Waste Diversion and the Circular Economy

Waste sorting guide

SAIT’s waste bin program includes streams for beverage containers recycling, compost, mixed recycling and trash that correspond to sorting bins located across campus.

Working together, we can divert 70% of SAIT's waste from the landfill annually.

Beverage containers

Use the beverage containers bin for refundable cans and bottles, milk cartons and tetra packs. Money from every can and drink bottle recycled goes toward an annual student award valued at $1,000.

Compost

Use the compost bin for fruit, vegetables, meat, coffee grounds, tea bags (remove any staples first), eggshells, food-soiled paper/cardboard containers (wet paper coffee cups, pizza boxes, etc.), compostable packaging, and used napkins, tissues and paper towels. What doesn’t go in compost?

• paper towels soaked with cleaning solution
• rocks and stones
• liquids

Mixed recycling

Use the mixed recycling bin for paper, clean cardboard, plastics marked #1 to 7, glass and metal cans.

• you don't need to take the labels off your mixed recycling, just rinse your cans, tubs and jars
• check your to-go container — look for the recycling or compost symbol and toss any leftovers in the compost bin before you recycle
• dry paper coffee cups can go in mixed recycling at SAIT and plastic coffee cup lids go in the trash
• clean tin foil can be wadded into a ball and put in mixed recycling
• mixed recycling can't be bagged

What doesn't go in mixed recycling?

• chip bags and snack packaging
• batteries
• black garbage bags

Trash or landfill

Use the trash/landfill bin for plastic cutlery, snack packaging and black garbage bags — and for anything you're not sure about.

OSCAR sorting system

Meet OSCAR and give it a try — this sorting system uses AI to help you put your waste in the right place. OSCAR is located on the main floor of the Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre.

Don’t worry, OSCAR only cares about waste — it doesn’t scan humans. It tracks waste metrics and doesn’t record other data in any way, shape or form.

Moving towards a circular economy

The circular economy is a model focused on minimizing waste and maximizing the use of resources by reusing, recycling, repairing and upcycling products and materials.

In addition to the campus waste bin program, SAIT also diverts electronics, furniture, used clothing and household items from the landfill through a variety of recycling, repair, reuse and donation programs.

SAIT’s office swap shop

SAIT employees can visit the Office Swap Shop to access a stock of office supplies waiting for a new home. The Swap Shop also accepts donations of unwanted office supplies.

This resource strives to mitigate waste and encourage the sharing of resources institutionally, helping to make our offices more sustainable and cost efficient.

Contact sustainability@sait.ca to request access to the office swap shop.

Batteries and e-cycling

Battery recycling bins are located in each department office or can be requested through the SAIT Helpline. You can also contact SAIT Helpline for computer e-cycling.

Furniture

Facilities Management makes every effort to repair broken furniture for reuse, recycle component parts when furniture is beyond repair and to donate unwanted furniture. Contact SAIT Helpline for furniture repair or removal.

Used clothing and household items

Used clothing and household items can be donated to the Cerebral Palsy Society via the bins located on the main floor of both residence buildings.

School-specific recycling programs

• The School of Transportation implemented a tire recycling program to help mitigate the number of materials used in training being brought to the landfill.
• The School of Construction provides an in-house recycling program for extra waste materials such as sawdust. The school also recycles clean wood.
• The School of Manufacturing and Automation recycles materials such as scrap metal to help reduce waste.
• The School of Hospitality and Tourism, Saitsa and SAIT’s food services provider recycle used cooking grease from their foodservice outlets.