paper can be composted, see chart above for specifics
All cups & containers from campus dining locations are compostable EXCEPT FOR STARBUCKS
RECYCLE 101
Recycling supports our path to a sustainable future. If recycling is sorted incorrectly, it damages our crucial solid waste systems, slowing our progress to a clean and livable world.
Whatcom county’s recycling is separated into five streams, meaning you have to sort your recycling.
These streams are:
- Plastic
- Tin and aluminum
- Glass
- Mixed paper
- Flattened carboard
This can be confusing for new arrivals. Refer to recycling signage around the waste drop-off areas for help sorting your waste. Just like in any other place, food is not recyclable. Cleaning your recyclables by washing them thoroughly reduces contamination. It is also important to separate different materials in a single product, like removing plastic from envelopes, removing bottlecaps, and removing plastic pumps. If the recycling is too contaminated, it gets thrown into the landfill.
Plastic Sorting
Clean plastic bottles, cups, jugs, tubs
Paper Sorting
Cardboard, paper bags, newspaper, office paper
Aluminum Sorting
Clean aluminum & tin cans
Flattened Cardboard
Collapsed & flattened cardboard only
Glass Sorting
Clean glass bottles & jars
Non-recyclable Trash
Do not recycle plastic bags, plastic film, tetra pak (milk cartons)
Program Benefits
- Develops practices that build autonomy and prepare students for off-campus living.
- Promotes a consistent culture of sustainable waste management across campus.
- Pairs with educational programming to increase awareness on the social, economic, and ecological benefits of composting.
- Reduces landfill waste, which diminishes greenhouse gasses released by landfills and protects ecosystems near landfills.
- Converts potential landfill waste into a useful product sold in local communities.
Opting Out:
Residence hall composting is an “opt-out” program, which means all residents will automatically be supplied with the resources to compost successfully on campus. However, if residents choose not to compost, they are encouraged to keep their clean, empty bin stored in their room, such as in a closet or under a bed. Damage or loss of compost bins will result in a fine to your Western Account.
Contact Us
Have questions about our programs or offerings? Email us at residencesfacilities@wwu.edu.
Follow our Instagram @wwuhousingsustainability for regular program updates!