Recycling at BCIT: A Proposal for Sustainable Waste Management

Abc enterprises

3700 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby,

BC V5G 3H2,

Canada

10^th February’ 2021

Tina Martinez, Chair

BCIT sustainability fund

Dear Mrs Martinez:

Recycling at BCIT

The project aims at including the use of technology into the recycling system of BCIT. There is a lot of wastage in terms of paper in the university campus. This wastage can be reduced through the help of a more effective and efficient way of reducing the use of paper through recycling. Sustainability in the case of BCIT has a lot of advantages including segregation of waste, proper waste management strategy (Islam, Dias, & Huda, 2021). Sustainability is the goal which is to be achieved y the whole world because it will give a chance to the future generations to have access natural resources. BCIT has been making efforts towards making the campus sustainable through the help of recycling waste paper. This progress can be seen since 1992. I recommend the university to switch to a Paper-less means in most of the ways.

Background

The waste management program at BCIT is extensive as it includes the use of recycling and composting. The use of equipment which can recycle paper will be a great help to the university in terms of putting the idea of sustainability forward (Senaratne et al., 2016). The report letter puts forward the value that technology can add to the recycling program of BCIT.

The primary research has been done through the help of peer reviewed articles and journals regarding waste management program. I have centred my research to two most useful alternatives that I found out through the help of extensive research. The first alternative is to collaborate with a recycling company and the other alternative is to build equipment with the help of the intelligence of students of BCIT to recycle paper. Both of these alternatives in my opinion will contribute towards the prime aim of developing a sustainable environment for university.

Alternative one: Collaborating with a recycling company

This is a great alternative for managing and recycling the waste of university. All the plastic waste and paper waste can be sent to the recycling company which will help in managing the waste at best. This collaboration will be beneficial for both the parties as the university can sign a yearly contract with the company. This will result in high efficiency recycling practices at BCIT which will contribute towards sustainability goals (Jager & Piscicelli, 2021). Recycling and sustainability are directly related. Recycling is a practice which leads to sustainability.

Problem: the problem that is identified in the university recycling system is that there is no proper technology use which can help in making the process efficient. There is a huge amount of paper used in the university which needs to be recycled. This paper gets wasted on an everyday basis as there is no specific technology which can be used by BCIT to reduce the wastage. This can be resolved with the help of the above stated collaboration. Due to the lack of technology in terms of recycling practices at BCIT, there is a huge scope which is yet unidentified.

Importance of collaboration: collaboration with a recycling company can help BCIT to recycle toe daily waste of paper which is present. This is a problem which requires immediate attention of the authority to achieve the goal of sustainability. I believe that our university is highly committed to the value of recycling and implementing this strategy will help in managing the problem effectively (Yu et al., 2021). This type of collaboration will also increase the market reputation of BCIT. Collaboration plays a very important role in terms of managing a change which has to be implemented in the university.

Limitation: the collaboration requires a highly efficient level of budgeting and management. It will also require the use of legal implications related to the collaboration. Also this alternative will not trigger any type of creativity within the university students.

Alternative two: Developing equipment to recycle waste

BCIT is a huge university and waste management becomes very difficult when done manually. The waste stream in BCIT campus is burned in all the forms (solid, liquid and gas). The recycling of waste is done with the help of composting at BCIT. BCIT started Canada’s largest compost system in a commercial field. The only drawback in the present system is the lack of proper technology. Developing equipment which can be used to recycle waste by the university students is the second alternative which is proposed by the report letter. I have managed to investigate the value this recycling project can bring to the university and the students as well.

Importance of the alternative

There is a huge amount of waste generated in the campus which can be recycled. If we develop equipment which can recycle the waste generated in the university, it will make the process much more creative (Arain et al., 2020). This equipment will be based on the sole value of recycling of plastic and paper which are the two wastes that generate in the university. This can also act as a project for the students where all of the departments have to make their respective contribution.

How will the project work?

After extensive research, I have been able to identify the problems which are present in BCIT and how they can be effectively omitted. Below are the steps which can be followed by the organization

• Each department will have to make their contribution to the project. (one department can help in forming the structure of the machine, another can help with the management)

• After preparing a theoretical model for the project, the students can take approval from higher authorities to go forward.

• The students will also be allowed to take external help and make their project a success.

Advantages of the project

• The project will bring out the best in the students and also help them to understand the practical implications of their respective fields of study.

• This will also be cost effective as it will count as assignments for the students which will reduce the cost

• This will make the students more prepared for their future endeavours ad they have gone through real life implications

• The marketing department will be responsible for maintaining the buzz about the project as it will also help in maintaining the reputation BCIT.

• I also believe that it will help the students in developing a sense of responsibility towards waste management and recycling of the university (Demets et al., 2020).

Conclusion

I have been able to investigate the recycling process of BCIT due to the help of authorities. I believe that waste management of BCIT is efficient enough but the recycling process of the university still needs work. The implementation of technology to the present system will enhance the efficiency of recycling. The amount of waste that is generated in the university is huge which needs a solution which is cost effective as well as creative for the students. The project will also make the students more aware regarding the importance of recycling in maintaining the sustainability.

Justify conclusion with highlights of findings

The project will help in making the students more creative and will also help the students of all the departments to be a part of the project. This type of strategy will help the university to create a high reputation through the help of its marketing team efforts. This will also create a buzz on social media which will help in generating awareness regarding the value that recycling to achieving sustainability. I will recommend the university to use the alternative two. Although alternative one is highly efficient, it lacks the concept of creativity which is highly needed by students of university. The report letter has concluded the importance of recycling for university and how this goal can be achieved using appropriate strategies. The letter has provided all the required details for the project to be a success.

I hope this report has been able to answer the questions related to recycling alternatives that can be used at BCIT. All the questions are welcomed at the meeting which I will organize to discuss the project of recycling management at BCIT. Contact me at my email address abcd@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

xyz

(Student of BCIT)

References

Arain, A. L., Pummill, R., Adu-Brimpong, J., Becker, S., Green, M., Ilardi, M., ... & Neitzel, R. L. (2020). Analysis of e-waste recycling behavior based on survey at a Midwestern US University. Waste Management, 105, 119-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.02.002

Demets, R., Roosen, M., Vandermeersch, L., Ragaert, K., Walgraeve, C., & De Meester, S. (2020). Development and application of an analytical method to quantify odour removal in plastic waste recycling processes. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 161, N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104907

Islam, M. T., Dias, P., & Huda, N. (2021). Young consumers’e-waste awareness, consumption, disposal, and recycling behavior: A case study of university students in Sydney, Australia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 282, 124490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124490

Jäger, J. K., & Piscicelli, L. (2021). Collaborations for circular food packaging: The set-up and partner selection process. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26, 733-740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.12.025

Merrild, H., Damgaard, A., & Christensen, T. H. (2008). Life cycle assessment of waste paper management: The importance of technology data and system boundaries in assessing recycling and incineration. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52(12), 1391-1398. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.08.004

Senaratne, S., Gerace, D., Mirza, O., Tam, V. W., & Kang, W. H. (2016). The costs and benefits of combining recycled aggregate with steel fibres as a sustainable, structural material. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 2318-2327. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.041

Yu, Y., Yazan, D. M., Bhochhibhoya, S., & Volker, L. (2021). Towards Circular Economy Through Industrial Symbiosis in the Dutch Construction Industry: A Case of Recycled Concrete Aggregates. Journal of Cleaner Production, 126083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126083