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Winter 2014

Western Team Takes on Toxic Trash

If you have an article idea for the Sustainability Newsletter, or for more information, please contact Stefanie De Adder, Sustainability Coordinator, at sustainability@uwo.ca or visit the Sustainability Website at sustainability.uwo.ca.

By: Jeff Smith

When someone thinks about cigarettes and the dangers they pose, the adverse effects on human health usually come to mind. However, a growing concern in many cities is the danger the cigarette causes to the environment after it has been used and flicked away. Cigarette butts are not only unsightly, but they are also toxic. Contrary to popular belief, they are not made of cotton; they are made of a non-biodegradable plastic that can enter our waterways and has a detrimental impact on fish and other wildlife. We generally look down on those who litter, but that attitude doesn’t tend to carry over to smokers discarding their cigarette butts.

Cigarette butts are NOT made of cotton. They are composed of a non-biodegradable plastic, and they are toxic.

A group of students in the Masters of Environment & Sustainability program at Western have recognized this detrimental impact and created a campaign to educate individuals and clean up the cigarette butt heavy areas of London. The Butt Recycling Campaign (BRC) aims to spread awareness and educate the general

public on the dangers of carelessly discarding cigarette butts, as well as the benefits of recycling them. Teracycle is a company that specializes in recycling cigarette butts, and in exchange for them, they make a charitable donation to an organization of the donor’s choosing.

The BRC held their initial educational campaign and downtown clean up on October 30th, 2013. The event was a huge success. Volunteers from the BRC cleaned up a designated section of downtown close to the Richmond and Dundas intersection, and while doing so, educated the public on the dangers of discarding cigarette butts and the benefits of disposing of them in recycling receptacles provided by the City.

Public feedback was very positive, as citizens appreciated the clean-up initiative as well as the educational aspect. Funding was provided through a grant from the London Community Fund, as well as through donations and support from Downtown London, the City of London, and Clean Works Pathways.

Building on the success of the first event, the BRC is currently planning their next event to take place on April 1, 2014. If you are interested in participating in the event, or would like to learn more about the initiative, please visit BRC on facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/london.butts) or contact the group at: buttrecycle@gmail.com.

Members of Western’s Butt Recycling Campaign group. From left to right: Gillian, Katie, Krista, Kaila and Jeff.

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National Environmental Events Calendar (February-April 2014)February February 2 (Sunday) – World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day began in 1971 in an attempt to improve wetland conservation and raise public awareness around the world. Even though Canada has more wetlands than any other country, habitat destruction and fragmentation is taking a huge toll on the ecosystem. To help do your part, and to celebrate World Wetlands Day, here are some things you can do:

• Reduce your water consumption by taking shorter showers, fixing leaky taps, turning off the water while brushing your teeth, and doing less frequent, larger loads of laundry.

• Take a walk on one of London’s Conservation Area trails and get acquainted with the local wildlife. Remember to leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but pictures!

• Take any expired or unused medication to a nearby drug store with a take-back program. Medication that is thrown in the garbage or flushed down the toilet has a negative impact on wetlands.

MarchMarch 21 (Friday) - International Day of Forests

Beginning just over one year ago, the International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations

(Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/forestsday/background.shtml).

Forests cover approximately one third of the Earth’s land mass and around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood.

Something that everyone can do to support the International Day of Forests is participate in tree planting activities and purchase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. FSC paper comes from responsibly managed forests around the world and promotes environmentally, socially and economically sustainable management of the world’s forests.

March 22 (Saturday) - World Water Day 2014: Water and Energy

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. http://www.worldwaterday.org.

This year, there is a special focus on the water-energy nexus. Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires utilization

of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy sources. Conversely, about 8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers (Source: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about-world-water-day/world-water-day-2014-water-and-energy/en/).

Do your part to help conserve one of our most precious resources. Check out pg. 6 for some tips on how to conserve water.

