Where did the ideas come from? Every year the graduating class of Environmental Science is asked to do a project on sustainability. In 2008, Team McLovin embarked on the project of reviewing the e-waste recycling system at Queen’s and decided to enhance its already outstanding qualities. Objectives • To establish a campus-wide program for e-waste recycling with a centralized depot for e-waste collection. • To educate and encourage students of the importance of E-waste recycling and to buy the most sustainable electronics on the market • To develop a strategy for future expansion of the E-waste recycling program to the Kingston community Student Awareness From the outset of the project, it was unquestionable that we needed to have a base understanding about awareness on campus about e-waste in general and specifically about the initiative occurring at Queen’s. A survey was given out, and the results showed that there was very low awareness about e-waste and also about e-waste recycling on campus. This made our project even more imperative. Additions for a more sustainable future Currently e-waste recycling on campus is through the departments on campus, and neglects the largest population, students. The sustainability project planned to incorporate students, reduce the carbon footprint of recycling the e-waste by finding a local recycling plant to handle Queen’s e-waste rather than the travel to Brampton, develop an awareness campaign, implement e-waste collection monthly on campus run by student volunteers and the sustainability office, and lastly create drop off locations around campus. Challenges Integration of the student electronic waste stream from landfills was, specified during the planning stages, the primary objective for the project. Research revealed the original specifications of several strategically located receptacles, utilized for implementation simplicity, presented novel challenges. Some of these practical considerations necessitated alterations to the established objectives and resulted in major modifications. In order to achieve the outlined objectives it became increasingly apparent that a static depot; set up during specific high waste generating periods, beginning and end of term; in prominent locations, was the most effective method. Outlined here are the major specific issues faced during the feasibility analysis stage. E-waste Sites on Campus We established three e-waste drop off points on campus: 1. John Deutsch University Center 2. BioSciences Complex 3. Victoria Hall 4. Mackintosh Corry Hall A campus map can be accessed through the link above. Future Goals It is imperative to make e-waste recycling on campus sustainable, accessible and easy. The following is how we see the program growing: Extension of the program to operate year round Reduce the costs by tightening our relationship with SIMs recycling. Annual update and growth of inventory and environmentally friendly products Expand into the Kingston Community Spark other schools interests More drop off depots around Campus
Sustainability Project
 
Campus map
www.queensu.ca/campusmap