ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½

Today is Global Recycling Day, a worldwide day of reflection and hopefulness (amid the current craziness and uncertainty) that prompts us to think about how to improve the health of the planet. It’s a day to consider our consumption habits and to think about where our waste ends up after we dispose of it. (Realising that, no, it doesn’t disappear into fairy dust.)

ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ is committed to creating a more sustainable future and we’re always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint. In fact, we’re on a bold mission to become carbon neutral by 2023, and have been steadily implementing a number of initiatives that demonstrate our dedication to recycling and reducing waste wherever possible.

Here are some of the planet-friendly things we do around campus:

• Sourcing eco-friendly academic gowns made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles.
• Providing students and staff with recycling stations for used batteries, toner cartridges and old computer equipment.
• Donating plastic bread tags to a company that collects and recycles them to support people with disabilities.
• Collecting water through extensive rainwater harvesting systems, and using the water on our gardens and to flush toilets.
• Recycling materials from old buildings to construct our new residential building.
• Installing PaperCut software onto our printing systems, which enables us to better track and reduce paper usage. 
• Investing in a GAIA waste processing system for our kitchen, which transforms food scraps into compost for campus gardens and minimises our contribution to landfill.
• Purchasing food supplies in bulk to reduce excess packaging and decrease the strain on Australia’s recycling system.
• Providing students and staff with biodegradable plates, cutlery, and coffee cups – and encouraging the use of reusable items such as KeepCups when possible (COVID-19 notwithstanding).

'The world is made out of limited resources. One day we will run out of them. Waste not, want not still applies and should always be followed as a rule. Reducing waste and consumption also reduces pollution to the sea and land. It only takes a little from each individual to make a lot from the masses.

ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ is a home for many young and passionate students. The influences people experience in tertiary education can be the building blocks for informing behaviour for the rest of the next generation’s lives.' 

 - Lexie Sarstedt and Oscar Yencken, ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ sustainability interns

Read more about Trinity’s sustainability efforts and .