sustainability bulletin University of Tasmania
ISSUE 15 July/August 2020
Furniture re-use at UTAS during lockdown
AT A GLANCE
Waste Challenge Outcomes
Green Impact Australasian AwardWinners
Congratulations Chester James-Smith on being awarded the Australasian Green Impact Student Champion Award!
“A terrific achievement that speaks volumes for Chester’s understanding and implementation of sustainable practices. Congratulations to Nick Towle for your mentoring and support for Chester. This is a wonderful success that continues to put the Cradle Coast region at the forefront of action on environmental sustainability.” Pro-Vice Chancellor for Cradle Coast Region, Jim Cavaye
UTAS student Chester James-Smith led the sustainability club at the Rural Clinical School in Burnie championing campus greening activities and sustainable transport. Chester led the initiative to create a herb garden at the student accommodation for Rural Clinical School students, planting native trees and composting food waste. He also participated in planning and preparing hot breakfasts to reward staff and students who cycle to campus. For his engagement in sustainability, Chester was one of two students to be awarded the UTAS Green Impact Student Champion Award in 2019. Based on the nomination by RCS staff Chester has won the Australasian Green Impact Student Champion Award. Read more about Chester and the two other award winners and nominees on the ACTS website. The herb garden and other sustainability initiatives on the Cradle Coast Campus can be viewed through the UTAS Sustainability Tour. “The Cradle Coast is a unique place. Its intimacy to wilderness, strong community spirit, rugged history and fascinating socio-political challenges really inspired me last year. Nowhere else in the world can you drive down the street and be towered by wind turbine parts on one side and wood chips on the other. It is easy to feel detached in our comfortable lives from the climate crisis and other social justice issues, but living in the Cradle Coast region, I really felt like I was on the frontline and this was exciting. Not only was I, with my classmates, able to explore the bigger issues we also got the opportunity to question the ethics and design principles of our daily living. Through community connection, community projects, food harvesting and compost cultivating we had a blast and in those moments created a world for the future.” Chester James-Smith
Chester leads the herb garden project at the RCS in Burnie.
Students getting their hands dirty setting up the herb garden.
Chester with climate justice activists in 2019.
Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 15 July/August 2020
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Get involved in waste education this semester! UTAS Sustainability is looking for students living on-campus to participate in our Waste
Not a student living on campus? You can still participate in our upcoming events and ask your questions about reducing waste to landfill. • On 13 August join our ‘Live online state- wide waste education Q&A panel event’ from 1-2pm, with panellists from waste facilities, recycling facilities, local councils and waste education organisations in Tasmania.
Diary Project. For more information and to participate, head to www.surveymonkey. com/r/5TBH2FW. Complete a 7 day Waste Diary entry to be in the draw for a $50 gift voucher! This study has been approved by the Tasmanian Social Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, you can contact the Executive Officer of the HREC (Tasmania) Network on (03) 6226 2975 or email ss.ethics@ utas.edu.au. The Executive Officer is the person nominated to receive complaints from research participants. You will need to quote H0020547.
Sustainability Integration Program for Students
SIPS in Semester 2
Continuing the great work of Chester and other students in 2019, we have 13 students undertaking paid roles with the Sustainability Team across the state through SIPS this semester. Projects include the next phase for the Hobart City Apartments community garden, energy auditing for Launceston Clinical School, a state-wide waste education campaign for students, support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals network in Tasmania, mapping sustainability governance in Tasmania, mapping SDG targets and indicators for universities, workshops on sustainability behaviours at home and engagement with Global Climate Change Week. One student will be embarking on an IPREP placement working in collaboration with the Sustainability Team and Education for Sustainability Tasmania. Six students from the Masters of Social Work begin a group placement on the topic of food security and equity for students, this project is led by Sandra Murray, Health Sciences. Students from IT continue work on a new transport app to enable improved data collection on transport choices of students and staff. Practicing interdisciplinary collaboration, students from the Engineering Professional Practice and Environmental Management have begun in-class group projects on 10 on-campus sustainability projects this semester. The students are tasked with meeting each other to understand real world collaborations across professions. Projects have been proposed for students in Developing Your Creative and Entrepreneurial Potential and Master of Planning, Graduate Diploma of Environmental Planning, Master of Applied Science (Environmental Management) on waste and resource management at the University, data analysis of climate change education and engagement projects and lighting the campus for safety, security and biodiversity. We look forward to sharing updates and the outcomes of these projects later in the year. Follow the Students for a Sustainable UTAS Facebook page for events organised by SIPS students and shared sustainability resources.
