Garbage Audit At UNBC Turns Up Surprises

Thursday, March 20, 2008 01:16 PM

Danielle Smyth reviews the results of her garbage audit amidst bags of examples ( photo opinion250 staff)

Prince George, B.C. - The first garbage audit at the University of Northern B.C. has been completed, and Masters student, Danielle Smyth says she was surprised at what she found. “It is kind of scary, I mean what is happening with people’s behaviour?”

(at right, students sifting through garbage, photo courtesy UNBC)

Danielle is still crunching all the numbers and won’t have a complete report on her findings until May, but she has told Opinion250 she sifted through one half of the week’s worth of garbage collected throughout the campus and found:

1727 disposable coffee cups

150 kg of compost acceptable food items “This was really surprising” says Danielle “We have a composting program here, so why are people throwing this stuff away?”

There was also plenty of paper that was only written on one side. “The paper can be reused, and there were lots of sheets of paper that hadn’t been touched.”

In addition, Danielle says they discovered unused garbage bags “They were still folded” and refundable bottles and cans.

“That was surprising to me” says Danielle, “We have recycling bins on campus, but I think they may be too confusing to people. The number of bottles and cans we found in the garbage would be enough to fund a good recycling program.” She says there may be a need for more recycling bins, and clearer instructions as the bins don’t say if the “bottles” accepted include plastics.

Danielle is still trying to make a visual impact on her fellow students. She plans to string together the coffee cups to show how long the “string” is. Danielle, who uses a reusable thermal travel coffee cup, says everyone can make a difference “ I want everyone to know it’s not just one building, it’s all of us and there are things we can do, even if it’s as simple as not getting a bag when we buy our donuts or muffins.”

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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 01:16 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Death to Socialism on March 20 2008 1:50 PM

Shocking! The garbage was found to contain... GARBAGE!

Posted by: rayban68 on March 20 2008 2:52 PM

Death, the results are not all in yet... they cannot yet say for certain that the garbage contains garbage. Perhaps the City can assist in locating an out-of-town expert to conduct further study?

Posted by: The_grandinquisitor on March 20 2008 3:12 PM

Wow and to think she may get a master's degree for this garbage.

Posted by: Eagleone on March 20 2008 3:15 PM

Thats nothing. When I was a kid I once rode my tricycle down to the corner store and found enough bottles in the garbage can to buy some gum balls, fizz pops, and a can of pop. For a while I considered making it a career... I didn't know it required a master degree though. Turns out I didn't have the proper qualifications papers in place and with the cost of tuition these days, and lack of corporate training programs, I just figured there has to be a better career option. Thank god for that now... the whole ocupation has been taken over by the elites and there's no place for the dumpster diver anymore.

Posted by: Junco on March 20 2008 3:22 PM

Now if she finds a new car under one of those 1727 "roll up the rim to win" coffee cups, is it hers to keep or is it UNBC property?

Posted by: Junco on March 20 2008 3:24 PM

Cause I'm sure one of those was my cups and I forgot to roll up the rim...I may sue.

Posted by: Palopu on March 20 2008 4:50 PM

Its rather interesting that people who are going to UNBC to get a University education, are not able to determine where to deposit their garbage, bottles, etc; Maybe we need to upgrade our entrance average to 85% like other Universities, rather than leave it low so we can play the numbers game for funding.

Posted by: Runner46 on March 20 2008 5:25 PM

Obviously the greater community does not benefit from higher education when it comes to being thoughtful and diligent...

But again, higher education cannot be held responsible for anyones health habits. That is a function of family, community and personal thoughfulness.

Posted by: thereasonableman on March 20 2008 5:49 PM

I did a garbage survey in the bush and found enough appliances to outfit a condominium complex. I'm going to apply for funding...

Posted by: tinyapplecork on March 21 2008 1:07 AM

lol. For crying out loud! I mean no offense but honestly, I pay a fee to NOT recycle if I so choose. The city collects so much tax that I feel I should not go out of my way to "recycle". The fee I pay on my bottles and cans is the "dumping" charge. So go ahead and tell me what a terrible person I am. When the city uses the money to provide curbside recycling then I may choose to do so. In the meantime, what a waste of time and perfectly good string. New piece of string wasted on garbage?! Insane. Good luck to you. Hope you accomplish something productive and beneficial to society.

Crazy!

Posted by: palomino on March 21 2008 8:10 AM

I applaud you Danielle, for trying to somehow show us how blatantly wastefull we truly are ! Mulitply what you've found out about UNBC's garbage habits, by an entire city, then by an entire country, and then by an entire Continent, and it becomes readily apparent why we're going to irreversably poison the world's oceans, and atmosphere some day, and thusly the entire planet, unfortunately in the not so distant future !
I ask those previous posters who scoff at your efforts, "would you drink the groundwater leaching out of that dump on the Hart"? Its all going somewhere into the environment, and eventually back into yours and my drinking water, or that of someone furthur downstream.
If every one of us took a little more care in what we "dump" into our environment every day, maybe we'd be able to leave our Grandkids a planet they can live and breathe in, instead of a nothing but a giant DUMP.

palomino

Posted by: Foo738 on March 21 2008 9:09 AM

I agree with Palomino. Good research project Danielle. Close at hand, observable, measureable and the results could change the planet.
Despite the jeers, carry on.
I know you must pay for your own tuition and good on ya'.
I hope you post the results on Opinion 250.

Posted by: chickenbus on March 21 2008 9:21 AM

Tinyapplecork - you are 100% correct in stating that you have a right not to recycle or not to wear a seat belt or not to decrease your driving habits. My question is are your decisions intelligent ones? Personally, I think not.

Posted by: Norm1 on March 21 2008 1:15 PM

Palimino got it right by saying.....
____________________________________

I applaud you Danielle, for trying to somehow show us how blatantly wastefull we truly are .................
If every one of us took a little more care in what we "dump" into our environment every day, maybe we'd be able to leave our Grandkids a planet they can live and breathe in, instead of a nothing but a giant DUMP.
__________________________________

I too applaud Danielle and the students of UNBC for their survey.

The collective "we" certainly need to open our eyes and care for our surroundings.

Posted by: robichal on March 21 2008 9:13 PM

I also applaud Danielle! You folks who are slagging her are a big part of the planets problems. Reason: you don't care,are lazy, probably the type who when finishes their softdrink while driving just leisurely unrolls your window and throws into the ditch. You can laugh at Danielle all you want but at least she is going to make a difference to this planet in a positive way rather than a negative, irresponsible, untelligent manner. Shame on all of you who think what she is doing is a waste of time! Go live in a dump because this is what you are creating of our planet.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 22 2008 8:23 AM

Living in the dump is illegal. The dump has lots of good stuff, it just offends someone at city hall to think people can clean up at a dump. The city is very protective about their dump.