2007-2008

News Release

REF NO.: 30

SUBJECT: Waste reduction week Oct. 15, 2007

DATE: October 15, 2007

Memorial University has several events planned for this week to coincide with National Waste Reduction Week, which runs Oct. 15-21, 2007.
The Sustainability Office is organizing two events on Wednesday, Oct. 17, aimed at raising awareness about waste and its environmental and social ramifications.
The theme of this year’s Waste Reduction Week is Too Good To Waste.
Organizers want to encourage the university community – as well as the general public – to decrease the amount of waste it produces each year.
According to the provincial Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, Newfoundland and Labrador throws away 480,000 tonnes of garbage every year into local dumps.
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Zero Waste Lunch runs 12-2 p.m. in the MUNSU Boardroom in room 2001 in the University Centre. MUN Project Green is inviting students, faculty members and employees at Memorial to bring their lunch from home in reuseable containers to use reuseable cutlery and napkins. Those participating in the Zero Waste Lunch are invited to eat together in the MUNSU Boardroom where a discussion regarding applying for funding for future projects of MUN Project Green will take place.
Meanwhile, Lug A Mug runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Chartwell’s coffee shops in the Engineering, Science and Education buildings on the St. John’s campus.
The Sustainability Office and student volunteers will reward those who bring their own re-useable mug when purchasing coffee with a coupon for their next coffee free.
Those using disposable cups will can enter to win a re-useable mug. Organizers want to cut down on the amount of solid waste it produced on campus.
Shelley Pardy, sustainability co-ordinator, said the aim of the activities is get the university community thinking about how much waste they produce.
“The MUN Sustainability Office and MUN Project Green want to encourage the university community to think about the amount of waste it personally generates everyday and to begin to take small steps to cut down on some of that solid waste production,” said Ms. Pardy.
“One easy way to reduce waste in your daily life – whether students, faculty and staff – is to minimize your use of disposable products. During Waste Reduction Week we will be encouraging people to ‘lug a mug’ when they purchase coffee or tea on campus. Each time you bring a re-useable mug to purchase coffee you are not throwing a paper cup in the garbage and contributing to the landfill.”
To learn more Waste Reduction Week at Memorial, contact Ms. Pardy at 737-2637 or e-mail smpardy@mun.ca.

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