to Waste and Recycling This guide has been produced by Paul Thomas of the university s Sustainability Team in conjunction with the Estates Department. www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 100% recycled This brochure is printed on 100% recycled paper. 4267 5/13 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability
Welcome This guide is intended to provide basic advice to ensure our waste does not harm human health and the environment and that we maximise our recycling rate. We all have a duty of care to ensure that waste is stored and disposed of properly. The University of Gloucestershire is committed to promoting and practising sustainability. It seeks to engage students, staff and stakeholders in living and learning for sustainability. This guide, developed by the Sustainability Team as part of the university s Promising Futures Sustainability Strategy, is seeking to contribute to targets to reduce the volume of waste produced by 25%, as well as to increase recycling rates to 75% by 2020. This will help us reduce our environmental footprint, use resources more efficiently and minimise waste disposal costs. We appreciate that recycling can be confusing and hopefully this guide goes some way to help clarify what and how to recycle here at the university. However, remember the old adage reduce, reuse, recycle - it is always best to minimise the generation of waste and reuse items before recycling! Aerosols At present aerosols must be placed in the general waste bins. Asbestos Asbestos can only be disposed of by specialist contractors. Any material suspected of being asbestos must be reported to the Estates Management Helpdesk immediately. T: 01242 714888 E: estateshelpdesk@glos.ac.uk A Reduce For example, ask suppliers to take back packaging; buy more energy efficient and durable products; photocopy and print double-sided; print in reduced density and in draft mode. Reuse Batteries Collection points for batteries are now available at all campus receptions and Students Union offices. Look out for the tall, transparent containers. Batteries are collected and recycled by XPO IT Services. B For example, use paper from misprints and drafts as a note pad; use cardboard boxes for packaging; send printer toner cartridges for reuse (see Printer and Toner Cartridges in the guide). Recycle Bicycles Please do not abandon bicycles on campus they are unsightly and encourage theft. Unwanted bikes can be donated to the Gloucestershire Bike Project to be refurbished or can be disposed of by the caretakers. See the guide for advice and also buy products containing recycled materials to close the loop. Do please use the appropriate container for your waste and please do not leave waste outside the containers. The majority of everyday items can go into the dry mixed recycling bins around sites - details on specific items are available below. For specific questions on waste, a list of useful contacts is available at the end of this guide. Biological Wastes Please seek advice from the Health, Safety and Environment Team on procedures for the safe handling and disposal of biological material. Books Can they be reused? If so, then try advertising on Amazon or donating to a local charity shop. If reuse is not possible, small numbers of books can be placed in the paper recycling bins. For disposal of larger quantities please contact campus caretakers. The University Library Service donates unwanted library books to Better World Books who use the money raised to fund literacy projects both in the UK and abroad. To date the university has donated over 15,000 books, saving nearly 250 trees. 2 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 3
C Cables Contact the ICT Helpdesk for advice. Cables are recycled by XPO IT Services. Cans Cans should be placed in the recycling bins around campuses. Please rinse first but there is no need to remove labels. These are collected by Grundon and recycled into new cans. DO NOT dispose of aerosols or paint tins in these bins but contact your local campus caretakers for advice. Cardboard Small amounts of cardboard can be placed in the paper recycling bins. To dispose of large amounts or corrugated cardboard please contact your campus caretakers. If possible arrange for the supplier to take the packaging away with them as part of the order. Material is collected by Grundon for recycling and turned into new cardboard products. CDs and DVDS Contact the ICT Helpdesk to organise collection. These are recycled by XPO IT Services. Clinical Waste Please contact your campus caretakers for disposal. Caretakers will involve the Health, Safety and Environment Team if necessary. Computers Contact the ICT Helpdesk to arrange removal. Confidential Waste There are consoles on each site for confidential paper recycling. These are emptied on a regular basis and then shredded on site. Confidential sacks are available from the caretakers please advise when full. Electrical Waste See WEEE Envelopes All envelopes can be reused for internal mail. Envelopes with or without windows can be placed in the paper recycling bins. Collected by Grundon and recycled into new paper products. Fluorescent Tubes and Low-Energy Light Bulbs Fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs, also known as Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs), are classified as hazardous waste as they contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead but they can be recycled. Contact your local campus caretakers. These are recycled by XPO IT Services. Foil Dispose of in general waste bins around site. Food Waste Food waste recycling is available at all campus refectories next to the tray collection points. Food waste bins are clearly labelled and have a bright green lid - any leftover food can be deposited here. Please ensure that ONLY food waste is placed into these bins no other materials of any sort. Food waste is collected by Grundon and taken to Rose Hill Farm in the Forest of Dean for composting. The university is currently reviewing the implementation of additional food recycling facilities in halls of residence. Fridges and Freezers See White Goods. Furniture Unfortunately the official university reuse scheme SHARE is temporarily suspended but contact your campus caretakers to arrange collection of furniture. E F 4 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 5
