Green Departments

The Green Department program is aimed at enabling the entire U of G to go green as a workplace.

The program centres around a checklist which departments commit to as a community. The checklist brings together a number of existing campaigns and programs, ranging from recycling and composting to student-led initiatives such as the Bottled Water Free Zone.

Joining the Program

If you are interested, the first step is to talk with other members of your department and check their interest levels. The next step is to schedule a meeting with the Sustainability Office. This first meeting should include you, your department head (director, chair, etc.), and your potential Green Rep.

Once this meeting has taken place, and further next steps discussed, an announcement can be made at the next staff meeting, designating the Green Rep as the main contact between that department and the Sustainability Office from then on.

Running the Program

The Green Checklist is divided into three phases. Accomplishing all items in each phase earns the department a badge on the Green Department Certificate. Two of the first steps upon joining the program are having all department members sign the Sustainability Pledge, and selecting a Green Rep to liaise with the Sustainability Office and continue working toward achievement of the program's goals.

Once the department has fulfilled all of the checklist's goals, the certificate will be joined by a poster proclaiming its Green status. The Green Rep and Sustainability Office are required to help people in the department maintain their commitments.