University of Leeds
EAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – 5 July 2006
Dr Keith Pitcher
Environmental Officer
tel:
37255
email: k.f.pitcher@leeds.ac.uk
web:
www.leeds.ac.uk/environmental
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Environmental Policy
The University approved its Environmental Policy
in November 2001.
This was also approved by
We will conduct our own activities and
operations to reflect best environmental
the VC in March 2006.
practice, implement an environmental
management system (EMS) to pursue
sustainability and continuous
improvement and seek innovative ways
of meeting environmental objectives.
Our EMS:
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is the focus of all activities that have environmental effects;
is the summary of our environmental performance;
sets and monitors targets for environment improvement;
provides new programmes and financial resources; and
delivers a culture that embraces environmental best practice
Waste management and recycling is a key objective
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Waste management – not recycling
‘I was shocked and appalled by our visit to the waste site yesterday;
within 5 minutes I was knee deep in paper and books.
These were not isolated incidences but originated from across the
university community.’ – Quote from Environmental Co-ordinator
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Waste management – targets & performance
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We will
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Office waste recycling scheme 80% complete across campus,
finish in next 6 months
Offices monitored before scheme implemented recycled 24%
Audits carried out post scheme implementation
– Mechanical Engineering
56%
– Estate Services
62%
– Psychiatry
59%
– Leeds University Union
75%
Voluntary scheme achieved only 28% recycling
Electrical & electronic waste needed to have a separate collection
& reuse/recycle scheme
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meet or better UK recycling targets
25% by end of 2005
30% by 2010
33% by 2015
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Hazardous Waste Directive
• Environment Agency provided advice and support
• Big change in emphasis
– Mixing waste streams with IT equipment makes the whole lot
hazardous
– Much further distance to licensed hazardous waste site
– Potential issues with IT equipment being found in a landfill
– WITH University of xxxx non-removable markings!!
– Big cost increases
• Project team established:
– Information Systems Services, Cleaning Services,
Environmental Management
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
WEEE programme
• Review of systems – 2004 situation
– Collection and transport of IT equipment to a local
charity established by Leeds Council to provide
employment
– Issues with increasing volume of IT equipment and
its condition
– Issues with certification for transfer and disposal
– Issues with medium term viability of the company
– Donation of computers to schools in Leeds, Lesotho
and Kenya
– Use of waste skips, 1100 litre bins and in their vicinity
to ‘dispose’ of redundant IT equipment
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
What we found in unlocked skips
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
New Electrical & Electronic Waste System
• Discussions with companies to collect, transport and process
redundant equipment
• Assessment of likely amounts of waste
• Key requirements:
– Licensed for BOTH transfer and processing
– Disk wipe to a high standard (same as Home Office)
– Efficient and regular collection from several university sites
on campus
– Provision of information on individual assets and method of
disposal
• University financed costs of the scheme
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Issues to consider
Pre-contract
• Confirm the ability of the contractor to carry out the work to cost,
time and standards
• Check licensing with Environment Agency
• Follow up references
• Ensure disk wiping is to the appropriate standard
Operational
• Get business case approved
• Set up internal collection system
• Confirm collection arrangements, one or multi pickup per
campus
• Obtain records of items and disposal methods:
– Reuse or recycle
• Don’t underestimate what will come out of the woodwork!
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Progress
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Initial assessment - a bit of an
underestimate!
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Recycling performance
In 2005 1772 tonnes of waste from campus and 26.6% recycled
– 323 tonnes of waste paper
– 25 tonnes of cardboard
– 1445 electrical & electronic items
– 333 computers reused by ISS
– reused by departments
– 150 donated to schools in Lesotho and Kenya
– printer & photocopier cartridges & toners
– 6000 chemical bottles returned & reused
– batteries, wood and furniture recycling commenced
– Hazardous waste items
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006
Recycling performance
1,800
Tonnes
Other
1,600
Paper
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
Refuse
600
400
200
2001
Recycling %
14.8
Environmental management
2002
18.0
2003
2004
16.5
19.5
2005
26.6
Office waste recycling March 2006
Weights of electrical/electronic waste collected
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Weights of electrical/electronic equipment are summarised below
35
30
Tonnes
25
Accredited collection
ISS complete units
Keyboards
Printers
Monitors
Base units
20
15
10
5
0
2003
Environmental management
2004
2005
2006 (Jan-June)
Office waste recycling March 2006
….and finally – support from the VC
The VC said ‘The office
waste recycling scheme has
already been a great
success, but we need
everyone to take part if we
are going to make a real
difference.’
Environmental management
Office waste recycling March 2006