Did you know, annually 800,000 disposable paper cups are being used each year at Curtin University? As citizens of Australia, we share the collective responsibility to consider our actions and practices to ensure we understand how it is having a detrimental impact on the environment. As students, I am sure we have at some point considered our coffee consumption, purchases, and habits and questioned how it would be affecting our university. COVID-19 is a classic example of how environmental unconsciousness can cost us big time. As we move towards the future, it is important to consider our actions thoroughly and review and manage our practices to provide the opportunity for future generations’ growth. Environmental awareness is to understand the fragility of our environment and improve ways in which it could be protected.
As a student and staff at the university, I recently had the chance to reflect on my daily habits. I realized how many coffee cups and paper I use generally. I was astonished to have figured out how much waste I am capable of producing. Student life at university is definitely a stressful one as responsibilities and workload pile up and that can lead us to produce waste that isn’t under our control. However, as students and staff at Curtin or any other university, we definitely are capable of introducing small changes in our daily practices which can give rise to something amazing! For example, I recently made a switch to using only recycled paper notebooks which are available for purchase at the Guild mart, reduce my printing and bring food containers and re-usable coffee cups to minimise waste.
Closed Loop Coffee Cup Recycling
Adapting to a waste management system that is sustainable for those 800,000 cups would ensure we minimise the pressure on landfills. Recently, Curtin partnered with Cleanaway to introduce the Simply Cups bins across campus and it is known to be Australia’s first coffee cup recycling program that would allow educational institutions to reduce and manage their waste.
“This recycling program makes it easy for you to dispose of your cups and lids which then get shredded and upcycled into products such as outdoor furniture and concrete. The first station will be at the Guild Café Central with more coming soon,” Curtin News.
This is an excellent initiative toward implementing a more environmentally conscious lifestyle at Curtin.
https://news.curtin.edu.au/oasis-news/closed-loop-coffee-cup-recycling/
Curtin Hits 6 Stars
Curtin has managed to successfully pursue and achieved rectification which has improved upon its Green star rating in process, upgrading from 5 stars in 2015 to 6 stars in 2020. Curtin has taken a range of new initiatives to achieve the green star rating for example like a driverless bus that transports students around campus, to the use of intelligent technologies to ensure all classrooms are used to their full capacity. The redevelopment of Curtin University has been driven by the desire to transform the campus into a collaborative innovation precinct that will be accessible to not only staff and students but also the broader community of Perth.
Throughout Curtin’s sustainability journey, as an innovative University, Curtin did not compromise the preservation of the Indigenous heritage. Curtin integrated the Indigenous heritage back into the building environment which ensured that indigenous knowledge is incorporated into the broader design process as well as outdoor venues such as the Yarning circles. The continuous improvement of environmentally friendly initiatives speaks to Curtin University’s commitment.
Student Opinion on the Project
The closed-loop coffee cup recycling program is a great initiative taken by the university to an important issue at the university. Here is what the illustrator (Clein Bernard Espragosa) for the article has to say.
“I guess every or most young adults care about the environment and sustainability now more than ever as advertisements and campaign for it are everywhere, as you can see most places has switched to reusable paper bags. I myself am very self-conscious about where my trash is going. Once the garbage truck takes it, it’s only out of your sight but it still exists somewhere.” Clein Bernard Espragosa.
