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Erase the Waste

Action 1 - Consume Coffee Conscientiously in 5 minutes!
Action 2 - Erase Computer Waste in 5 minutes!
Action 3 - Revise Your Office Supplies

Objectives

  • To create a work culture where everyone knows and takes responsibility for actions that reduce consumption, reduce waste, and increase ethical and environmental purchasing.
  • To get yourself and your colleagues ready for the Erase the Waste challenge.
     

Action 1 - Consume Coffee Conscientiously in 5 minutes!

  1. Lug a Mug!
    There are more than 32,000 students, staff and faculty on campus. If each person used one mug throughout a 4 year degree, over 47million disposable cups could be diverted from our landfill! So, buy a mug (Bookstore, U of C coffee retailers, Eco Club) and don't leave home without it!
  2. Discounts
    Bring your mug to coffee retailers across campus and save money!
    Discount Retailer
    10¢ off Coffee Company and Tim Hortons (depending on size) 
    15¢ off Chartwell's locations
    10% off The Stor
    Pay the price of a small Good Earth
    Pay the price of the next smallest size  Starbucks
    Discounted Rate Ploughboy
  3. Buy fair trade
    Of the 25 million coffee producers, about 15 million are small farmers, living in developing areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. By buying certified fair trade coffee, you are ensuring these small-scale coffee farmers receive a fair price for their work, have access to credit and longer-term contracts, and enjoy greater economic and social security.  
  4. Where?
    You can get fair-trade coffee at Good Earth, Ploughboy, Coffee Company, Stor, and all of the Chartwell's operated retailers.
  5. Make a Commitment
    Whenever you buy a coffee, make steps 1 and 3 count.
    No re-usable mug = no coffee
    No fair-trade = no coffee
 

Action 2 - Erase Computer Waste in 5 minutes!

  1. Reduce Margins:
    An easy way we can reduce paper consumption in offices. The change is barely noticeable, simple to do and can reduce paper use by 80%
    i.   From the main tool bar, go to File
    ii.  Page set up
    iii. Set all margins (top, bottom, left, right) to 1"
    iv. Click on "Default" in the lower left corner, and select YES when asked to use these settings by default.  
  2. Make double sided the default:
    Setting this option varies depending on your printer. Please ask a computer-savvy friend, U of C IT (itsupport@ucalgary.ca or 220-5555), or refer to your User Guide.
  3. File emails electronically (for Microsoft MS Outlook):
    i.   In the upper left corner of the screen, under the "file" button, click on the icon with the word 'new' to the right of it and a little balck triangle next to that.
    ii.  Left-click the black triangle and a menu will pop up underneath it. The third item down will have a rectangular yellow icon resembling a folder with the text "Folder...ctrl+shft+E".
    iii. Left-click this to create and title a new folder for archiving emails.
    iv. Outlook will now ask if you would like to create a shortcut to this folder.
    v.  Creating a shortcut places an icon in the 'my shortcuts' bar to the left of the screen that allows the user to directly access this folder from the opening page of Outlook. 
  4. Email Signature: 
    Click here for text to add to your signature for inspiring action in others.

  

Action 3 - Revise Your Office Supplies

  1. Determine who is responsible for purchasing and paying for the coffee, tea and office supplies in your office.
  2. Let them know about the benefits of fair-trade and the green office supplies listed on Grand & Toy's website.
  3. Ask if they would be willing to switch in their future purchasing.
  4. If the decision is up to your department head or budget officer, explain the benefits of switching, the resources available and the upcoming U of C environmental ethical supply chain management policy. If you need more information please contact the Office of Sustainability.
  5. If the change requires members of your office to decide they would like to switch or to contribute from their own pockets, inform them about the new option to purchase fair-trade and environmentally friendly products and what the benefits are.
  6. Work with your department to see what can be changed now and what can happen in the future.
    Remember: A little change is better than no change!

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