Danielle Smyth (author)
Annie Booth (Thesis advisor)
Arthur Fredeen (Thesis advisor)
University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)

2009

Master of Science (MSc)

Natural Resources & Environmental Studies

Number of pages in document: 119

Many institutions of higher education have come to recognize their unique role and responsibility in promoting an environmentally sustainable society. This recognition has led to countless institutional commitments to reduce the environmental impacts associated with campus operational, teaching and research activities. Solid waste is one of the more visible and tangible signs of consumption, thus offering a key starting point for launching a campus sustainability initiative. This study describes a campus waste characterization research project to identify opportunities for enhancing waste reduction, recycling and composting while improving the overall sustainability of a waste management program at a small, research intensive and geographically isolated university in western Canada. Components of this research study were a review of waste haulage records and university policies, a literature review and two waste audits. A waste characterization procedure was used to assess solid waste generation and composition across various campus locations during two 5-day periods over consecutive winter and fall semesters in 2008. The results provide insights and baseline data for targeting specific materials and locations that represent the greatest potential for waste minimization and diversion. This project report also provides recommendations for the university administration to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of campus waste management systems and for becoming a more sustainable educational institute. --P.ii.

Integrated solid waste management -- British Columbia -- Prince George.
University of Northern British Columbia -- Waste minimization.
Refuse and refuse disposal -- British Columbia -- Prince George.
Waste minimization -- British Columbia -- Prince George.

https://doi.org/10.24124/2009/bpgub1424

research (documents)