Waste and the circular economy
The Circular Economy is about transitioning from a ‘take-make-dispose’ linear approach to resource use to systems that encourage reuse and extraction of maximum value before returning resources to the biosphere.
Why is waste important?
Most activities generate waste in some form. Some of this waste is physical waste, for example, plastic packaging. This waste can build up in ecosystems (think plastics in the ocean). To address this issue, we all need to avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle.
Waste at the University
Operational waste is managed by Estates, supported by the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability in some specific areas.
Types of waste we generate at the University:
- Potentially reusable waste (for example, furniture or IT equipment)
- Recyclable waste (for example, office paper)
- Compostable waste (for example, food from our cafes)
- General waste that is not currently recycled and is sent for incineration to be used for energy (e.g. contaminated food packaging and used paper towels)
- Lab and specialist waste (ranging from chemicals to biological samples)
- Waste from University accommodation
See the breakdown of our waste in our latest annual report
Our initiatives
Our expertise in the circular economy helps to create innovative solutions that enable businesses to thrive and to support the transition to a more regenerative, green economy.
- A vision to become a Zero Waste University by 2030
- Putting waste prevention, reuse and recycling at the forefront of our relationship with resources
- Striving to be disposable plastic-free by 2030 (non-essential single-use plastics)