Waste Disposal and Shredding

Removing deskside bins is a key component for the successful implementation of a centralized waste-disposal program. It will also result in savings necessary to address budget challenges related to office waste collection and disposal.  

Rogers Communications successfully transitioned 21,066 employees across Canada to use centralized waste stations in lieu of personal deskside bins and their recycling rates increased by 70-90%, earning them a spot among Canada’s Greenest Employers 2022.

The lack of a personal bin requires people to consciously acknowledge and engage with the materials they acquire and accumulate for disposal. It encourages them to consider alternate routines and better habits — not only for how they manage waste, but also for how it’s created at the start.

Institutions such as hospitals, large corporations and municipal offices have implemented similar programs when their waste-audit data showed poor waste sorting when deskside bins remained available. Organizations that have implemented similar programs include:

• McGill University
• Queen’s University
• University of Guelph
• Ontario Tech University
• Mount Royal University
• Harvard University
• University Health Network
• Rogers Communications
• City of Winnipeg
• Google (London, UK)

Programs that discourage the use of deskside bins have been shown to be more successful because they require people to consciously engage with the materials they accumulate for disposal rather than discard them with minimal consideration.

While the change is a marked departure from previous practices, we are hopeful that our community will embrace the change and support the university in meeting our waste-diversion goals — both individually and institutionally.

In collaboration with a selection of user groups, in 2021 the Sustainability Office piloted a centralized waste program roll-out in 10 buildings across campus — including in the Centre for Urban Innovation, Eric Palin Hall and The Chang School of Continuing Education — and removed deskside bins from participating offices. 

After a short adjustment period, community members in participating offices became accustomed to the new system and Facilities Management and Development received very few reports of issues from participants after they developed new routines. 

A quick stop at the nearest central receptacle on campus is not much different than trips to the home kitchen organics bin when working from home or watching TV with snacks. Getting up for a two-minute walk and a screen break every 30 to 60 minutes is also recommended by ergonomics experts for improving focus and wellbeing. So although centralized waste programs may be met with initial resistance, people become accustomed to the change and its benefits.

Resistance to centralized-waste programs is often centered around concerns about disruptions to workflow or wasting time. Here, we’ve highlighted quick tips to help manage desktop waste between trips to the bin: 

• Reduce waste at the source: Avoid single-use items like post-it notes when there are reusable options available like digital reminders or whiteboards; prioritize paperless documents where possible; take advantage of reusable insulated mugs to keep your beverage warm and avoid disposable cups and water bottles.
• Survey your desktop for materials destined for waste before you make trips to the washroom, kitchen or meeting rooms to develop a habit of stopping by the sorting stations on your workplace travels.
• Set aside papers intended for shredding or disposal until your lunch break or the end of the day rather than thinking of them as one-at-a-time items. 
• Eat away from your desk: Eating away from your desk provides a healthy mental break from work and avoids the accumulation of waste like food containers, utensils and napkins in your workspace.

Waste receptacles were removed from all classrooms in 2019 as part of the initial transition to a centralized waste system. During COVID-19, small bins for the disposal of disinfectant wipes only were re-introduced into classrooms and will be withdrawn when the disinfectant-wipes program concludes. 

The 2024 Winter Term change does not affect the cleaning or waste-disposal protocols for laboratories, shops, washrooms, kitchens, meeting rooms, events spaces or lounge areas and bins will not be removed from those spaces.

The original number and configuration of waste sorting stations on campus was based on waste-audit data from pre-Covid occupancy levels and activities. Facilities Services will be monitoring the centralized bins and community feedback on usage and collection rates. Some of the waste sorting stations may be relocated or new ones added when data and service requests identify areas where bins are underutilized and others are in higher demand.

Good campus stewardship is a shared responsibility. Your feedback is important to help us identify areas that need attention and optimize sorting-station distribution. If you see a bin that is too full or requires collection, contact the Facilities Help Desk to request Waste Disposal services and let us know if you feel a bin should be in a better spot.

Case studies of centralized-waste programs have shown that by leaving deskside waste bins in place, people are more likely to abstain from sorting, contaminate recyclables with food waste and forget to empty them or clean residues from inner bin surfaces. This can lead to issues related to odors from spoiling organics and the potential of attracting pests.

Even conscientious people who support recycling and composting programs tend to forgo sorting if it means they must separate soiled items from one bin — where landfill and organics have been commingling — to another by hand.

When Etsy removed individual waste bins (external link)  in their Brooklyn headquarters, their recycling increased by 20% and their compost rate jumped 300%, which highlights how much more effective the sorting stations are when personal bins are removed.

Contamination compromises waste diversion because too much cross-stream mixing may mean that entire loads of recyclables could be rejected by waste processors and viable materials get sent to landfill instead.