Books
How to reuse or recycle unwanted or old books, both hardback and paperback.
Re-usable books
If you have books you no longer want but they are still in good condition and not excessively old we would encourage you to reuse rather than recycle.
We have started to use Better World Books, who are the world's biggest socially responsible used bookseller. They are not a charity, but a social business. They work in partnership with literacy charities using their skills in online bookselling to make money for them.
The University already works with READ International which is a partner of Better World Books so we have set up an agreement with both of them that ensures that they both benefits from our unwanted books.
How to arrange an ulpift of resuable books?
Contact the Waste & Recycling team to get boxes delivered to pack the books and once packed* arrange uplift of them via the us as well.
* Please pack the boxes appropriately and do not overfill so that they are too heavy to uplift
Recycling books
Small numbers of both hardback and paperback books can be placed into a nearby Treecycler.
Please ensure the sacks for recycling can be safely lifted with one hand.
If you need two hands, they are too heavy.
For large numbers of books for recycling please bag the books in recycling sacks, without overfilling the bags as the will split when being uplfited.
Once the bags are filled please contact the Waste and Recycling Team and we will arrange for the bags of books to be uplifted by our Waste and Recycling Assistants.
The books will be sent off for recycling. For more information on what happens when the recycling leaves the University please follow the link below:
13 Infirmary Street
Edinburgh EH1 1LT
United Kingdom
This article was published on Apr 8, 2010