This year the University updated our waste management systems including the introduction new bins.

The governmental regulations have changed and so have our bins. There is now a legal requirement to use four separate containers based on case studies showing that when users separate their waste at the source, instead of relying on sorting at waste plants, the amount of successfully recycled material increases.

Our new bins

You will have seen the new black, orange, green and blue bins around the department.

•    Black: Non-recycling – Sent to an energy-from-waste facility

•    Orange: Mixed recycling (glass, metal, plastic) – Sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility for onward recycling, anything that can’t be recycled will either go to energy from waste or turned into fuel for cement kilns

•    Blue: Paper and cardboard – Collected separately to maintain quality, then sent directly to a specialist paper recycling facility

•    Green: Food waste – Processed at an anaerobic digestion facility, where it’s converted into fertiliser and biogas.

Greener future

Adrian Slawinski, one of our cleaners, says: “It takes a lot of time, care and focus to collect the rubbish with the new system and we hope that this effort pays off in the long-term. Even though it’s harder for me as a cleaner, I am glad that this new scheme is in place and is being implemented for a greener perspective of the country.”

You can read more about the new waste separation requirements for 2025.