Facilitating Recycling and Waste Management

Buying Recycled

The University is currently embarking on the Recycling Action Yorkshire (RAY) Programme’s ‘buy recycled’ project to explore opportunities for replacing existing procurement lines within recycled alternatives. The process includes identifying key procurement lines, identifying replacement recycled content products, cost benefit analysis, development of a ‘buy recycled’ action plan and a final review with the development of case study material. Through this project the University has already bought its first recycled kitchen which we’ve installed in the Phoenix Building.

In addition, RAY are supporting the University in developing specific work programmes on recycling our organics (onsite composting), plastics, glass, paper, wood and construction materials.

Recycling Task Force

Ecoversity is a cultural change programme. This means that the way in which decisions are made and projects developed is as important as the project outcomes themselves. A working example of this change of approach is the Recycling Task Force comprising representatives from academic schools, students, estates, finance and community representatives. This task force meets to identify best practice in recycling and waste management and has developed a business plan to alter the way the University manages its waste.

A recycling pilot will take place in 2007 to test the introduction of a new recycling infrastructure for our students and staff.