Townshippers' Day 2007

Bishop's University

Green Team Report

The results:

            217 kg. (480 lb) of recycling

            400 kg. (881 lb) of composting

                2  Bags of garbage

Townshippers' Day 2007 had an ecological objective focusing on composting and recycling.  There were green footsteps painted on the footpaths leading the way to the main activities and sorting sites where Bishop's students, wearing green t-shirts for easy identification, were waiting to help and answer any questions about recycling and composting.  The students were supplied with a very good working glove thanks to Heather Bowman.

There were teams of Bishop's University student volunteers with a shift from 8:00 a.m. until noon (17 volunteers) and another shift from 12:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. (14 volunteers).  We had no difficulty in recruiting student volunteers as the students are very interested in sustainable development and were eager to be a part of Townshippers' Day.  Jocelyn Molyneux, President of the Students Representative Council is a strong promoter of sustainable development and encouraged the development of the sustainable development action group.

We had set-up 7 sorting stations and it went very well.  The 7 stations include the central station unloading into steel containers.  In fact, we could have had just 5 or 6 stations with 1 table at each and that would have been sufficient.

Sodexho is to be thanked for their cooperation with the composting station located inside Dewhurst Dinning Hall.  This station worked very well and this was the first time we tried this on campus.  The results were excellent with half of a 4 cubic yard container being used.  There was 1 student at this location helping people when necessary.  There was also a container in the Dewhurst kitchen.

Cans were recycled in specific bins so the money could be collected and donated to the Terry Fox Foundation.  Thanks to Joe Kelly for looking after this.

Thanks to Louis-Marie Pelletier from Gestion Ressources Richer who supplied 4 large containers and 10 bins for recycling and composting for Townshippers' Day.  We also used 15 of the Bishop's University recycling bins.

The Townshippers' Organizing Committee was excellent and especially helpful with the food vendors who need to have all the information about the rules for the Townshippers' Green day and recognize that these rules must be followed.  The compostable dishes and utensils to be used by all food vendors was purchased by the Townshippers' Association from Nova-Envirocom in Sherbrooke and sold to the food vendors.  The vendors should be given the dishes and utensils upon their arrival at the grounds for Townshippers' Day.

Townshippers' Day 2007 was a long and successful day (7a.m.-6 p.m.), it was a positive experience and the campus was all cleaned up by 6:00 p.m.  The visitors and participants were very satisfied with the Green Team and a large thank you to Steven Rowe and members of the Bishop's University Facilities Department for their help and support.

Submitted by:  Michel Caron, Eng.

                         Director of Facilities