Sustainability Resources
Sustainability in Engineering at McGill (SEAM)
This guide was created to support students and groups of the McGill Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) to achieve their sustainability goals, however the facts, resources, and suggestions here are applicable to most student groups. This guide was put together by the EUS committee forWaste
Waste Sorting at McGill
At McGill, waste is sorted into four streams like this video: garbage, paper products, glass/plastic/metal, and organic waste. The latter three categories require minimal contamination from garbage, thus sorting and education is extremely important. It is best to throw any uncertain items into the garbage.
Paper products: only clean paper products are accepted
- Empty juice boxes, cartons, oil-free cardboard, paper cups
- NO Pizza boxes, soiled napkins, glossy photo paper
Glass/Plastic/Metal: empty containers(uncleaned) except #6 plastic
- Cans, aluminum food trays, grocery bags
- NO #6 plastic, hot beverage lids, chip bags/cans, plastic food wrap
Organic Waste: food, soiled paper, compostable plastic
- Food, soiled napkins, pizza boxes, PLA plastic, chopsticks, paper plates
- NO other plastics, fabric, cork
Waste sorting is one of the easiest initiatives to implement. Pollution is a serious problem throughout the world. Diverting material from the landfill decreases soil, air, and water pollution, and the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Bins
- McConnell Engineering Building
- Rico(porter) is very helpful, ask if there are problems or for large bins
- Contact: desk by Dispatch in main entrance or call 514-398-4455
- Frostbite lends empty tubs for recycling and organic waste
- Contact: 12:00 -17:00, Monday - Friday or frostbite@mcgilleus.ca
McConnell has organic waste, recycling, and garbage on the main floor, with garbage and recycling intermittently in the rest of the building. Large paper recycling bins are across from CopiEUS. The EUS common room has several garbage bins, one plastic/metal/glass bin, and one paper recycling box.
- SSMU Building
- Midnight Kitchen may share their compost depending on the amount
- Contact: midnightkitchencollective@gmail.com
- Garbage and recycling are available throughout the SSMU building.
- Carrefour Sherbrooke Building
- Cafeteria will usually allow the use of their recycling and compost
- Contact: Carrefour Sherbrooke Cafeteria during opening hours
The ballroom has garbage and plastic bins, and the cafeteria has all types.
- Other McGill Locations
McGill Special Events office can help anywhere, but takes time and will refer you
- Contact: nakita.darveau@mcgill.ca, McGill Special Events
- Compost Montreal
- A paid organic waste collection useful for large quantities, $40/hour
- Contact: info@compostmontreal.com or call 514-690-5773
- External Locations
- Check what is available at external locations; if you request bins they are usually able to accommodate although you may need to bring bags.
Signage
- Borrowing
- SEAM has a few letter-size laminated sorting signs available to borrow. Laminated signs and don’t need them anymore? We’ll repurpose them!
- Contact: seam.chair@mcgilleus.ca or the SEAM Facebook page
- Printing
- CopiEUS prints and laminates various sizes of signs. SEAM (above) can help design them if you don’t know what to put.
- Contact: 9:00-17:00, Monday-Friday
- Waste Suggestions
- Place bins beside each other to make the choice obvious
- Put lids on bins to prevent mindless disposal and therefore contamination
- Signage showing items similar to those being used are the easiest to follow
- Inform participants of the available sorting options at the beginning of events
Tableware
Reusable
There are free wash-your-own-dish tableware providers, and tableware rentals. Dishwashers are available in the McConnell Engineering Building(contact the EUS Office) and the SSMU Building(contact the building manager).
- EUS Plumbers Plates
- Reusable tableware provider for under 200 people
- Items: drinkware, dishes, utensils, and more! All on website.
- Availability: 48 hours for <30 items of a type, 96 hours otherwise
- Location: EUS Common Room, McConnell Engineering Basement
- Cost: $20 refundable deposit per bin, by cash/internal transfer
- Fill out request form with items from our website
- We will reply within 36 hours with availability and time
- Meet in common room to exchange the supplies for deposit
- use, wash, and dry items and pack into bins in common room
- return supplies clean and undamaged by appointed time to get deposit back
- Contact: plumbers.plates@mcgilleus.ca or (Website in Progress)
- SSMU Plate club
- Reusable tableware provider for under 200 people
- Items: drinkware, dishes, utensils, and more! All on website.
- Availability: 72 hours for up to 200 participants
- Location: SSMU Building, 16:00-17:00(M-F)
- Cost: $20 refundable cash deposit per bin
- Send email requesting items from the website
- We will reply within 48 hours with availability and time
- Pick up supplies during office hours
- use, wash, and dry items and pack into bins
- return supplies within one week to get deposit back
- Contact: theplateclub@gmail.com
- EcoCup
- Plastic cup (Blues Pub-style) rental that washes for $0.20/cup
- Contact: info@ecocup-canada.ca]
- Celebrations Group
- tableware rental company for over 200 people
- Contact: order information on website