Rebecca Pedneault, ©UWinnipeg.
A knowledgeable and engaged environmental advocate, fourth-year science student Rebecca Pedneault has earned The University of Winnipeg’s 2017 Campus Sustainability Award for her contributions to campus waste reduction.
Earlier this year, Pedneault introduced a campus-wide plastic bag recycling program designed to expand UWinnipeg’s comprehensive recycling program and educate the University community on environmentally-friendly bag disposal.
The initiative is funded by the 2017 Geography and Environmental Students Association (GESA) Eco-Grant, and supported by partnerships with Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba and Winnipeg Harvest.
“I believe it is a great opportunity for students to part in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill,” says GESA co-vice president Matthew Nguyen, who was on the committee that awarded Pedneault this year’s Eco-Grant. “Plastic bag recycling is not as pronounced as composting or conventional blue bin recycling, so I think this also a good way to spread awareness to students and faculty.”
In just a few short months, Pedneault’s efforts have helped divert thousands of plastic bags from the landfill. The unwanted grocery bags will be reused by Winnipeg Harvest for emergency food kits and turned into usable plastic products.
Pedneault graduates from UWinnipeg this year with a bachelor of science degree in biology and environmental studies, and a minor in geography.
Pedneault’s aptitude in her chosen field is evident in the glowing reviews from professors in the Faculty of Science, who describe her as an excellent student with a keen willingness to learn in an academic and research environment. Outside of the classroom, she is involved in a variety of projects related to her studies and her training as a Master Gardener and arborist.
The University of Winnipeg is proud to present the 2017 Campus Sustainability Award to Rebecca Pedneault at this year’s Spring Convocation.
