How to be sustainable – and get eco-involved! January 26, 2011
Posted by Chris Garbutt in Student Life.Tags: Bikechain, Eco-Sustainability Network, eco-trays, environment, paper, sustainability, UTERN, water, water fountains
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As the new term gets into full swing, many of you may be wondering what the deal is with the green eco-trays you’ve been seeing at U of T cafeterias. Or maybe you’ve never noticed the trays, which are available for purchase at Robarts, Sid Smith, and Medical Sciences cafeterias, among others.
Well, these trays are part of a UeaT initiative launched during environment week at the beginning of last semester. For $5 (plus HST) you can purchase not the eco-tray itself, but the eco-tray card. The card works as part of a hassle-free system for you. When you order food at these cafeterias, your food will be given to you in an eco-tray in exchange for your card. After you finish eating – whenever that may be! – you bring the tray back to the cafeteria, and they give you your card back. That means no dishes or lugging around dirty Tupperware for you; you get all the benefits of an eco-friendly container without the hassle! Your card never expires so you can use it over and over again for a one-time flat charge. The cards are even transferrable, so you can spread the love by lending it to your friends.
But if eating out isn’t for you, there are other ways you can participate in the green movement at U of T. There are many ways to make changes in your daily activities. For example, Bikechain has bikes for rent so you can reduce your carbon footprint, while U of T libraries have initiatives in place to decrease paper if you follow the recommended guidelines, like double-sided printing. The Public Water Initiative is making it easier than ever to refill your eco-friendly re-usable water bottle with their map of water fountains on campus.
If you’re looking to get involved with events and the community, UTSU’s Sustainability Commission has monthly meetings open to everyone where upcoming events and initiatives (read: opportunities to get involved!) are discussed. The Sustainability Office also has lots of information about upcoming events, most readily accessed by joining their mailing list. A central point of connection, UTERN has some great opportunities to get involved on campus with the green movement. Finally, the Office of Student Life is rolling out the Eco-Sustainability Network, which will function to connect students with groups and events as well as to connect groups who are working on similar initiatives. Look out for more exciting news about this initiative in the coming weeks!
Brilliant! Thank you so much for this.
Great post on sustainability! I would like to add some more tips that are super easy to implement:
– composting left over food (just dump it into the green bins)
– choosing sustainable foods when purchasing food on campus. Ask for local or local-sustainable certified!
– public transit! its the fastest way to get around campus.
– and my favorite: the LUG A MUG campaign! Buy your coffee or tea in a reusable mug on campus, and get 25 cents off! (10 cents at Tim Hortons locations). Last year, our campus saved over 145,000 disposable cups from becoming garbage.
Cheers,
Sarah Khan
UeaT
this is great info. how do we contact you?
im doing a project on campus with the enviro dept. it has to do with bike boxes. theres a social marketing angle to it. i may want to use you guys as another place to put a psa thing. or at least have you know about it and direct people to further info.