Waste

We want to ensure that we manage our resources efficiently, through following the waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle) with a priority focus on reduction of waste at source and reuse. Examples of this include reducing the amount that we purchase through informed decision making and expanding our successful internal reuse and sharing schemes.

We want to change the way we view waste, we want to see waste as a resource. In order to do this we are focussing on reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place.

Once you no longer need an item we ask staff and students to dispose of waste responsibly. Our source segregated recycling rate (what we separate ourselves into bins on campus) is around 35%.

Where disposal of waste is the only viable option, we actively seek to use more sustainable treatment technologies to reduce waste sent to landfill. Our policy and current waste contract ensures that zero waste is sent direct to landfill. This is achieved by taking all non-recyclable (residual*) waste to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is shredded before it is transferred to a facility where it is used as a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).

Reduce: Ask yourself whether you really need something before you buy it. Can you share items such as equipment with colleagues? Can you help reduce the amount of food wasted in your area?

Reuse: We have a an IT reuse centre. We encourage our staff to make use of these facilities before buying new items.

Recycle: Speak to the Department of Sustainability at Oxford College of Business to find out how we recycle on campus.