CURRENT PROJECTS

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How green are we?

An Environmental Scan of the University has recently been carried out. The stocktake highlights how well we are doing in terms of environmental sustainability, where the gaps are, and recommendations. This document will be available for staff to access via IWaikato at end of February 2012.

Green Bites

This is a monthly Enviro newsletter for staff on the Environet list. It gives an update on environmental projects on campus, news and information. If you want to receive this one page newsletter, please email: rgoddard@waikato.ac.nz

Greening Up Campus (ongoing)

In an effort to reduce our impact on the environment, we will be setting up small battery recycling in April 2012, and developing a strategy to reduce plastic packaging. We are also investigating implementing internal recycling systems.

Waste

A waste minimisation and management strategy is being developed, to reduce waste being produced on campus. Additionally a 2 meter worm digester has been established behind Oranga. The worm farm can contend with up to 4 tonnes of organic waste from the Village Green per annum. Further minimisation initiatives and waste audits will occur this year.

Lakes

A project plan is being developed for the remediation of Oranga Lake. We are hoping work will commence in April 2102. Eutrophic (nutrient rich) sediment will be removed, and the lake edges planted with natives.

Energy

An Energy plan will be developed later this year, in conjunction with an energy campaign to try to reduce the amount we spend on energy.

Transport

We have a travel plan and this will be revisited in 2012.

Carbon on Campus

We are interested in conducting research in this area, and hope to assess trees on campus as carbon sinks.

Community Garden

We have a small community garden behind CSTER. Staff from Law and nearby areas, deposit their food scraps, coffee grinds and tea bags into the compost bin which breaks the matter down to go on the garden as fertilizer. If you would like to know more about the garden contact: Dr Chris Eames on biol2120@waikato.ac.nz.