Paperless Society? Far From it!

Student Activists Encourage Paper Use Awareness with Transformative Trash-Art

Our students are at it again. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the Queen's, Graduate Students for Environmental Sustainability(GSES), will unveil an exciting new trash-art exhibit: a visual representation of the amount of discarded paper collected over only three days from two central recycling bins in one Queen's University building.

Progress toward an environmentally-oriented and sustainable campus is growing at Queen's University, due in no small part to the enthusiasm of our students.  With the support of the Queen's School of Environmental Studies, a number of graduate students in the Biosciences Complex have come together with a plan to raise awareness of the paper use on campus.

To achieve this goal and encourage changes in individual behaviour, they have created a trash-art exhibit using discarded paper products such as flyers, newspapers, notes, and posters. This impressive display will be complemented by a booth providing information on the environmental issues surrounding paper and the many alternative actions that can be taken to reduce paper use.  It is anticipated that the event will build discussion regarding these individual actions as well as the difference that collective action could make on this issue.

The intention is to make visible the consequences of our choices regarding paper use. By offering simple alternatives - such as printing double-sided, sharing newspapers, and reading articles on a computer- they hope to make a substantial difference in the volume of paper waste and paper recycling generated on campus.

Please join them at 12 noon on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 in the Queen's University Biosciences Complex Atrium for the unveiling of our trash-art exhibit. They will be there to welcome you, provide additional information, and answer any questions you may have. The display will be in the Atrium through Friday, February 13, 2009.