Waste and recycling
In association with the Health, Safety and Environment Office, the Environmental Manager works with the Domestic Services Manager to manage waste and recycling and provide practical information on current systems and procedures on the University campus in order to fulfil the requirements of the Waste Management Strategy.
Waste Management Strategy
In line with the University’s other environmental strategies the Waste Management Strategy (WMS) aids the fulfilment of the overall Environmental Policy. The implementation of the WMS provides a structure and process that allows the University to reduce its’ environmental impacts and costs through better management of resources whilst meeting and, where practicable, exceeding the requirements of legislation.
The University produces a number of waste streams and the purpose of this strategy is to develop a framework where University staff, students and other stakeholders are able to minimise the amount of waste produced, segregate reusable and recyclable waste and reduce waste to landfill. They will also be made aware of their contributions to a reduction in the University’s carbon dioxide emissions through sustainable waste management.
The waste hierarchy outlines the importance of considering reducing waste, and reusing waste before recycling. The following waste minimisation policies exist as University policy.
Key Objectives of the Waste Management Strategy
The University’s objectives are:
- To ensure legal compliance.
- To reduce the amount of waste produced.
- All waste will be managed in a sustainable manner following the waste hierarchy of prevention, reuse, recycle/compost, resource recovery and landfill.
- Waste will be segregated and clearly labelled to enable recycling rebates to be obtained wherever possible.
- To ensure staff are trained to handle controlled and hazardous waste.
Strategy Targets
- To recycle and compost 45% of total waste and divert a further 30% by 2015. This is against a 2005/2006 baseline of 2,092 tonnes.
- In order to fulfil the WMS some improvement to current data collection streams will need to be implemented, in particular for the quantities of hazardous and clinical waste disposal and recyclable materials collected by the Local Council. The University will identify systems to record these data streams. This will be done by July 2011.
- Procedures and monitoring will be put in place by July 2011 to ensure appropriate training is given on an ongoing basis.
- A procedure will be written and communicated to ensure segregation of waste and adequate labelling by July 2011.
To aid in the above
- Departments and Sections should aim to develop waste reduction awareness in all staff and students.
- Opportunities for the reduction of waste should be investigated (including a review of the department's purchasing systems).
- The efficiency of processes should be regularly assessed to ensure optimum use of raw materials.
Performance History
| Total waste (inc recycling) |
Recycling | % of Total waste recycled | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 - 2011 | 1,809 | 1019 | 56% |
| 2009 - 2010 | 1,799 | 513 | 28.5% |
| 2008 - 2009 | 2,199 | 568 | 26% |
| 2007 – 2008 | 2,411 | 838 | 35% |
| 2006 – 2007 | 2,097 | 418 | 20% |
| 2005 – 2006 | 2,092 | 191 | 9% |
"On site recycling by staff and students was 42% but this was further enhanced by the activities of our waste contractor to increase this to 56%"
