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SUSTAINABILITY
UOW Pulse is committed to our environmental and community responsibilities and are recognised as campus leaders for implementing sustainable practices across our food, beverage and retail outlets.
PULSE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
UOW Pulse takes a proactive approach to sustainability. We have a dedicated team focused on Sustainability with members from key business units across the organisation. The Pulse team oversees new sustainable initiatives and represents Pulse on this front to its stakeholders including:
- Consults with key stakeholders including students to influence and improve Pulse’s sustainability initiatives.
- Attends UOW Sustainable Futures Committee meetings to keep UOW stakeholders up to date with Pulse’s sustainability plans and campaigns.
- Presents feedback and provides a point of information exchange between internal Pulse business units and UOW stakeholders regarding strategic planning to ensure both directions are aligned.
- Endeavour to prioritise the purchase of products from local and sustainable sources.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Sustainable Plate Initiative – With assistance from the Environmental Protection Authority and UOW, Pulse is proud to have launched the Sustainable Plate initiative at UOW. Pulse has introduced reusable plates, bowls and cutlery at food outlets and installed wash stations in the Bld 11 food court to minimise single-use plastics and divert waste from waste landfill. The project is the first in Wollongong to champion this kind of sustainability effort. It is hoped it could be used to demonstrate what is possible in other food court areas across other universities and the whole region.
Eliminating one-use disposable coffee cups – keep cups are for sale across campus outlets including the UniShop, UniBar and more!
‘Do you really need a lid’ campaign – a campaign designed to raise awareness and encourage customers to think before they used a plastic lid for their takeaway coffee.
Sustainable Packaging – UOW Pulse outlets have implemented the use of sustainable packaging at all their managed operations including bamboo cutlery.
Mug Wall at UniBar – customers have the choice to use a reusable cup instead of a one-use cup.
Plastic straws have been replaced across all outlets.
Our Sustainable Plate launch
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Green Gown Awards Australasia
UOW Pulse was awarded Winner of the 2018 Green Gown Awards Australasia in the Campus Health, Food & Drink category. The Green Gown Awards is the first and only Award Scheme dedicated to recognising excellence in sustainability within the tertiary education sector in Australasia. The Campus Health, Food & Drink category recognises achievements beyond good practice in the delivery of campus food, drink and hospitality. It celebrates innovation, creativity and consideration for procurement, delivery, communication which has resulted in behaviour changes across staff, students and community.
UniBar Food Waste to Biofuel
UniBar has installed a Pulpmaster Waste to Energy System to pulp food waste and compostable food packaging. This system recycles organic solid and liquid food waste, eliminating approximately 2700kg of waste going into landfill each week! The food waste is macerated and turned into a pulp inside the machine before being pumped into a holding tank. The Pulpmaster can process up to 1,000 litres of organic waste in just 20 minutes. When the holding tank is nearing full it is collected and used to generate biogas for renewable energy generation.
First Australian university bar to receive ‘Ocean Friendly’ accreditation.
The UniBar at the University of Wollongong is officially recognised as an ‘Ocean Friendly’ venue by the Surfrider Foundation Australia. The Ocean Friendly Program recognises businesses who are taking action on plastic pollution by implementing measures to reduce single-use plastic items at their source and demonstrating a commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts.
Recycling
Mobile Phone Recycling
UOW has a mobile phone recycling program with Mobile Muster. Over 90% of a mobile phone can be recovered, and materials including plastics, gold, silver, copper and nickel can be recycled from them.
Collection points:
- Mac1 store within UniShop
- Post Office within UniShop
- Facilities Management Division, Building 31
- IMTS, Building 39c
Print Cartridge Recycling
Print cartridges can be recycled at UOW via the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program.
Find out about UOW Print Cartridge Recycling.
Collection points:
- Building 31 foyer
- Print area within the library
- UniShop
We are proud to help to create a more sustainable future for all generations to come.
Yellow Bin (Recycling)
- Pizza boxes
- Milk and juice cartons
- Aluminium and steel cans
- Glass bottles and jars
Remember to empty liquids, rinse out food, crush bulky items and remove lids.
White Bin (Paper & Cardboard)
- Paper
- Envelopes
- Post-it notes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Telephone books
- Flattened cardboard boxes
Remember to remove binders and plastic wrappings, and flatten boxes.
Red Bin (General Waste)
- Paper towels
- Tissues and serviettes
- Disposable coffee cups
- Disposable plastic cutlery
- Plastic bags, wrap and chip packets
- All polystyrene items
Green Bin (Food Waste)
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Rice and pasta
- Dairy products
- Bread, cake and pastries
- Meat and fish products
- Coffee grounds and tea bags
- Paper towels
- Tissues and serviettes