2 Move-In Weekend 2021

Firstly, what is the Sustainability Office?

At Trent University, the Sustainability Office is a group of passionate people dedicated to making our campus a greener, more eco-friendly place. We focus on everything from waste management and energy conservation to promoting sustainable practices across campus. Our goal is to help students, staff, and faculty reduce their environmental impact while making it as easy—and fun—as possible to live sustainably.

The Move-In Weekend Challenge

Now, let’s talk about one of the most chaotic yet exciting weekends of the year: Move-In Weekend! Every September, incoming students and their families flood the campus, bringing everything from suitcases to mini fridges. And with all those new dorm rooms comes a lot of waste: cardboard boxes, packaging materials, plastic, and other trash.

This is where the Sustainability Office comes in. We saw an opportunity to help make the transition into university life not only smooth but also green! My amazing co-ambassador, Symphorosa Gabriel, and I launched a Waste Education initiative to guide students and their families through the maze of sorting their waste correctly at Trent. Our goal was to make sure everyone knew what could go into the recycling bin, compost, or garbage—before they got overwhelmed with the pile of moving-in stuff!

Our Green Team

To pull off this initiative, we gathered a team of five amazing student volunteers, including some from the Trent Grounds Crew, to help us out. Each volunteer was stationed at key waste collection depots around campus, ready to guide incoming students and their families on how to manage their waste. We wore our signature green team shirts, which made us look both stylish and ready to save the planet!

How We Helped

Move-In Weekend can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be a waste of time. We made sure to turn it into an educational experience, without the boring lectures! As people were unloading their cars, we were right there to answer their questions, give them hands-on tips, and show them the ropes of waste sorting. Whether it was helping them figure out how to dispose of packing peanuts or telling them what to do with that extra cardboard box, we made sure everyone felt confident about what to do with their waste. Plus, we shared some fun facts about how Trent’s sustainability system works, like where the compost goes and how it helps our campus stay green.

Why It Was Important

The best part of this event was how it helped create a more sustainable, welcoming environment for everyone involved. It wasn’t just about sorting trash; it was about fostering a sense of community and environmental responsibility right from the start. We helped incoming students feel at home in their new environment—and we did it in a way that was fun and hands-on.

Impact and Community Building

At the end of the weekend, the feedback was clear: people felt more at ease knowing how to handle their waste, and they appreciated the chance to learn more about sustainability at Trent. It wasn’t just a one-time event—it was a way to build lasting habits that would stick with students throughout their time at university. And who doesn’t want to feel like part of a community that cares about the planet?