More than 50 student volunteers took part in the 11th annual Waste Wars event at the beginning of March 2017.
Each year, students and staff work together to audit the University’s waste and measure how much we are recycling.
96 bags from across the University were audited at Wessex Lane Halls and the results highlighted that a large amount of our waste is being diverted from recycling because it has been contaminated with food.
Bags of contaminated recycling are rejected by our waste contractor and are burnt to extract heat – recycling is better for the environment than heat recovery.
You can help us boost the amount we recycle on campuses and in halls by ensuring that no food or liquid goes into the mixed recycling bins and packaging is rinsed.
Food caddies are for all food waste, tea bags and coffee grounds. Nearly everything else should go in the mixed recycling bin (see our A-Z if you’re not sure). The mixed recycling is taken to a materials recycling facility (MRF) and sorted. Batteries should be put in the separate battery recycling bins and glass should be placed straight into the green recycling bins that can be found in the external bin compounds.
To find out more or ask a question, visit our dedicated sustainability page, email: [email protected] and follow @Sustainable_UoS on Twitter.
