Reducing waste at UNB

refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot

At UNB our first priority of waste management is reducing the amount of waste we produce. If we all take action and refuse products we do not need, reduce our consumption where possible and reuse what we can, there will be less waste to recycle or send to rot in the landfill.

Centrally-located waste bins

An emerging trend at other institutions aiming to increase their diversion rates is to provide centrally located waste bins that allow individuals to sort their trash based on a three stream system: garbage, paper and refundable materials. This approach provides people streaming options when disposing of waste.

Three-stream waste management system

UNB has been implementing a three-stream waste management system: Garbage, paper and refundable material. We encourage UNB community members to recycle what is possible on campus, and utilize external recycling options for the remainder of your waste.

  1. Paper: White and coloured paper, cardboard, paperback books, newspapers, flyers, boxboard, phonebooks, magazines, notebooks (with metal removed)

  2. Refundables: Aluminum cans, glass beverage bottles, plastic beverage bottles and jugs

  3. Waste: Tim Horton's cups, foil-lined food wrappers (on granola bars, chip bags), soiled paper and cardboard, non-recyclable plastics (bubble wrap, cling wrap), tissues and paper towel, glass (except bottles)

Plastics recycling

You might have noticed that UNB does not offer recycling for plastics that are not beverage containers. Unfortunately, all plastics (other than beverage containers) must be sorted as waste on campus. However, you do have some options if you would like to recycle your plastics:

  • Take them home to your blue bin (if you live off campus) for curbside pick-up. Plastics labeled 1 through 7 are recycable in Fredericton.
  • Take them to one of Fredericton's recycling drop locations (232 Rookwood Avenue and 605 Cliffe Street).

Compost

Composting is not offered by the City of Fredericton, and UNB does not currently have the capacity to process compost, therefore food must be sorted as waste on campus. However, we encourage you to use alternative methods of composting.

  • Bring home your organic waste daily and place it in your backyard composter or a private composting service bin.
  • Ask to bring your home compost to a community garden or local farm who will put your organic waste to use.

New Brunswick's e-waste program

New Brunswick established its first electronic waste management program in 2017.

Our Fredericton campus has two electronic waste recycling bins to make it easier for the UNB community to dispose of unwanted personal electronic devices, such as smartphones, batteries, and empty printer cartridges. These electronic waste recycling bins can be found at the following locations:

  • Outside the ITS department in Head Hall (D level)
  • The Harriet Irving Library

UNB Sustainability encourages faculty and staff teams to collect batteries in their office spaces and bring them to one of the electronic waste recycling bins. If teams have a larger box of batteries for disposal, it may be easier to have a team member take it to a local drop-off location.

When a computer gets replaced at the University of New Brunswick, it doesn’t get thrown in a landfill. One project coordinated by ITS, the Student Union, and Financial services is the Great Computer Giveaway. Laptops that are coming out of service, that were a part of the Student Technology Fee purchases from prior years, are refurbished and offered to students in financial need. The giveaway has provided over 400 computers to students at no cost to them since 2004.

Computers and flat panel monitors go to the Computers for Schools program, where systems are supplied to local schools, libraries and non-profits/charities.


To make it easy for you to dispose of unwanted personal electronic devices, such as cell phones and batteries, UNB Saint John has Call2Recycle boxes located in various departments around campus. The most accessible location for the general population is on the 3rd floor of Hazen Hall, outside the Infomration Services and Systems Office.

If your unit collects a lot of batteries you can make a request for a Call 2 Recycle box from ISS at itservicedesk@unb.ca. Once the box is filled, arrange with the mailroom for the courier on the box to pick it up and then request a new box.

When a computer gets replaced at the University of New Brunswick, it doesn’t get thrown in a landfill. That computer could potentially be repurposed as required on campus, go to the Computers for Schools program or once it does arrive at end of life it is recycled through the NB ewaste program.

One project coordinated by ISS, Student Services, and Financial services is a student giveaway. Computers that are coming out of service, that were a part of the Student Technology Fee purchases from prior years, are offered to students in financial need.


For more information about the electronic waste recycling program, see Recycle NB.