March 29 (Saturday), 8:30-9:30 PM Earth Hour

Every year on the last Saturday in March, the world joins together to turn the lights out from 8:30-9:30 PM. According to earthday.org, this initiative, known as Earth Hour, is the largest call for action on climate change in history and continues to grow every year. Together we can inspire change, big or small, to change the world we live in. Turn your lights out for one hour on Saturday, March 29th and help reduce the effects of climate change!

AprilApril 22 (Tuesday) - Earth Day

Earth Day occurs on April 22nd each year, and is highlighted by “Acts of Green” occurring all over the world. This year, the City of London will be hosting various events around Earth Day such as clean ups and tree plantings. Visit http://www.cleangreen.london.ca/apr_cal.html for more information.

There are no specific criteria for activities that occur on Earth Day, only that they should serve to help the planet and promote sustainable living!

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Western Food Sustainability (WFS) is a group of dedicated students on campus who work to make Western the most sustainable campus in Canada by educating students and faculty about their dietary choices. Their goal is to reduce the amount of meat and increase the amount of local food people consume to help reduce negative impacts on the environment. They work with Western’s Sustainability Coordinator, RezLife, Hospitality Services and EnviroWestern to spread the message of sustainable eating and increase the availability of local food and meatless options on campus.

In March, WFS will be partnering with Western’s Sustainability Coordinator and Brescia College’s FRESH (Food Resources and Education for Student Health) team to host meatless and local food cooking demonstrations, where free food will be available for all in attendance. WFS will also be working with the Western Ontario

Vegan Society to host a lecture series on sustainable diets.

WFS’s most important accomplishment is the Western Food Sustainability Network, which unites clubs that pursue sustainable diet promotion across Canada and the US, including clubs in the University of Pennsylvania, University of Toronto, McGill University and Ryerson University. The Network hosts events throughout the year, and is helping to plan the National Student Food Summit, Canada’s largest food activist gathering.

WFS is led by Vasanth Challapally, a second year student who has pursued a sustainable lifestyle for most of his life. In the past, Vasanth built Animal Relief Network, an international organisation which worked to promote sustainable diets, for which he received the prestigious Star Street Teamer award from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Through his efforts, well over 300 volunteers around the world reach

out to individuals and institutions to inform them about the benefits of eating local food and maintaining sustainable diets.

For more information on WFS, visit westernfs.org, or email Vasanth Challapally at schalla4@uwo.ca.

Western Food Sustainability

XChange4Change Reducing Western’s WasteLaunched in September

2013, Hospitality Services’ “XChange4Change” Program is geared towards reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill from residence cafeterias at Western.

Upon their arrival at Western, all students living with residence were issued a free XChange4Change card this past September. In the dining hall, students simply inform the services staff that they would like their meal to go and the meal will be placed into a reusable plastic container, or, “eco-tainer.” When students get to the cashier,

they will be asked to provide the XChange4Change card in lieu of payment for the eco-tainer (the cost of the container is $5 for those without an XChange4Change card). When the student is finished with the eco-tainer, they return it to a designated area near the cashier and will be issued a new XChnage4Change card to be used upon their next visit to the dining hall.

“XChange4Change has been hugely successful,” reported Anne Zok, Western’s Nutrition Manager. “There have not been any reports

of paper plates being purchased in residences since the program’s inception.”

It is programs like these that are helping Western on its way to becoming a Zero Waste campus.

One of the posters used by Western Food Sustainability to encourage diets containing less meat.

The XChange4Change eco-tainer card.

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Hi Western U!

My name is Stephen Szucs and I am the founder of SustainableJoes. What is SustainableJoes you ask? Joes is an organization which believes all the “Average Joes” of the world, both Josephs and Joannes, can create the #sustainableNOW!

So let’s get right to it. If you believe our world is presently operating in a sustainable manner, I suppose you can stop reading. However, if you believe we need to implement sustainable solutions into our personal lives, corporations, and society at large, then I invite you to join the journey of SustainableJoes, because it’s about to get fun! Yes, fun!

