Waste and recycling

Find out how we're working towards the five Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, (energy) recovery and remove
Recycling Bins. Credit: Matthew Tosdevin <matthew.tosdevin@plymouth.ac.uk>
We recycled 47% of our waste in 2022–23 – and generated 18kg per student in this year.

Our commitment

The University aims to reduce its scope 3 carbon footprint associated with waste generation, as well as to reduce costs associated with waste management, and to maximise rebates for recycling. Linking with procurement, the University aims to support the transition to a circular economy, focusing on preventing waste generation in the first instance. To support this the University community needs to ensure it minimises waste generation where possible, re-uses where possible and to dispose of waste correctly to ensure as much waste is recycled as possible.

We aim to:

  • Reduce the amount of waste generated, measured per student to 20kg or less by 2027.
  • Increase recycle and reuse such that non-recyclable waste per student is reduced to 6kg or less by 2027.
  • Raise awareness of waste and recycling standards and legal responsibilities of staff and students through the deployment of eLearning modules and webpage refresh.

Our performance:

  • In 2022–23 we generated 18kg of waste per student.
  • In 2022–23 we recycled 47% of our waste.
  • In 2022–23 we re-used 7.3 tonnes of office related materials through Warp It.
Waste Management Hierarchy

Waste management hierarchy

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations require us to regard the waste hierarchy and apply where practicable.
This is addressed as part of our waste code of practice .

Our recycling bins

There are bins across campus for you to recycle your waste.
For more information on this, please read the information on the Waste and Recycling page on the . This also includes a useful PowerPoint presentation for staff who receive waste notes when any collection of waste takes place.
Email sustainability@plymouth.ac.uk with recommendations for recycling facilities or if you notice any problems.
Recycling Bins. Credit: Matthew Tosdevin <matthew.tosdevin@plymouth.ac.uk>

The campus waste depot

We have a dedicated team of staff on campus who manage our waste at the University Recycling Centre. This location is a hub of activity where the team collect the waste from the bins around campus. They take apart broken chairs, desks and bits of furniture to separate wood, plastic and metal, and collect electrical waste – officially known as Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) – to maximise recycling.
Above recycling on the waste hierarchy is re-use, so we utilise where possible to prevent items with potential for second life going into the waste stream. This reduces waste and requirements to purchase brand new furniture and laboratory equipment, allowing others to re-purpose these goods.