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Check out our waste education campaign on Facebook. Take part in our know your waste quiz or take the quiz with your colleagues. Three free on-demand screenings of the new Story of Plastic film, recording of University of Tasmania Q&A waste panel event, and webinar by Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability: Rebooting Reuse. Free recordings promoted weekly on Facebook or contact us Sustainability.utas@utas.edu.au.
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Winter pruning: expert advice for students on-campus about fruit trees
Thank you to Phil Andrews, Manager Horticultural Research Centre, who met with student Residential Leaders and Student Living Support Officer, Alexander Moss at the Sandy Bay Student Living site to share expert advice on pruning fruit
trees in the shared garden for students. Photo: Yanqi Wang
Updates from the marine sphere Have you been exploring the waterways along the beautiful Tasmanian shores and spotted an animal that piqued your interest? Maybe it is something you haven’t seen before.
The Range Extension Database and Mapping (Redmap) project invites all Australians to contribute to science by sharing sightings of any ‘uncommon’ or ‘new’ species in their local waters. The information you supply to Redmap helps scientists map the movement and range extension of marine species. According to the CSIRO marine species are changing their ‘home’ and expanding their range in response to ocean warming – with consequential impacts on existing species. Watch the video by the ABC on Redmap and the importance of citizen science contributions in understanding marine systems. Read more on the research and publications from the Centre for Marine Socioecology through their annual reports available here.
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Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 15 July/August 2020
Conservatorium of Music excels in minimising clean out waste
The Conservatorium of Music (aka the Con) has gone through a massive clean out effort lead by the Infrastructure Services and Development (ISD) team. Andrew Southorn and Greg Chandler, Maintenance team, have embraced the Towards Zero Waste to Landfill mantra and went above and beyond to ensure minimal waste went to landfill and delivering sustainable outcomes for the decommissioning of the complex. Andrew and Greg were supported by other ISD staff including Jacqueline Firth, Kirsty Cochrane and Tom Rigoli. The team first assessed the furniture and fittings for use in the UTAS Re-use Program, followed by engaging St. Vincent DePaul, City Mission and Hobart recycling (Tip Shop) to remove furniture from the building to be rehomed outside the University. Non-ferrous metals and steel shelving have been recycled or given away for reuse while other recyclables have been sent to Recayal and JJ Richard. Remaining items were left at the front or side of the building for public pick-up in the age-old Tasmanian tradition of waste not want not. Thank you ISD team for your mammoth efforts to ensure minimal waste to landfill. Supporting sustainability globally Virtual: Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE) 20–21 October ACTS partner organisation based in North America, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE’s) Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE) will be held virtually from 20-22 October 2020. The theme of this year’s event will be ‘Mobilizing for a Just Transition’, with discussions on the requirements for a holistic transition from an extractive to a regenerative economy amidst social and ecological crises. Check out your registration type (students get discounted entries) and register by the 31 July to get $25 off. Virtual: Global Climate 2020 16–20 November ACTS partner organisation based in the UK, EAUC – The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education is hosting Global Climate 2020 as a global collaboration bringing together the world’s best university and college students, academics, leaders and professionals to address the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
Furniture re-use at UTAS during lockdown
Photo: Andrew Southorn
Metal shelving after being dismantled for re-use or recycling.
Can you believe it!? It’s August already! What better time than now to have a look at the Re-Use Program’s performance data for the first half of 2020!? Although we have understandably seen the demand for items drop off due to the lockdown, it has been an otherwise strong year for the program. As we return to campus, we are sure the Re-Use Program will kick back into top gear once more. Check out the following metrics through to 30 June 2020: Total Savings (AUD): $61,376
Recycling truck picking up recyclables from the Con clean out. Photo: Andrew Southorn
Waste to Landfill avoided: 13,447kg
UCapture: Save the planet. Save Money
Carbon emissions avoided: 30,729kg
Fight climate change and help the University to maintain its carbon neutral certification – for free – with UCapture. Find out more in our Greenhouse gas emissions webpage.
Number of items Added: 400
StayingWarm inWinter at Home A digital resource for staff and students Written by Dr Phillipa Watson and Professor Elaine Stratford. Designed by Grace Johnston Staying warm in homes can be especially difficult if you have ineffective home heaters and/or insulation, live in a generally ‘cold’ dwelling and/or if you are balancing heating needs and energy costs. From years of research with Tasmanian households we understand that feeling cold can affect your state of mind, overall health, and productivity. So here are a few practical and low cost ways of staying warm this winter. View online
Number of items Claimed: 424
Number of New Members: 178
Later in July we will be adding some new items. Keep your eye out for the roundup emails as unfortunately it’s first in, best dressed. Remember though, if you’re after something specific, please make use of the ‘wishlist’ feature or feel free to email reuse.program@utas.edu. au directly. As budgets tighten and expenditure is re-assessed, it’s never been a better time to contribute excess furniture and/ or claim FREE second-hand items from the Re-Use Program for all your UTAS refurbishments or projects. Please recommend the Re-Use Program to all your colleagues. We hope all existing and new members can keep on claiming in the second half of the year. After all, ‘why buy new? when you can Re-Use’!