Now you may be wondering, with all the doom and gloom talk surrounding our national and global direction, how can I say: “It’s about to get fun?” Well, it’s simple:

I believe we have an opportunity!

I believe we have an opportunity to catalyze sustainable change, create the #sustainableNOW, and have a lot of fun in the process!

I believe we have the ability to operate purposeful and profitable businesses! I believe we can dovetail social responsibility, personal responsibility, corporate responsibility, and ultimate sustainability, ingraining these elements into the very fibers of our communities, corporations and personal lives, and I believe doing

this will move humanity in a much needed sustainable direction.

So how do we do this?

Simply put, by vetting all of our choices through the lens of the

#sustainableNOW.

What is the #sustainableNOW?

It is the opportunity we all have to choose the most accessible

sustainable solution, all the time.

I believe it is all of our little actions that add up to make the big difference! Ghandi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Well, Joes is about each of us choosing to be the sustainable change, and it’s this change I have chosen to dedicate my life to.

Since June 1, 2013 I have had a wild journey living “off the grid,” right here in downtown London, Ontario. All the garbage I have created, I have kept in my house. All the electricity I have consumed has come from onsite solar generation (thanks GoalZero).* All the hot water I used to

shower arrived via an outdoor solar shower.** I eliminated chemical cleaners thanks to Enjo. I led a round table for Price Waterhouse Coopers, landed on national TV a few times, built worm composters with kids, have been featured in many digital and print publications, and even had a roommate participate for a few months. This has all been done in an effort to identify actionable, sustainable solutions, showcase difference makers, and move us closer to a truly #sustainableNOW!

Who is “us?”

Simply put, humanity! Joes is a project in service of humanity, because I believe sustainability is about more than trees and whales, it’s about us! Ultimately, I believe we can create the #sustainableNOW by putting a different filter on life! I want to increase the number of SustainableJoes around the world, and invite you to join the journey. Are you ready? It’s about to get fun...but actually!

Cheers to the #sustainableNOW,

Stephen Szucs, Founder, SustainableJoes

Facebook - Twitter - YouTube – Web: SUSTAINABLEJOES

* 28% of one charge for my cell phone came from the grid once.

**Showered outside until late October when it simply became too cold in Canada to do so.

Create a #SustainableNOW - A Message from Stephen Szucs, Founder of SustainableJoes

“We gotta make a change...It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live

and let’s change the way we treat each other.You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do

what we gotta do, to survive.” - Tupac

Stephen Szucs, Founder of Sustainable Joes.

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What’s Happening at Western?Western Environmental Law

By: Devin Fulop

Western Environmental Law Association (WELA) is a body of law students that seeks to explore career options in environmental law and to create a dialogue about contemporaneous environmental issues in Canada and abroad. WELA is proud to announce that it will be hosting a speaker event on February 26th featuring two prominent environmental legal professionals. Paula Lombardi, a London-based lawyer from Siskinds LLP, and Albert Koehl, a staff lawyer from Ecojustice’s Toronto office, will be speaking about their current projects and how their career paths ultimately led to environmental law. The free event, which takes place from 12:30 - 2:00 pm in Room 36 of the Law Building, is open to all Western students, staff and faculty.

For students looking for a bit of outside fun and to learn about legal constructs that are used to protect ecologically important areas, join WELA on March 19th for a short guided hike through the Meadowlily Nature Preserve. The preserve is one of ten properties that make up the Thames-Talbot Land Trust. The group will be convening in the main lobby of the Law Building at 12:30 pm and the event is expected to last until 3:00 pm. Please contact mbaker48@uwo.ca if you would like to attend this event as transportation arrangements will need to be made.

WELA has also recently launched its pilot composting program within the Law Building. Two small collection bins service the cafeteria and the student lounge; WELA members empty the bins regularly and transfer the waste to the large, black outdoor composters that sit adjacent to the Law Building. Overall, the composting regime

has been well received among the student population and WELA is hopeful that composting’s popularity will continue to blossom as the semester progresses.

