Waste and Recycling

Waste and Recycling

Reducing our environmental impact through reducing consumption, maximising reuse opportunities, promoting recycling and adopting circular economy principles.

Waste Strategy

Our approach to reducing the amount of waste we produce, promoting reuse and increasing recycling rates is driven by our ambitious Waste Management Strategy 2025-30.

Developed by the Facilities Management team within Commercial Services & Estates, this strategy is based on the principles of the waste hierarchy

Take a look at the strategy to find out about

  • Key facts — through Estates' recycling or reuse initiatives, nearly 40% of our waste was diverted from landfill in the year 23/24. 
  • Current initiatives  —  such as cost avoidance, improvements in communications, income generation from waste. 
  • Information  — about improvements, in our monitoring and measuring of waste for example. 
  • Targets  —  our ambitious waste targets and their Key Performance Indicators.

Waste Management Strategy 2025-30 (pdf)

Recycling

Across our campuses, all offices, public spaces, catering outlets and classrooms use a simple 2 bin system of general waste and mixed recycling. Some areas will also have food waste collection bins. We also have processes to reuse, recycle and dispose of over 30 different waste streams which can be found in our A-Z of recycling, see below.
Mixed Recycling dos and don'ts poster

Mixed Recycling

Most clean and dry packaging waste can be placed in the mixed recycling (green sack) bins which is sorted off site at a MRF (materials recovery facility).

General waste dos and don'ts poster

General Waste

General waste (black sack) bins are used for non-recyclable wastes such as polystyrene, packaging contaminated with food such as greasy pizza boxes and food waste (unless a dedicated bin is provided).

Food Waste dos and don'ts poster

Food Waste

Some areas such as student accommodation and catering kitchens now have dedicated food waste caddies. These should only be used for cooked or raw food and not for packaging.

Hands holding recyclable items next to recycling symbol

A-Z of Recycling

For all other wastes such as batteries, electrical items, books, clothes or household items you can use our A-Z (pdf) of recycling to find out how and where to take it.

Donations and Reuse

chairs and tables

WARP-IT Furniture reuse

All staff can sign up to WARP-IT to list unwanted furniture, stationary items and other resources or to browse what is available to claim.

Photo a British Heart Foundation donation point

British Heart Foundation

We have 8 permanent British Heart Foundation donations bins across the Canterbury campus where you can donate clothes, shoes, books and homewares.

Cans of food neatly stacked on shelves

Campus Pantry

Run by KSU, providing short-term support to students who find themselves in need of supplemental food. You can donate year-round in Mandela and the Plaza Co-Op and during pop-up donation drives.

Green, yellow and white logo of H and Z

Coming Soon....

Watch this space to find out more about an exciting reuse initiative coming to Kent in Autumn 2025.

More Information

For Staff

Further information on waste disposal for staff including links to Electrical Equipment disposal forms, hazardous water procedures and maps of waste compounds and facilities (links to CSE SharePoint).

For Students

Information for students on waste and recycling in on-campus accommodation including arrangements for emptying kitchen bins (links to student webpages).