Design out waste
Reusables are a great way of preventing personal waste, but what about waste from other University activities?
- Go paperless. Scan documents rather than sending photocopies, put PDF documents on the web and send meeting notes and agenda electronically.
- Make sure you’re printing double sided. It only takes a couple of minutes to set your computer to print double sided, and its the default for University SelectPrint printers.
- Print in black and white. Printing in black and white is about ten times cheaper than printing in colour and more sustainable as well.
- Need something printed professionally? Printing Services uses recycled paper and has adopted many other sustainable practices, including delivering by bike! If you do need to print using a company outside of the University, ask if they can use recycled paper.
Ordering and consuming less is the easiest way to cut down on waste.
- If you are ordering items then try and consolidate ordering so you use less packaging. You can do this by ordering less frequently, or ordering for the whole building, school or department.
- Don't over-order food when catering events.
Making an inventory or having a stationery amnesty, can make sure you don’t order excess and get the most out of your current things.
Established in January 2020, this policy is focused on reducing the number of unnecessary personal computing devices. This will contribute positively to the University’s Zero by 2040 carbon ambition and reduce damage to the environment caused by the mining, manufacturing, transport and energy cost of additional devices; and minimise the disposal impact of old devices that cannot be recycled.
Of the 6.6 million tonnes we throw away in the UK, almost three quarters (70% of the total) is food we could have eaten (4.5 million tonnes). Source: Wrap
Plan your meals, keep track of what’s in the fridge, don’t cook more than you need and freeze or share leftovers with friends. You’ll save money and help the environment in the process – win-win!