G Glass Bottles Glass bottles and containers should be placed in the recycling bins around campuses or in special bottle skips for recycling. Collected by Grundon, these are recycled into new bottles or aggregate. Items should be empty and rinsed before putting in the bin. Metal Any cans and tins can be placed in the recycling bins. For the removal of any other ferrous or non-ferrous metal items, please contact your local campus caretakers. Any electrical or electronic equipment must be dealt with as WEEE. M Glass (Other) When dealing with old or broken window glass or former laboratory glassware, please contact your campus caretakers to be informed of the appropriate steps for disposal. Mobile Phones Phones can be deposited at the Students Union offices on all campuses and are then recycled by XPO IT Services. Alternatively, a number of companies will buy your old mobile phone. A comparison of phone recyclers is available at www.compareandrecycle.co.uk H J L Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste must be identified, labelled, stored and disposed of separately from general waste. The list of hazardous wastes has grown and now includes fluorescent tubes, televisions, computer monitors (all recycled by XPO IT Services), paint tins and oily rags etc. Please contact your campus caretakers for disposal. Caretakers will involve the Health, Safety and Environment Team if necessary. Junk Mail Place in the paper recycling bins where it is collected by Grundon and recycled into new paper products. Oils Waste cooking oil is collected from the refectories by Agri Energy, a specialist recycling contractor, who turns it into biodiesel. Used mineral oils must be stored in properly bunded tanks or containers. Empty oil containers must not be disposed of as normal waste and should be set aside to be disposed of separately - contact the Health, Safety and Environment Team for further advice. O Light Bulbs See Fluorescent Tubes Paper Please put ALL paper-based products including cardboard, newspapers, magazines, office paper (coloured or white), envelopes (with or without windows), old books, brochures, yellow pages and catalogues into one of the designated recycling bins around campuses. Please remove any large metal elements and all plastics, including plastic bags, coverings, wrappings and plastic file dividers. Paper is collected by Grundon and recycled into new products. P 6 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 7
P Plastic Bottles Place in the recycling bins around campuses. These bottles are collected by Grundon and used as raw material for new bottles. Plastic Packaging Dispose of in general waste bins around campuses. Polystyrene Cups and Food Trays Telephone directories See details for recycling Paper. Tetra Pak Cartons At present, no facilities exist on campus to recycle Tetra Pak cartons so they must be placed in the general waste bins. Tetra Pak recycling facilities do exist at some Cheltenham Borough Council recycle sites. For details visit www.recycleforgloucestershire.com/household-recycling-centres T Dispose of in general waste bins around campuses. Textiles and Clothes The university is now partnered with the British Heart Foundation to collect textiles and clothes. Please bag items and place them in one of the donation banks on campus: Park: One next to Challinor and another in the loading zone behind the refectory FCH: In corner of the car park by Shaftesbury Hall Hardwick: Outside Thames Hall Oxstalls: Between the recycling centre and Jonathan Porritt building Pittville: In the central courtyard Further red donation bins are available at all other halls of residence. Polystyrene Packaging Dispose of in general waste bins around campuses. Printer and Toner Cartridges All types of used and unused toner and printer cartridges can be saved for reuse or recycling. Please place in the internal post tray or contact your local campus caretakers. Items are collected and recycled by XPO IT Services. R Radioactive Materials Radioactive materials have to be disposed of by a specialist route. Please seek the advice of the Radiological Protection Supervisor, Dr Phil Toms, on 01242 714708 or via email ptoms@glos.ac.uk Toys, Soft Toys and Games Please bag items and place them in one of the British Heart Foundation banks found on campus. See Textiles and Cothes for a full list of bank locations. S Shredded Paper There are paper recycling bins on each site. These are emptied on a regular basis please advise campus caretakers when full. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) This includes all IT equipment including PCs, monitors, mice, keyboards, printers, cables, fax machines, photocopiers and all other items of general electrical equipment, including white goods. Items of WEEE must not be placed in ANY waste skip or container. Please contact your local campus caretakers to have them picked up for special disposal giving a general description of the type and number of items to be removed. W The university employs XPO IT Services to recycle WEEE. They guarantee the destruction of data as required by the Data Protection Act 8 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability and Copyright. www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 9
Useful Contacts W White Goods Please contact your local campus caretakers to have fridges/freezers collected for special disposal, giving a general description of the type and number of items to be removed. They are de-gassed and shredded to collect and remove any harmful CFC gases arising from the refrigerant or from the polyurethane insulation. The gas is either recycled or destroyed and the metal residue is recovered for recycling. DO NOT put redundant fridges and freezers in any waste skip or container. White goods are recycled in line with other WEEE items through XPO IT Services. Caretakers FCH Campus T: 01242 714784 E: fchcaretakers@glos.ac.uk Park Campus T: 01242 714483 E: parkcaretakers@glos.ac.uk Oxstalls Campus T: 01242 715234 E: oxstallscaretakers@glos.ac.uk Wood and Pallets Please contact your local campus caretakers to arrange for the removal of wood and pallets for reuse. All updates and suggestions for this guide are welcome. Please contact Paul Thomas in the Sustainability Team. For further information and useful documents, visit www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability Other useful contacts Martin Foster, Health, Safety and Environment Co-ordinator T: 01242 715051 E: mfoster@glos.ac.uk ICT Helpdesk T: 01242 714044 E: icthelpdesk@glos.ac.uk Geoff Midwinter, Environment Officer T: 01242 715048 E: gmidwinter@glos.ac.uk Andy Simpson, Head of Facilities T: 01242 714189 E: asimpson@glos.ac.uk Paul Thomas, Sustainability Officer T: 01242 715378 E: pthomas@glos.ac.uk Useful Websites Agri Energy - www.agrienergy.co.uk Better World Books - www.betterworldbooks.co.uk Compare and Recycle - www.compareandrecycle.co.uk Gloucestershire Bike Project - www.gloucestershirebikeproject.co.uk Grundon - www.grundon.com ShredIt - www.shredit.co.uk XPO IT Services - www.xpoitservices.co.uk 10 www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability 11