Our Green Campus

Western’s second annual “Our Green Campus” series will begin on Thursday, February 6, 2014.

Facilities Management, in partnership with the Student Success Centre and EnviroWestern, will be hosting a three-part series focusing on Environmental Sustainability. Each module will consist of a one-hour lecture, followed by a one-hour workshop or tour. This year’s topics and dates are:

Module 1- Sustainable Joes (February 6, 7-9pm): Learn about urban eco living during the back-to-back lecture and workshop.

Module 2 – Energy Usage at Western (February 24, 7-9pm): Learn about Western’s energy consumption habits and conservation measures during the back-to-back lecture and workshop.

Module 3 – Native Trees, Native Soil (March 11, 7-8pm): Learn about sustainable landscaping at Western during the one-hour lecture. The one hour tour of campus will be scheduled at a later date.

Students must register for both a lecture and its corresponding workshop or tour in order to receive credit on their co-curricular records. They will receive credit for each module they attend, and do not need to attend all three. However, students who attend all three modules will receive a certificate acknowledging their commitment to sustainability.

Registration is open on a first come, first served basis. There is a

maximum capacity of 200 students for each module.

Visit the Events List on your career central account at www.westerncareercentral.ca for more information and to register.

Rez Powers Down

For one week in March, Western’s residence students will participate in Rez Powers Down for the second time this academic year. During the challenge, students will be encouraged to cut back on their energy consumption. Some measures that they can take to cut back are:

- Take colder, shorter showers.

- Wash laundry in cold water and only when a load is full.

- Unplug all unused electronics. Note: Electronics that are turned off but plugged in still consume energy. This energy, called “phantom power” usually makes up about 10% of electricity bills.

- Dress in layers. Adjust clothing before adjusting the thermostat.

March’s Rez Powers Down event will be sponsored by Goal Zero, a company which produces a wide range of portable solar power products. The company has generously agreed to donate 10 portable solar panels and accompanying pairs of speakers to the event. These speakers can be connected to ipods and produce high quality sound without ever having to be plugged in. One “Energy Champion” within each residence will receive a solar panel and a pair of speakers.

Use promo code: WESTREZ at www.goalzero.ca to receive reduced pricing on all Goal Zero Gear!

This promo code will be active until March 31, 2014.

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Sustainability Tips, Tricks & FactsKn w?

Did You

Water Conservation Tips

Frequent User Fruit & Dairy CardHospitality Services offers a “Frequent User Fruit and Dairy Card” to customers who purchase fruit or dairy items within eateries across campus. The program was launched last year and so far approximately 1500 cards have been filled and redeemed for either a free fruit or 250 mL dairy drink. Residence students are the most frequent users of these cards, with approximately 90% of the filled cards coming from residences, and 10% coming from other eateries across campus. Everyone is encouraged to eat a healthier, more sustainable diet; request your “Frequent User Fruit and Dairy Card” next time you visit one of Western’s eateries!

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes make up approximately 21% of the world’s surface freshwater. Because of the easy access to such a large supply of freshwater, many North Americans use far more water than they need to. If behaviors don’t change, this freshwater resource will diminish.

Some tips for conserving water are: - Take shorter showers- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth- Repair leaky taps and faucets- Use refillable water bottles (it takes 2-3 times the amount of water to make a plastic water bottle as it does to fill it)- Only wash dishes and laundry when you have full loads

Million Tree ChallengeThe Million Tree Challenge is an initiative that was created by ReForest London and the City of London to plant one million trees within London. Any individual, group or organization that plants a tree within London can register their trees online at www.milliontrees.ca. Western has pledged to plant 75 trees every year. In 2013, Western’s Landscaping group planted above and beyond this number, planting over 350 trees across campus.

It is estimated that over the course of 40 years, an additional one million trees within London will save (source: www.milliontrees.ca):

$2,059,057 in energy$4,593,281 in air quality$649,395 in water quality