Waste minimisation
Between April 2005 and August 2006, the University sent 1,137 tonnes of waste to landfill. Once in landfill, this waste may take over one hundred years to break down (depending on the type of waste). This waste also releases greenhouse gases, such as methane, which contribute to global warming. Please help the University to minimise the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
Top tips for waste reduction
- Use glasses or reusable cups for your drinks, or reuse plastic ones. Please do not use plastic ones once and throw them away.
- If you are buying new furniture or equipment, think longterm. Buy good quality items that will last a long time. Although this may cost more initially, it will not need to be replaced as soon, and will save money in the long-term by reducing the costs of waste disposal and replacement.
- Try and buy furniture of a design that will still be desirable in a few years. It is a lot easier to find people to reuse wooden furniture than plastic or chipboard items.
- Think before you get rid of your furniture - does it need to be replaced? Could you still use it? Or could it be reused elsewhere in your department?
- If you need furniture, visit the Furniture Exchange. This offers a service to reuse good quality furniture within the University, and for University staff. Turnover can be quite high, so keep an eye on this site.
- Print double-sided wherever possible. This will reduce the amount of paper wasted. (Although paper can be recycled, this process requires energy. It is more environmentally sound to reduce the amount of paper used.)
- When you are buying a new printer, make sure that you buy one with the capability to print double-sided.
- If your printer can print double-sided, change the settings on your computer so that this is the default setting.
- Try to reduce the amount you print. Could you read it on-screen instead?
- Try and introduce paper-free meetings. Email agendas and relevant documents to attendees to read in advance.
- Allow/encourage students to print their essays double-sided. Or allow them to submit them electronically, thereby avoiding paper waste completely.
- Only ask students to submit work printed double spaced if you are planning on annotating the essay directly.
- Reuse scrap paper.
- Reuse envelopes.
- If you are helping to design a new laboratory, bear in mind that others may want to use it as well as you. Factor in flexibility, rather than solely catering for your requirements. This will minimise any refurbishments/renovations required if you leave.
- Raise awareness of wasteful practices within your School/Unit, and see if these can be minimised, or eliminated.
- If you become aware of wasteful practices going on around you, let the Environment Team know.