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Fall for a waste-less semester at SAIT

  • 10 September 2025

a group of student eco-ambassadors witth the Green Building Technology sprung structure in the background

The leaves may be changing colour, but you can help keep our campus green with these tips to reduce waste courtesy of the Sustainability at SAIT team.

Before you throw it out, sort it out

SAIT’s waste program includes streams for beverage containers, compost, mixed recycling and trash that correspond to sorting bins located across campus. What goes where?

  • Check your to-go container — most empty food containers can go in mixed recycling (plastics #1-7) or compost (food-soiled cardboard or compostable plastic). Pizza for lunch? Leftover pizza and the empty box are both compostable.
  • Put your plastic coffee cup lid in the trash. Put dry paper coffee cups in the mixed recycling and wet cups in the compost bin.
  • Potato chip bags and most snack packaging/wrappers go in the trash bin.
  • Beverage recycling bins are for refundable bottles. Money from beverage recycling in common areas is directed to a sustainability scholarship at SAIT.
  • When in doubt, use the trash bin — a contaminated recycling bin goes to the landfill.

👉 DYK? Used clothing and household items can be donated to the Cerebral Palsy Society via the bins located in the laundry rooms of the residence buildings on campus.

 

beverage containers, compost, mixed recycling and trash bin graphic

I’ll take a side of AI with my recycling

Meet OSCAR and give it a try — this sorting system uses AI to help you put your waste in the right place. OSCAR is located on the main floor of the Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre.

Don’t worry, OSCAR Sort only cares about waste — it doesn’t scan humans. OSCAR tracks waste metrics and doesn’t record other data.

👉 DYK? OSCAR was made possible through ’88 Legacy Funding. Learn more about this funding and apply for your own project.

waste stream bins with a large monitor that reads, I'm OSCAR

Earth-friendly eating

Ditch the single-use coffee cup and bring your own mug to save 10 cents when you purchase tea/coffee from The Odyssey Market, Tim Hortons, Starbucks and Second Cup.

Pack your reusable cutlery and straws when you visit campus food kiosks. Every little bit counts!

SAIT’s Begin Tower Dining Centre also uses reusable food containers.

Help prevent water waste

If you see a water leak on campus, report it through Helpline — email helpline@sait.ca or phone 403.210.4357 (HELP).

👉 DYK? Water management initiatives on campus include scheduled irrigation, water bottle filling stations, a green cleaning program that conserves energy and water and a snow melting pilot program.

Be an Eco-Ambassador

The Eco-Ambassadors are a student volunteer group dedicated to supporting the growth of sustainability measures on SAIT campus. Being an Eco-Ambassador is all about making impactful change and creating a culture of sustainability #HereAtSAIT.

📅 Student Supports Fair
Connect with the Eco-Ambassadors and Sustainability at SAIT at the Student Supports Fair.
Date and time: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Location: Irene Lewis Atrium, Stan Grad Centre

As an Eco-Ambassador, you’ll engage with the SAIT campus community to not only help others learn how SAIT is bolstering its sustainability initiatives, but how they can weave sustainability concepts into their careers, homes, conversations and everyday habits.

The Eco-Ambassadors are an inclusive and collaborative group of more than 200 students. Being an Eco-Ambassador is eligible for co-curricular recognition.

Be an Eco-Ambassador

group of eco-ambassador students in red shirts behind a table/booth

unsdg colour wheel unsdg web icon 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production Learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Sustainability at SAIT

SAIT is committed to sustainable development by fostering the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Learn more about sustainability at SAIT
Our Strategic Plan 2025-2028: How we work and learn
a view of the moutains and stream in between

Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.

SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.

We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Visit Natoysopoyiis Resource Centre