NEWS : Post

Newcastle University

New pre-treatment regulations for the disposal of waste under the EU Landfill Directive means there will be an increase in recyclable materials being source separated before collection. Many organisations have had to adapt the way that they dispose of their waste by introducing recycling amenities or expanding their current facilities to ensure that an element of their waste is pre-sorted.

Straight recently supplied Newcastle University with more than 200 Recycling Modules and Colour Coded Bins for use around the campus. Although the University's paper and card recycling rate is already good at 27%, the University realised that they could further reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill if they recycled more and composted their food waste. Newcastle University is currently developing its own Sustainability Strategy and wanted to encourage both employees of the University and its 18,000 students to use the recycling facilities on offer.

To help staff to support their Sustainability Strategy, the University placed the Recycling Modules in staff kitchen areas. These areas have limited space, so the Recycling Modules offered the perfect solution by providing a vertical recycling system with a small footprint. The modules take up little more space than a household bin, yet allow colour-coded source separation of materials. The University is collecting plastic bottles, food and drink cans, mixed glass and food waste in the modules which offer proven health and safety benefits and are easy to empty and clean. Newcastle University is currently in the process of purchasing an in-vessel composter which will enable all food waste to be composted on site.

The University has placed its 60 litre Colour Coded Bins in the communal areas of the site allowing both staff and students to deposit paper, card, newspapers, bottles and cans. Following the installation of the Recycling Modules and Colour Coded Bins, recycling participation rates have increased and they now have very few contamination issues as all collected recyclables are source separated meaning the quality of collected materials has dramatically improved.

Sarah Boulger, Waste Manager for Newcastle University said "We are extremely pleased with our Recycling Modules and Colour Coded Bins and have already placed a further order. Sustainability at the University has increased in importance and recycling is one way of showing our commitment. We hope that by raising awareness of these issues and making a conscious effort to reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill, a more environmentally friendly thinking will ensue."