News
July 2009
Recycling roll-out - The story so far
In 2007, Kingston University and KUSCO trialled a segregated recycling pilot in 4 multi-use areas across the University; River House and Swan Wing, C-SCAIPE, the KUSCO Services Building, and the Avionics Building at Knights Park. This was later extended to the John Galsworthy Building when it came online.
During the pilot, waste was segregated at source using new 100 Litre bins which collected paper and card, plastics, cans, and landfill waste streams separately.
On analysis of the pilot scheme, data showed that recycling rates increased from 9-11% in the non-pilot scheme areas to 58-60% in the pilot areas.
Over the last 6 months we have been continuing our research into the segregated recycling scheme, investigating waste and recycling management at other Universities, and consulting staff and student samples.
In the executive approved KU Carbon Management Plan, the University has set a target to increase recycling rates to 60% across campuses by 2010. To do this, we have secured budget to plan and produce a roll out of the recycling pilot scheme. Most of the budget will be spent on the newly sourced recycling units which have also been trialled and voted on by stakeholder groups.
During the summer, when the University is quieter and before the students come back to timetable, KU will begin a set of communications to inform staff about the recycling roll out scheme. This is likely to come in late July and early August.
At this point, details will be available from every communication portal we can think of.
We will then come around and chat to staff about the new scheme whilst we roll out the new bins, which will be replacing all of the mixed waste bins.
For those staff who are away on holidays we will produce a postcard about the new recycling scheme and place it on every empty desk, giving them option to visit the website where full details can be found.
The recycling bin zones are allocated by assessing the occupancy numbers, area use and floor space of every part of the University ensuring that no faculty department or team are without a recycling and waste zone. Each recycling and waste zone will collect paper, cardboard, plastics, cans, and landfill non-recyclable waste which is separated into the correct bins by the user... i.e. all of us!
Once the units have been put into place, the KUSCO cleaning team will empty the new zoned bins in place of the old mixed waste bins, and they will be regularly serviced as usual.
For more information on the new recycling scheme, email us.
Want to become a recycling champion?
All the recycling champion needs to do is be a point for two way communication between their department/team/office and us. For example, let everyone know that the new scheme is coming in August and that you have been updated with all the relevant info. Then if your colleagues have any questions, you will probably be able to explain it to them. If however there are issues which you aren’t sure you can address, then the champion can collate them and get in contact with us to see if we can help.
Essentially the Recycling Champion is helping Kingston University staff in their area to recycle as easily as possible.
If you want to become a recycling champion, email Hannah Smith.
