Waste and Recycling

 

What is the University doing to manage waste?
Waste and Recycling is one of the most visible areas of the sustainability agenda and demonstrates our commitment to staff, students and visitors. The Estates department is constantly working to reduce overall waste and to increase the percentage of our waste that is recycled through providing new facilities and promoting the recycling schemes available
What can I do?
Staff, students and visitors can all help by adopting the principles of the waste hierarchy. As a priority waste should be prevented and minimised. If waste can be avoided in the first place there is no need to look at recycling or disposal options for the materials. Reuse (using products or materials again for the same or different purpose) is also key. Where waste is generated, the University's priority is to ensure that waste is diverted from landfill and recycled or recovered
How can I recycle my waste?

You can find out how and where to recycle your waste by using the guide below. Unless otherwise stated this applies to both the Canterbury and Medway campuses. These disposal procedures have been prepared to ensure that the University complies with all relevant waste legislation, that materials are disposed of in a cost effectove manner and in the most environmentally sound way (in accordance with the waste hierarchy). If your waste stream is not listed, or you are unsure about what to do, please contact Lorraine Cornwall, the University's Recycling Assistant.

I don't know where my nearest recycling facilities are
Our recycling maps show the locations of many recycling facilities on campus. Click on the map images below to find out where you can recycle common items. If you can't find what you are looking for please contact Estates on ex.3775

 

Click here to download a copy of the Estates' Waste Management and Recycling Plan

 

As they are hazardous wastes, the University has specific procedures for the disposal of batteries, printer cartridges, chemicals, oils, solvents and electrical wastes. These procedures can be downloaded by following the links in the A-Z of recycling guide towards the bottom of this page

 

Recycling Maps

 

Glass

Please click on the text below to open a map of glass recycling facilities on the Canterbury campus

Glass Recycling

 

Common Wastes

Bin What should go in this bin What happens to the waste
Mixed Recycling - Green Sack
  • Paper
  • Card
  • Plastics marked with a 1 or 2 (all plastic bottles)
  • Cans and tins
  • Carrier bags
 All mixed recycling is collected by Viridor and processed at the Mixed Recycling Facility in Hersden
General Waste
  • Food waste
  • Tetra-paks
  • Polystyrene
  • All other plastics
 General waste is sent to landfill

Foo-alt

Please download and display this poster next you your nearest recycling bins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-Z Waste and Recycling Guide

Please click on the items listed below to find out how to dispose of your waste, where your nearest facility is and what happens to the waste once it leaves the University

Aerosols

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Aerosols Recycling Recycling
  Please use the following steps to dispose of your empty aerosol cans:

1.    Ensure all cans are completely empty before disposal
2.    Remove nozzles and place the aerosol can(s) into a green sack recycling bin.
All aerosols are collected by Viridor and processed at the Mixed Recycling Facility in Hersden

Batteries

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Batteries Recycling Recycling
Household Type (Dry-cell) Batteries Please deposit into one of the battery collection points. Please do not deposit batteries in plastic bags.
 Dry-cell batteries are collected by BatteryBack who send them for recycling. Over 55% of the gross weight of the batteries is recycled
Industrial/ Automotive (wet-cell) Batteries These types of batteries are classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of via a specialist contractor.  Please contact Estates for advice.  Please do not dispose of these types of batteries in the battery collection points or in the landfill bins.
 Wet-cell batteries are collected by Ling Metals for specialist recycling

Heads of Schools and Departments and Staff with additional responsibilities for the disposal, storage or collection of batteries should read the Battery and Tube disposal procedure here

Books

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Books Reuse Reuse
 

If you have books you no longer want but are still in good condition and not excessively old we would encourage you to reuse rather than recycle.

We have partnered with BetterWorld Books and have a number of collection points in all college receptions

As yet there is unfortunately no facility for recycling books at the Medway campus
 Books are collected by Better World Books, a social enterprise working with READ International and the National Literacy Trust. Books are sold on to raise money for literacy charities

Cardboard

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Cardboard Recycling Recycling
Small quantities 1.    Flatten the cardboard and remove any tape where possible
2.    Place in your nearest green sack mixed recycling bin
 All cardboard is collected by Viridor and processed at the Mixed Recycling Facility in Hersden
Large quantities

1.    Flatten the cardboard and remove any tape where possible
2.    Place in one of the external cardboard bins

All polystyrene inserts and any plastic packaging must be removed first and disposed of accordingly.
  

CDs and DVDs

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
CDs and DVDs Recycling Recycling
 

Unwanted CDs and DVDs can be taken to the Templeman Library recycling zone

Unfortunately there is no facility for recycling CDs and DVDs at the Medway campus


CDs and DVDs are taken to SWEEEP – a waste electrical and electronic equipment processing plant in Sittingbourne. Items are broken down and over 95% of the materials recycled.

Chemicals and Solvents

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Chemicals and Solvents Disposal Disposal
School of Physical Sciences All waste chemicals and solvents should be disposed of via Bernard Doolin
Some chemicals are recovered and reused while others undergo specialist treatment and incineration
Other Schools and Departments

Please contact Estates for advice

  

Staff generating waste chemicals and solvents or with additional responsibilities for the disposal, storage or collection of chemicals and/or solvents should read the Chemical and Solvent disposal procedure here

Clothing

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Clothing Recycling Recycling
 

Dispose of textiles in the textile bank in the Parkwood admin car park (Canterbury) or the Merlin House car park (Medway)

 Textiles are collected by the Salvation army where they are sold, reused or recycled into mattress fillings or insulation

Cooking Oil

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Cooking Oil Disposal Disposal
Student Accommodation Any waste cooking oil generated in student accommodation must be disposed of in the landfill / external waste bins. Please use the following steps to dispose of your waste kitchen oil:

1. Place in a container with a lid and seal tightly.
2. Place this in a carrier bag / bin bag and tie tightly.
3. Place into a landfill bin.

