Facilities Management Division

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

RideLink

Save money and reduce your carboon footprint by taking a ride with other students and staff at the University of Waikato. This service can be used by anyone at the University to get a ride to and from anywhere in New Zealand. Offer a commute to University, ask for a ride back home or catch one to the latest concert - all courtesy of RideLink.

Recycling

Paper recycling has been occurring at the University of Waikato since the early 1990's. Cardboard, plastic (1 & 2), glass and cans recycling is also available throughout campus. However approximately 25% of what the University puts in landiflls is recycable paper. Help reduce the waste and learn more about recycling.

Organic Waste

The University of Waikato is looking at ways to reduce organic waste and is currently trialling worm farms and compost bins around the Hamilton campus. An industrial sized worm farm known as the Faculty of Worms, can contend with four tonnes of paper and food waste per annum. The decomposed matter will be used as fertiliser for the University gardens.

Energy

The University's Student Centre has a five-star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council. The photoVoltaics on the roof of the student centre will generate sufficient power to supply energy needs to the whole of the information centre P.C's electrical load.

Water

New Zealanders consume nearly 2,000 million cubic meters of water per year. Water costs the University approximately $202,000 a year. The University has three lakes at its Hamilton campus: Knighton, Oranga and Chapel. In 2012, the Oranga lake will undergo a trial to reduce nutrients and turbidity.

Printing

Waikato Print choose to be sustainable - all toners and offset printing inks are vegetable based or edible, and all papers used by Waikato Print are from sustainable forests. Copier paper is made from elemental chlorine free pulp (ECF) - 95% of the water used to make this paper is recycled. The paper carries the FSC chain of custody certification.

Waste

There are 1000 landfills in NZ, with 55 currently operational. Around 6 million tonnes of waste ends up in landfills every year in New Zealand and almost 22 million plastic bags are discarded each week. But did you know recycling plastics saves 70% more energy than making it from virgin material.

Procurement

Copier paper has been reduced 29% and toners 17% by going to an online purchasing system. The reduction in paper is estimated to save around 57 pine trees. We will be working on an environmental purchasing policy in 2012.

Biodiversity

The University has a vast native fern collection hosting over 70 New Zealand ferns, including three mature Kahikatea stands around our Hamilton Campus.
There are fresh water mussels in the Chapel Lake and we also have a diverse native bird life including tui.

The University of Waikato is committed to implementing sustainable practices on campus, including practices for the protection and restoration of the campus environment.

We want to raise awareness of environmental sustainability and environmental matters, and encourage understanding and responsibility in the use of resources.

As a responsible and environmentally aware organisation, the University of Waikato implemented an Environmental Policy in 2006, and will be developing an Environmental Sustainability Plan and Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy in 2012.

On this page you will find environmental projects and initiatives, what’s happening to green up campus, tips, information and ways to save money whilst helping the environment.

The University has an Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator who is responsible for developing and implementing sustainable initiatives, systems and raising awareness. You can contact Rachael Goddard with ideas and questions.