Left Hand and Right Hand

One of the long-running themes through my year as E&E officer has been following a waste and energy reduction project called Wastewise. The big idea is a public awareness and education initiative to keep students and staff aware of the small, simple things that can be done to cut down on energy consumption and waste. So far so good - and much needed indeed! The messages need to be present, frequent and visible to inspire changes in habits and marginally greener lifestyles.

With the price of energy inching upwards in the long-run, and the cost of waste disposal only going to increase as landfill sites reach peak capacity, this should be a no-brainer. So I was approached by the Estates Office, who have been the main organizing point behind the project, to help with the distribution of the materials - door hangers, stickers and posters with the 'how' and 'what difference it makes' ideas of the project.

The project was subcontracted to design company blah d blah to design the materials - over a year ago now, when the decision was taken to proceed with the project. It was supposed to come with a website too, for further information, especially locally-relevant contacts and opportunities - but remains under construction. The project, by the way, is part-funded by UWA, UW Bangor and the Carbon Trust. Finally all the materials arrived in Aber, and it took a couple of weeks to set up the apropriate meeting with Residential Services to discuss the implementation and delivery of these materials. This was in March, and where it all got a bit sticky.

RHS' argument was, more or less, 'no'. The stickers would affect the paintwork and contradict existing messages against students putting stickers in halls; the posters could only be put in limited places because of fire hazards and would be inconsistent with RHS' other ongoing efforts (apparently there are ongoing efforts - but as a PJM resident these haven't been obvious); the door hangers would be confusing given current door hangers about fire and personal safety. At that, at the time, seemed that. Only some 'recycle' stickers, as demonstrated above, were put in place across the various university recycling facilities.

At our next Guild Exec meeting I mentioned the issue and Ben Gray, Union President took up the issue with the Vice-Chancellor. The following are the notes and summary from a meeting that he had about two weeks ago with Jim Wallace, RHS Director and John Harries, Pro Vice-Chancellor.

1 The campaign will launch in academic buildings on1 September (stickers and posters)

2 The campaign will launch in residences from start of session, at Freshers (stickers and posters)

3 There are different versions of the posters and stickers that are applicable to academic and residential areas

4 We agreed that posters are to be placed in kitchens only in residences, and on notice boards only in academic buildings

5 We agreed that stickers (of the appropriate type) were to be placed on windows or walls adjacent to light switches in all bedrooms and kitchens in residences, and in all rooms in academic buildings, including individual offices, but (for both types of buildings) not in any entrance ways, corridors, toilets, or communal areas

6 We agreed that the door hangers would only be used in residences, and are not appropriate for start of session, and they would, instead, be used at start of second semester in February

7 Nigel Owen will ensure that the Wastewise websiteis up-and-running by 1 September

8 We agreed that RHS is the most appropriate route for distribution and fixing of posters/stickers; House Services for academic buildings and Residential Services for residential buildings

9 A limited number of each type of sticker/poster/door hanger has been printed and these are likely to be insufficient to cover all requirements

10 Additional posters can be printed from the website as required, and Nigel Owen will organise and provide this

11 We are to forward a list of the numbers required of each type of communication (poster, sticker, door hanger) to Nigel Owen ASAP

12 Those stocks already printed are presently in store with the SU, and will be delivered when requested to Penbryn Reception

13 An email communication to all staff will go out on 1September in the joint names of John Harries PVC and the Guild President

14 Email communication to students has yet to be determined

From my perspective, this has all been intensely frustrating and only drives my observation of a lack of communication between university departments and the absence of a joined-up approach to promoting environmentally sustainable change. In the end, the materials will get put out and the message communicated - but no less than a full academic year after the project was first mooted and at least six months after the earliest possible opportunity to do so.

It is a tragedy that the issue has only been resolved with the direct involvement of top-level university senior management, and only after the intervention of the Guild President to raise the issue with the Vice-Chancellor. And of course, will all these be followed? It's up to you, with the Guild officers, to ensure that these promises and program of action is lived up to.