To reduce the volume of hazardous waste produced at OCAD U as well as reduce the cost of its safe disposal, Drawing & Painting are shifting from paper towel brush cleaning to cloth rag brush cleaning.
Over 2018-19, a study was undertaken by students and staff to find ways to cut down on OCAD U’s hazardous waste. Soiled paper towels made up around half of the University’s hazardous waste! Shifting to cloth rag brush cleaning in Drawing & Painting is meant to encourage reuse of scrap material that might otherwise go to landfill.
To aid in this transition, we will be placing storage containers in each studio to hold upcycled cloth material for students to use as painting rags.
This Drawing and Painting initiative is in collaboration with Safety & Security, Facilities & Studio Services, and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Sustainability Initiatives.
On April 5th 2019, OCAD U participated in CRAM, a city-wide free event that brought Toronto's universities together to share their research with the public. Assistant Professor Michele Mastroeni spoke at CRAM, delivering a talk on sustainability and consumer culture titled "Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Reversing Our Throwaway Culture". As a result of his successful CRAM talk, Dr. Mastroeni was invited to appear on Breakfast Television (CityTv) in a segment titled "How to stop 'throw away' culture!", where he further discussed strategies for mindful and sustainable consumer habits with hosts Dina Pugliese and Roger Peterson.
At this drop-in workshop, learn how to make a reusable produce bag for fruits and veggies and bring it on your next trip to the grocery store. You'll use mesh materials you may already have at home.
We will have all materials on site, but please bring any retired pantyhose if you can to use during the workshop!