Wrapping up

Reflection

Please take a few minutes to write and answer the provided reflection questions. A good response is usually a minimum of five sentences.

We strongly recommend that you:

• Keep a reflection notebook, log, or journal, and save a copy of your reflection in it.
• Share and discuss your response with others.
• If you are completing this module as part of a class or workshop, you will likely be discussing your reflection as part of a group activity.

If you are completing this module alone, try finding a group of interested friends or colleagues to discuss your reflections with.

1. Reflect on the product life cycle and the example life cycle assessment on the cotton t-shirt. What did you learn about the creation of everyday products that you own and use? Why do you think knowing and understanding this cycle matters? How will this knowledge affect your actions moving forward?
   
   
2. Thinking about the 5Rs, list 5 actions you can take (one for each of the Rs) to improve your waste management. (ex. reusing old gift bags and wrapping for presents).

Resource and waste management in action

Now that you have a more holistic view on resource and waste management, it is time to learn about how resource and waste management takes place in Canada, New Brunswick, and at UNB.

Natural resource management

Canada is globally recognized for the abundant wealth of its natural resources, a key contributor to the economy. Hence, the need for all levels of government to manage both renewable and non-renewable resources.

Provincial/territorial governments

• Legal authority to manage their own non-renewable, forestry and electrical energy resources.
• Permitted to enact laws related to exploring non-renewable resources and developing, conserving and managing natural resources.

Local, municipal and Indigenous governments

• Required to make by-laws dealing with local matters such as zoning regulations.
• Indigenous governments exercise a range of powers over reserve lands, with many being similar to local, municipal, or provincial governments.

UNB

Manages natural resources through decisions made about:

• Central heating plant fuels
• Utilities use and delivery, including steam, water, electricity and other fuels
• Campus vehicle fleet fuel
• UNB Woodlot and Noonan Research Forest management
• Paper and printed materials use

Waste management

Provincial/territorial governments

• Develop and implement waste reduction policies and programs as well as monitor waste management facilities.
• In New Brunswick, we follow the 2001 New Brunswick Waste Reduction & Diversion Action Plan, which guides local decision makers as they work towards enhancing waste management initiatives and programs.

Municipal governments

• Responsible for the collection, recycling, composting, and disposal of waste, following the New Brunswick Clean Environment Act.
• Fredericton manages waste through the Garbage and Recycling program. This provides curbside collection of garbage and recycling materials services to approximately 18,000 residences. Waste and recyclables are delivered to the landfill and material sorting recovery facility operated by Fredericton Regional Solid Waste.
• Saint John introduced the Waste Wise Program in 2022. This program was designed to increase curbside recycling and composting collection services and limit garbage among residences. By providing free recycling materials and services, the city is encouraging residents to recycle and reduce waste that ends up in the landfill.

UNB

• Waste audit: A waste audit was conducted on the Fredericton campus in 2018 by the Green For Life (GFL) incorporation. There will be future waste audits conducted.
• Three-sort bins: In 2015, UNB started switching over single use trash-bins to a three-sort bin. This will improve the institution's recycling capabilities.
• 5R Hierarchy: These steps have been adopted by UNB to ensure that more waste is diverted from the landfill than disposed of.
• Partnership with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Restore: A policy that was put in place since late spring 2022 that before we dispose of office furniture or other good quality items, UNB reaches out to the local HFH Restore to coordinate a pick-up of goods on campus. Learn more on our Green Review blog.
• Saint John Garden Committee: There is a local garden that UNB members have access to grow their food during the summer months.
• E-waste locations: To make it easy for you to dispose of unwanted personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, batteries, and empty printer cartridges. ​​​​​​​
  • Fredericton: Outside the ITS department in Head Hall (D level) AND in the Harriet Irving Library Commons
  • Saint John: Call2Recycle boxes are located in various departments around campus. The most accessible location for the general population is on the 3rd floor of Hazen Hall, outside the Information Services and Systems office.

UNB campus sustainability maps

Conclusion

In this module, you learned about both natural resource management and waste management. You learned about the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources and between hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

We introduced the resource or product life cycle and looked at a simple cotton t-shirt as an example of a life cycle assessment. We also looked closely at the waste management hierarchy, including a comparison of the more commonly known “3 Rs” and the more complete “5 Rs”.

You took a few minutes to check your understanding of key concepts and some time to reflect on both life cycle assessment and the “5 Rs.” Finally, you learned about how natural resource and waste management work in Canada at the national, provincial, and municipal levels and how UNB is doing our part.

Resources

Resource and waste management in social media

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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