Commitment to a greener future

The committee consists of both students and staff who share a passion for sustainability. The primary objectives of the committee include developing sustainability strategies and fostering collaboration across various departments within UC.

So far this year we have promoted energy-saving measures (such as Earth Hour), as well as waste reduction initiatives. We contacted Mobile Muster, who provided us with a free mobile phone recycling unit and we can now also recycle batteries thanks to Batteries 4 Planet Ark, a program that helps keep batteries and the hazardous materials they contain out of landfill. Disposable vapes also contain batteries and other dangerous chemicals, meaning they shouldn’t be disposed of in regular waste bins. Last year’s Sustainability Representative, Nick Symons, had been looking for a way to safely recycle them, but to no avail. But finally we were able to get confirmation from Melbourne Council that they can be disposed of in certain local e-waste drop-off points, which was a great resolution to this issue.

UC also recognises the importance of locally sourced food. In line with this commitment, our vegetable garden continues to provide an opportunity to cultivate fresh produce using environmentally friendly practices. Our student volunteers, in collaboration with our College gardeners, once again worked together to harvest the autumn produce in April. We had a strong volunteer turnout and many of the same faces returned a few weeks later to help us plant the winter vegetables. Our gardeners also shared some of their extensive knowledge around the different plants we grow at UC. The harvested produce is utilised in the UC kitchen by our in-house chefs, promoting sustainable food choices and reducing reliance on external suppliers. Moving forward, UC remains committed to fostering a culture of sustainability and our committee will continue to explore innovative approaches to reduce our environmental impact and promote a greener future.