R4: Rethink, Reduce/Reuse, Recycle

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What is R4?

The mission of R4 is to promote Concordia community engagement in environmental stewardship on campus. Through re-thinking of our daily waste output, and through out initiatives, reducing, reusing and recycling, R4 seeks to divert as much waste as is possible that would otherwise be destined for landfill. As a working group of Sustainable Concordia, a group working to integrate sustainability, which includes social justice, ecological integrity, and economic prosperity, on campus. R4 concentrates its effort on environmental initiatives while integrating social and economic concerns in the decision making progress.

The goals of R4 are:

1. To educate Concordia campus community members (CCMs) on the importance of the four approaches to waste management;

2. To encourage CCMs to become actively involved in their recycling system;

3. To develop and support initiatives which evaluate and implement waste reduction and recycling practices.

Why R we here?

In 2004, Concordia University sent over 746 tonnes of waste (the equivalent of about 50 garbage trucks) to the Lachenais landfill. Our waste output is increasing at an average rate of 9 per cent per year, with waste disposal costs rising at an alarming average rate of 24 per cent per year. In 2003-04 more than $63,000 was spent to dispose of the garbage created on campus. According to the waste audit performed in January 2005, 30 percent of the waste sent to landfill could be recycled. A recycling audit later that year showed that of materials found in PVM (plastic, glass, metal) recycling bins, 22 per cent paper or cardboard and 6 per cent are pure garbage.

Our day-to-day actions have a great impact on the environment, especially in terms of what we consume and throw in the garbage. R4 Concordia seeks to find creative ways to first rethink, reduce our impact through reducing the packaging and ecological impact of the products we use; to reuse when possible and recycle as the last step. With the help of Custodial Services and the West Island Rehabilitation Centre, R4 offers a wide spectrum of services to the Concordia community.