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Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 15 July/August 2020
Waste challenge outcomes For the months of July and August, the Sustainability Team challenged themselves to look at common waste items around the office and how to replace them. Here’s what we found so far…. Varu
Will So, you forgot your reusable cup but bought a takeaway coffee anyway and now you’re standing at the bins wondering which bits of your BioPak coffee cup go where. Sound familiar? BioPak is an Aussie company focused working to make single-use packaging more sustainability. BioPak coffee cups are paper-based, sourced from managed plantations, and coated with ‘Ingeo’ – a bioplastic made from plants, not fossil fuels. The cups are printed with non-toxic, environmentally friendly water or soy-based inks. BioPak lids are made from PLA (Polylactic Item Bin
Acid) – a bioplastic made from plants instead of fossil fuels. PLA lids are intended to be commercially composted as part of the circular economy. It’s important to understand what the cups and lids are made from to help guide us through the disposal process.
I picked a sweet-tooth problem, and no I’m not talking about visits to the dentists, but instead plastic packaged snacks and individually wrapped chocolates, lollies and toffee’s around the office. To reduce chocolate wrapper waste, swap out individually wrapped chocolates for a chocolate bar. If you’d like to go the extra mile, source chocolates that are Fairtrade or Rainforest certified, just look for the logo on the packaging. Bulk wholefood stores in your local area would also sell unpackaged chocolate chunks (yum) which you can fill your container up to your hearts content. You might be thinking, hey what about the mints and chocolates at meetings? They must be wrapped to keep them fresh for longer. Alter Eco is a commercially compostable individually wrapped chocolate brand, available at wholefood stores. The wrappers can be thrown into the UTAS GREEN organics bin or FOGO bin if provided by your council. They cannot be composted in a home compost or thrown in the YELLOW recycling bin. However, it is slightly more expensive than buying a packet of Mentos. Another option is to encourage BYO nibbles or swap the lolly bowl with a fruit bowl, it’s better for you in the long run too.
What’s the difference between biodegradable and compostable? Click here
FYI
UTAS GREEN organics bin or FOGO bin if provided by your local council. Otherwise RED waste/ landfill bin. UTAS GREEN organics bin or FOGO bin if provided by your local council. Otherwise RED waste/ landfill bin.
BioPak cannot be composted in your home garden compost bin. “Bio” doesn’t equal recyclable; takeaway coffee cups do not go in the YELLOW recycling bin.
BioPak coffee cups
PLA means made from plants not fossil fuels so your lid will be labelled ‘compostable’.
Biopak PLA lid
Biopak PS lid, blank lid or only a recycling logo
BioPak cups fit universal lid sizes, your local coffee shop may source their lids from elsewhere. This means no mater which colour the lid is, check the label as the lid may not be compostable.
YELLOW recycling bin
If this all seems too complicated for a simple cup of coffee, then consider investing in a reusable cup (they are supported by most cafes again after COVID-19 concerns about safety have been addressed – just like always, make sure they are clean!), or taking a 10-minute break to dine in. Coffee tastes better out of a real cup anyway!
Carmen
Catherine Recently our team took part in a pilot trial for the student led Waste Diary Project this semester. We recorded the waste we collected over 7 days. Collecting waste helped us to identify common items we are sending to landfill and question where they are coming from. As we were working from home these related to home rather than office materials, for example single-use packaging for pasta and snacks. The motivation to investigate materials at home was spurred on by our screening of the Story of Plastic, which is available for staff and students to watch online until August 30.
cabinet or you can leave them in the Newnham TUU re-use centre, or a copy room) rather than throwing them away. Some final thoughts: do not take/accept free pens if you don’t need them. Use your pen until the end of its life and dispose of them appropriately by putting them in the recycling walls at UTAS. At the end of their life drop your pens at your nearest recycling wall. Contact will. plaister@utas.edu.au if you’d like to install a recycling wall in your campus building or UTAS accommodation building.
