U of R Students Conduct a Campus Waste Audit

Earlier this month, student volunteers conducted a hands-on waste audit at the University of Regina. The students, with the help of the Sustainability Office and Facilities Management’s Custodial Services, sorted and weighed through several bags of waste. The team sorted items according to categories – organics, paper, single-use disposables and styrofoam.  

The Sustainability Office tracked the findings in a report that will help to inform the U of R’s waste management system. The waste audit helps the University’s sustainability efforts in many areas.  

For one, it helps establish a baseline of waste and recycling produced on a day-to-day basis. The audit also measures materials that end up in the wrong bins prompting areas for improvement such as clearer bin signage, and educational and communication campaigns.  

In addition to gathering important data, the waste audit helps advance the University’s strategic waste reduction goal of reducing 25% of waste by 2025 and shifting towards a more circular economy.  

The Sustainability Office hopes to continue engaging more students at the University of Regina in waste management and reduction to educate the campus community on the topic of waste. Once the data is analyzed, waste audit findings will be shared on our website.