Please DO NOT dispose of cooking oil down the sink. This can lead to blockages in the sewers.
  
  Recycling Recycling
Staff

Waste cooking oil is collected from catering kitchens on an individual basis.

Please can staff note that:

1. All containers MUST be sealed with a lid or top;
2. Containers must be stored in a secure area prior to collection

3. All duty of care paperwork must be kept on site for a minimum of 5 years


Waste cooking oil is converted to bio-fuels for road transport and heat and power systems.
Staff generating waste cooking oil or with additional responsibilities for the disposal, storage or collection of cooking oils should read the procedure for delivery, storage, use and disposal of oils here

Electrical and IT equipment

 

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Electrical (WEEE) Recycling Recycling
Students

Students living on campus can take small electrical items to college receptions. Estates will then collect from college receptions on request

Electrical and IT equipment is taken to SWEEEP – a WEEE processing plant in Sittingbourne. Items are broken down and over 95% of the materials recycled.
Staff

Staff should download and complete an electronic equipment disposal form

Small and medium items including computers will be collected by Estates staff and stored in the Maintenance yard. Larger items such as refrigerators may be collected directly by the waste contractor


Large items including refrigerators are collected by Ling metals

Heads of Schools and Departments and Staff with additional responsibilities for the disposal, storage or collection of WEEE should read the WEEE disposal procedure here

Staff must download and complete the disposal form.

Fluorescent bulbs and tubes (staff only)

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Fluorescent tubes Recycling Recycling
 

Estates maintenance staff collect spent fluorescent tubes and lamps during the course of their work.

If you have a waste light bulb from equipment used at the University, please contact Estates to arrange collection.

 Fluorescent tubes and bulbs are stored in a large container in the Estates maintenance yard, which is collected by Recolight when full. Lamps are processed and crushed, without allowing the mercury to escape. The components  are then separated for recycling

Estates maintenance staff with responsibilities removal or storage of fluorescent tubes should read the battery and tube disposal procedure here

Furniture (staff only)

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Furniture Reuse Reuse
 

The primary option for unwanted furniture is reuse within the University. If there is no option for reuse within your department please contact the Estates Helpdesk to arrange a collection.

 All furniture is stored in Estates for reuse across the University. Where reuse is not an option, unwanted furniture is donated to charity for reuse.

Glass

 

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Glass Recycling Recycling
 

External Viridor glass bins are located around the University. Schools and Departments should make their own arrangements to collect bottles and deposit them in the external bins.

Glass MUST not be placed in the general waste or mixed recycling bins. Viridor will class the bin as contaminated and will either not collect it or send it to landfill.

 All glass is collected by Viridor and processed at the Mixed Recycling Facility in Hersden

Metal (staff only)

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Metal Recycling Recycling
 

Metals are collected in a skip in the Estates Maintenance Yard. Call ex3775 to arrange a collection

 Metals are collected by Ling Metals and recycled

Mobile phones

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Mobile Phones Recycling Recycling
 

Old mobile phones can be recycled at a number of points on campus including the Mandela building reception and Templeman library recycling zone (Canterbury) and Medway building reception (Medway)

 Mobile phones are sent away to charities for reuse or recycling

Oil

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Oil Recycling Recycling
 

Waste oil and items contaminated with oil should be stored in sealed containers in a secure area and collected by specialist licensed contractors.

Waste oils are collected by specialist contractors who recycle it for other uses such as processed fuel oils

Staff with responsibilities for the use, disposal, storage or collection of oils should download and read the Oil and oil contaminated items delivery, storage, use and disposal procedure here

Paint

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Paint Disposal Disposal
 

Water based paint / empty containers can be disposed in the landfill bins. Please ensure containers are sealed to eliminate the risk of spillage.

Any other type of paint is classified as hazardous waste and MUST be disposed of via a specialist contractor. These types of materials CAN NOT be disposed of in the landfill bins or metal recycling. Call Estates for further advice

  

Printer and toner cartridges

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Printer and toner cartridges Recycling Recycling
 

Used toner and printer cartridges should either be placed into the department’s cartridge recycling box or collected by Estates. Call Estates to arrange a collection.

Used cartridges are stored in Estates until collected by licensed contractors


Used cartridges are collected by one of three companies who pay for the cartridges. Monies collected are donated to Seeds for Africa, Happy Holidays and Strode Park

Heads of Schools and Departments and Staff with additional responsibilities for changing printer cartridges should download and read the Printer cartridge disposal procedure here

Stamps

Waste Recycling or Disposal procedure What happens to the waste
Stamps Recycling Recycling
 

Stamps should be cut off used envelopes and placed into stamp collection boxes


 Stamps are sent to various charities on an individual department basis

Other waste

All other waste including food waste and polystyrene must be placed in general waste bins

Waste and Recycling Figures

In 2010, the University set a target to increase the percentage of waste being recycled to 50% by 2011/12. This was achieved early and in 2010/11 over 50% of our waste was recycled.

A new target of 55% of waste recycled has now been set for the 2012/13 academic year.

Waste and recycling

2009/10

(Tonnes)

2011/12

(Tonnes)
General waste 651.19 699.27
Office mixed recycling 99.24 219.91
Student mixed recycling 16.79 34.84
Cardboard 110.43 129.64
Confidential Paper 53.00 44.36
Glass 260.44 264.39
WEEE 25.81 35.54
Tubes and Lamps 1.19 2.42
Metal 9.00 19.5
Textiles 2.60 2.4
Batteries 1.56 1.44
Total 1231.25 1456.23
% recycled 47.11 51.98