WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING STRATEGY
Aim
The aim of this paper is to set out a strategy for the management of the
removal of waste and recycling on the Plymouth Campus. With the ever
increasing costs of disposing of waste and pressure from legislation (appendix
1) to reduce the amount of waste going to land fill, the University must
substantially increase levels of recycling. This policy is in harmony with the
sustainability policies of the University.
Current situation
Recycling is limited to specific areas, like glass where recent measures taken
by Hospitality Services now recycle the majority of glass bottles produced by
the Student’s Union Bar, some 25,000 to 30,000 per week in term time.
Approximately only 21% of paper is currently recycled, 98% of toner
cartridges recycled and 95% of florescent tubes.
Waste disposal is dealt with by four University departments.
Hospitality Services: All general waste, confidential waste, paper, cardboard,
litter, all electrical/white goods (other than florescent tubes and batteries),
clinical and sanitary waste. Some electrical goods are now classified as
hazardous waste
Estates Services: Florescent tubes and batteries
ILS: Toner cartridges
Registry: Notifiable hazardous waste, chemicals, radio active substances etc.
The majority of waste produced by the University goes to land fill.
Current costs
The cost of disposing of waste can be broken down into two main elements.
Transport and landfill tax
 Compacted waste costs approximately £100 per tonne plus £18
(due to rise to £36 in 2006) per tonne land fill tax. The University
currently produces 400 tonnes of compacted waste annually,
costing (including VAT) £55.4k.
 Electrical waste, which includes old PC’s, monitors, printers,
telephones etc, is collected in skips and costs £54 per tonne to
dispose of, plus £175 per lift. Currently the University generates
approximately 12 tonnes annually at a cost of £3k.
 White goods, including refrigerators freezers etc cost £20 per item
to dispose of. The number of these items being disposed of has
reduced significantly since the transfer of responsibility of the halls
of residence, but still amount to over 100 items annually at a cost of
£2.3k.
 Clinical waste cost approximately £2.1k annually to dispose of.
 Non-compacted waste. Due to the nature of some University
buildings, waste is collected in Euro bins and disposed of
separately. This occurs at Cookworthy House, Students Union and
Pilgrim’s Café. The cost amounts to £12k annually.
The total cost of the disposal of waste from the University is currently £74.8k
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Section updated: December 2005.
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The way forward – a Strategy
Because of the wide impact this strategy will have within the University,
agreement will need to be reached and owned by the newly formed
Environmental Committee as part of an over-arching environmental policy. It
will be incumbent on this committee to enforce policy matters on a minority of
reluctant staff and students.
Funding will be required to create a proposed new waste and recycling centre.
Notifiable hazardous waste, (chemicals etc.) currently controlled by David
Morton would remain under his auspices.
Increase Recycling – decrease waste to land fill
This must be the overriding element of any strategy. Good practice starts with
procurement of goods and services, with service providers increasingly made
aware of their responsibilities of removing packaging from the campus as part
of the contract to supply.
Paper recycling must be a priority area. The University purchases over 250
tonnes of paper annually, but recycles less than 50 tonnes. Every tonne of
paper recycled is a tonne less going to land fill. Cardboard is another bulky
and expensive item to dispose of and plans to purchase a baler and sell
cardboard is envisaged.
Recycling must start at source. Separation of waste will have to be
undertaken in offices, catering areas, teaching rooms and communal areas. It
is proposed to have four receptacles strategically sited in all working
environments.
The four receptacles would have colour coded bags as follows:
Green:
Paper products
Blue:
Confidential paper (to be destroyed)
Clear:
Plastic or tins
Black:
Food and all other non-recyclable items
It is acknowledge that logistical difficulties may arise in physically locating the
number of receptacles required, but it is an essential element to the
successful implementation of the recycling policy.
Cardboard should be flat packed and left for collection along with paper
products.
Black bags would be collected on a daily basis (Monday to Friday) with other
types of waste being collected on alternate days. Collection of any products
can be made by contacting Cleaning Services on ext 2052 or e-mail
campussupport@plymouth.ac.uk
All waste matter would be taken to a new waste and recycling centre for
disposal. Collection points will remain in current locations for existing
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Section updated: December 2005.
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buildings. Rowe Street has a waste strategy agreed although the location of
the collection area is yet to be agreed. Similarly James Square waste
strategy is agreed, with a shared kitchen waste facility being located at the
rear of Isaac Foot building for use by both James Square and Isaacs. Other
waste/recycling will be collected from main entrances.
Rowe Street and James Square, will produce an anticipated additional 85/90
tonnes of waste annually costing an additional £10.6k at current prices. In
addition, two additional labourers will be required at a cost of £30k per year to
service thesebuildings and cope with the separation of waste into its
component parts and baling of cardboard.
Only a small increase in UoP transport costs is estimated (fuel etc.) as
sufficient vehicles are already available.
As part of the sustainability policy, one aim of waste management must be to
reduce the number of journeys/mileage of collection vehicles.
To assist with this, it is recommended that all glass products will be recycled
in purpose built containers located to the south of the Students’ Union area in
what is scheduled to be a landscaped area.
All other waste/recycled products would be collected from the new plant
where it would be stored in secure containers whilst awaiting collection.
Cardboard would be bailed on site before collection.
Key objectives
 The primary objective is to reduce the amount of waste currently going
to land fill. This can be achieved by increasing the amount of recycling,
particularly with paper products.
 Changing from compacted waste charged per lift to “pay by weight” is
to be investigated. Further cost savings could be achieved by adopting
this procedure.
 Investigate collaborative venture with Exeter University and Derriford
Hospital.
Benefits of adopting a strategy
Apart from compliance with statutory regulations on both the safe disposal of
waste and expected levels of recycling, the University as a major employer
and institution within the City of Plymouth has an ethical and moral
responsibility to care for the environment. By adopting this strategy, the
University would benefit from:
 Possible increased student recruitment as experienced by the
University of Sussex some years ago when it too produced such a
policy.
 Whilst there may not be any visible cost savings, by recycling more of
our waste, we send less to land fill. Land fill tax has risen by 60% in
the last couple of years and will continue to attract substantial
increases in the future, which can be avoided by increased recycling.
 Environmental issues are popular with most people who would take
pride in making a real contribution to safeguarding the environment.
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Section updated: December 2005.
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Note.
This document is not an Environmental policy, but a strategy for the
removal of waste from the University which incorporates recycling as a
stated aim.
Recommendations
That this paper be considered by the Environmental Committee for
discussion and adoption, to be implemented as soon as possible.
John McMahon, Cleaning Services Manager
Andrew Littlejohn, Head of Hospitality Services
6th December 2005
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Section updated: December 2005.
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Appendix 1
List of Current Waste Legislation
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Control of Pollution Act 1974 (as amended)
Environment Act 1995
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Controlled Waste Regulations 1992, SI 588 (as amended)
Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles)
Regulations 1991, SI 1624 (as amended)
End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003, SI 2635
End of Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 SI 263
Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 SI 2839 (as
amended)
Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, SI 894
Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, SI 1559 (as amended)
Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 SI 1941 (as
amended)
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations
1997, SI 648 (as amended)
The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005, SI 895
Waste Incineration (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, SI 2980
Waste Management Licences (Consultation and Compensation)
Regulations 1999, SI 481
Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, SI 1056
(as
amended)
Waste Management Regulations 1996, SI 634
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Section updated: December 2005.
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