Memorandum
To: Dr. Erika Paterson, Instructor ENGL 301 Technical Writing UBC
From: Samantha Krieg, Student ENGL 301 Technical Writing UBC SK
Date: 2022/06/22
Subject: Progress on Formal Report – Improving Understanding of Waste Sorting at the University of British Columbia Okanagan
As requested by assignment 2:3, here is an update on the progress of the formal report titled “Improving Understanding of Waste Sorting at the University of British Columbia Okanagan”.
Purpose and Significance
The purpose of this report is to analyze the feasibility and efficacy of six proposed initiatives to improve the understanding of waste sorting at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO).
Intended Audience
The Formal Report is for the Campus Waste Initiatives (CWI) team at Innovate, Design, Sustain (IDS). IDS is the first sustainability-focused student organization at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and the CWI team works towards improving waste management and diversion on campus. The addressees are:
- The leader of the Campus Waste Initiatives team
- The president of Innovate, Design, Sustain
The names of the CWI team lead and the president of IDS are not included as recruitment for the 2022/2023 semester is ongoing.
Report Objectives
The Formal Report will:
- Determine factors contributing to the lack of understanding of waste sorting at UBCO.
- Analyze the feasibility and efficacy of the following initiatives to improve the understanding of waste sorting among students, faculty, and staff:
- Educational seminars and events
- Improved signage near waste bins
- Waste bins with automated sorting
- Educational signage around campus
- Volunteer waste sorting assistants
- Changing the colour coding system of the UBCO waste bins to match the provincial standard
- Identify departments or organizations on campus that can help implement the initiatives and specific areas where they can contribute.
Report Significance
The report will inform the IDS Campus Waste Initiatives team’s current and future projects. The results will help the team determine the most effective and feasible initiatives, providing a starting point for their implementation.
Methods
The primary data collection will be:
- An informational interview with Jamie Armer, the Head of Facilities Management at the University of British Columbia Okanagan
- An online survey of students at the University of British Columbia Okanagan: https://forms.gle/25oFSV4P4sFk3ykd6
A review of the relevant waste management regulations and literature will be the secondary data collection method.
Report Outline
The content Formal Report is outlined at the attached link:
Outline: Improving Understanding of Waste Sorting at the University of British Columbia Okanagan
Research Plan
- Ascertain factors contributing to the lack of understanding of waste sorting through surveying students at UBCO and an informational interview
- Identify departments or organizations on campus that can help implement the initiatives and specific areas where they can contribute using an informational interview
- Analyze the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed initiatives through surveying students at UBCO, an informational interview, and a literature review
- Determine the future, ongoing, or past initiatives at UBCO to reduce waste stream contamination by conducting an informational interview and literature review
- Identify and research the regulations, standards, or policies that UBCO must abide by for waste sorting and contamination
- Assess the level of waste stream contamination at UBCO using an informational interview and literature review, including reports from past waste audits
SK
Encl.