Despite living in a digital world, pens are still an everyday item and you have probably gone through a few in your life already (I know I have!). If you are looking for more sustainable options, here are some thoughts:
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Consider investing in a good-quality (e.g., metal) refillable pen – it can last a lifetime. Certain brands of ballpoint pens are manufactured so that you can remove the cartridge when the ink runs out and replace it with a new one. Look for cardboard pens. Our Marketing team has them on offer for University events and promotions. Buy pens made from recycled plastic; there are several options in the market. The University’s main provider (COS) offers this option. Tip: when searching for pens (or any other item!) in the COS catalogue online, filter by ‘symbol’ and select ‘eco-conscious’. If you have pens that work but you don’t need/like, consider offering them for free to your friends/colleagues or someone else (e.g., put them back in the stationery
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Bring your own containers or avoid single-use plastics through shopping at bulk food stores. Remember you don’t have to buy new to reduce your waste to landfill, find out what you have at home that can be repurposed as a container for bulk food shopping.
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Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 15 July/August 2020
Have you been to the Source Community Garden and Cafe? By Andrew Doube To find us look for the beautiful clay straw building and food garden, up the hill behind the TUU building. We are a member owned, cooperative on the Sandy Bay UTAS campus. Members Welcome! Low student numbers on campus in 2020 have provided the perfect opportunity for us to temporarily close shop to refit and refresh our building, after ten years of serving the UTAS community. We’d love you to be involved in our vibrant community, and part of the reshaping and re- opening of Source! Our AGM is approaching, and we will be seeking new board members again! This is an opportunity for anyone interested in gaining experience in inclusive consensus-based leadership. There are also plenty of opportunities to be part of our garden, events, refit, or wholefoods teams. If any of this sounds like you, please email secretary@sourcewholefoods.org.au to find out more. See you in the garden!
The Sustainability Committee is made up of representatives from across the University, from the Colleges and Divisions to students and sustainability-focused groups. The Sustainability Committee plays a key role in enabling the achievement of the University’s sustainability objectives through the Strategic Framework for Sustainability. The Committee performs this role in part through the establishment and oversight of working groups and as a conduit through to the Sustainability Steering Group and the University Council. Composition of the working groups comprises both committee members or representatives and members of the University community or external as relevant (with expertise, interest, etc). While some working groups are quite specific in membership, others are open to interested parties that want to help deliver sustainable change across the breadth of sustainability areas. The current working groups and their goals are outlined in the table. Delivering Sustainability at UTAS – who, what, how?!
Working Group
Goal(s)
Contact(s)
Nathalie Henning Advisor, Strategy and Planning Corey Peterson Sustainability Manager Margaret Otlowski Pro Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Wellbeing and Sustainability) Corey Peterson Sustainability Manager GrahamWood Lecturer in Philosophy, School of Humanities / EfS CoP representative
Ensure availability of timely and accurate sustainability data
Data and Reporting
Establish targets and indicators for the four goal areas in the Strategic Framework for Sustainability
Targets and Indicators
Education for Sustainability Community of Practice
Ensure that Education for Sustainability principles are integrated across all areas of the University
Catherine Elliott EfS CoP Facilitator
Sandy Murray Lecturer in Food, Nutrition and Public Health, School of Health Science (North) Academic Division (TBD) Corey Peterson Sustainability Manager
Sustainable Food Systems
Establish a sustainable food culture at the University
Provide support for student leaders working to integrate sustainability through University experience for students in operations, research, teaching and learning, community engagement Encourage academic communities – including academics, students, and non-academic staff at universities in all disciplines and countries – to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change action and solutions
Students for Sustainability
Catherine Elliott SIPS Coordinator
Source garden with a cozy café backdrop. Photo: Tim Cooper
Fred Gale Associate Professor in Politics & Intl Relations / Graduate Research Coordinator, CALE Kim Beasy Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy, CALE / Chair EfS Tasmania Margaret Otlowski Pro Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Wellbeing and Sustainability)
Global Climate Change Week
Bring your mug to UTAS! When returning to campus this semester, bring your mug with you! Choose to drink in or if taking away then receive a discount at all on-campus cafes when brining your own reusable mug.
Minimise petroleum-based single- use plastics use on campus
Plastic Minimisation
Corey Peterson Sustainability Manager
Jim Cavaye Pro Vice-Chancellor Cradle Coast Region Nick Towle Sustainability Projects Officer Academic Division (TBD) Corey Peterson Sustainability Manager
Cradle Coast Environmental Sustainability
Foster the interest and passion of staff and students for sustainability in the region and deliver outcomes
SDG Mapping and Implementation
Ensure that SDGs are integrated across all areas of the University
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Sustainability Bulletin • Issue 15 July/August 2020
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