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Resource Management

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The University is committed to the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources within its operations and supply chains. Waste prevention is a key priority at the university, our Waste Management Policy focuses on the reduction and prevention of waste at source crucial for achieving carbon reduction goals and ultimately reaching Net Zero emissions targets.

Waste Policy

We are actively engaging with staff, students and visitors to encourage them to follow the waste hierarchy:

  • Prevention: The prevention of waste and responsible consumption of resources is considered across all University departments.
  • Reuse / Donate: On-site Children’s Air Ambulance clothing banks encourage our students and staff to donate unwanted clothing items. Items not accepted by the clothing banks can be collected by Anglo-Doorstep Collections. Previous re-use initiatives include work with the Phoenix resource centre through the donation of desks, chairs, IT equipment for use here in the UK and in Djibouti.  Our Single Use Plastic and Disposable Item Policy is created to encourage the use of re-useable items i.e. re-usable cups and water bottles. See our maps for locations of water coolers across campus.
  • Recycle: From take away cups and food waste to vapes and batteries, a selection of recycling bins across the estate allow for a wide variety of items to be recycled.
  • Dispose: For waste that cannot be recycled and as a last resort our remaining municipal waste is taken for EFW processing.

Our goal is to reduce the volume of waste produced across all residential and non-residential buildings through educating staff and students on responsible consumption and the importance of waste reduction, responsible waste management practices and the positive impact these practices have on the environment.

Awareness and behavioural change campaigns play an important part in educating our staff and student community in the correct way to dispose of waste, we do this by supporting national campaigns and various waste reduction projects.

Waste projects in action

To keep up with projects and initiatives follow us on Instagram @uon_sustainable.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our resource management policies and projects are linked to the following SDGs:

SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production tile with logo

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs

  • Clothing and home donations

    Please donate your preloved items to keep them in the circular economy and support the Children’s Air Ambulance.

    We accept:

    • Clothes
    • Paired Shows
    • Linen – curtains, bedding (not duvets and pillows)
    • Accessories – belts, hats, scarfs, gloves, jewellery
    Campus Clothing banks

    We have three external banks:

    • Car Park 1, Waterside campus NN1 5PH
    • Car Park 4, Waterside Campus NN4 8RR
    • Scholars Green, Halls of Residence NN2 7AG

    And two internal banks:

    • St John’s, Halls of Residence NN1 1DH
    • Scholars Green, Halls of Residence, NN2 7AG

    Unwanted and unopened food, non-perishable foot items or toiletries? You can donate them to the campus pantry too.

    Household items
    • Bric-a-brac, linen, curtains (not duvets and pillows)
    • Kitchenware and small electrical items (working and broken)
    • Books (both good and poor quality)

    We have three collection box locations for these items:

    • The Launderette, Waterside Campus
    • Scholars Green, Halls of Residence (foyer areas of each building)
    • St John’s, Halls of Residence (reception area)
    Living off campus

    You can organise a free collection from Anglo Doorstep Collections. Visit The Anglo Door Step Collections website.

  • The first UON Swap Shop took place on 20 March 2023 with the purpose of promoting sustainable living whilst supporting students and staff with the increased cost of living.Three further Swap Shop Events have taken place since then, all being a great success proving to be a popular event for both students and staff alike.

    The Swap Shops have provided the opportunity for the UON community to swap unwanted but usable clothing and accessories, highlighting sustainable, ethical, and cost-effective shopping.

    Over 225 items have been brought along to swap or donate and many items found a new lease of life in a new wardrobe. The events are shared on student’s Instagram pages, proving to be a hit with social media stories.

  • 1. Is it waste? Can it be re-used or re-purposed?

    If yes, can it be donated?  Unwanted clothing can be placed in our Children’s Air Ambulance Clothing Banks at Waterside, St Johns and Scholars Green Halls.

    If you have unwanted electrical or household items, they can also be collected by Anglo-Doorstep Collections. Use the UON Anglo-Doorstep Collection link to book a collection and a donation will be made to the Children Air Ambulance.  This can be used by students living on or off campus.

    2. Can it be recycled? Yes

    Most materials can be recycled at UON, All bins are colour coded the same across all buildings.

    Recycling: Orange Label

    Mixed Recycling poster. Accepted: Paper, plastic, cans, tins, cardboard, cartons. Unacceptable: No food waste, No glass.

    Long description: Mixed Recycling poster. Accepted: Paper, plastic, cans, tins, cardboard, cartons. Unacceptable: No food waste, No glass.

    Yes please (just make sure it is clean and dry!): 

    • Drinks cans,
    • Tins,
    • Lids from bottles and jars
    • Plastic Bottles,
    • Envelopes,
    • Paper, card,
    • Old notebooks (spine removed)
    • Plastic food trays
    • Pizza boxes (no grease/grease liner removed)

    No thanks:

    • Glass
    • Food
    • White Takeaway Cartons (Vegware)
    • Greasy pizza boxes
    • Takeaway cups

    Take Away Cups can be recycled in the specially designed cup recycling bins, these are located all across campus.

    Waterside: Get Recycling, poster of a paper cup. Text reads: Sip, separate and recycle. Paper cups currently can't be recycled in mixed paper recycling bins due to a waterproof plastic lining. Drop your cup into one of the new orange bins located around the building to give your cup a new lease of life.

    Long description: Waterside: Get Recycling, poster of a paper cup. Text reads: Sip, separate and recycle. Paper cups currently can’t be recycled in mixed paper recycling bins due to a waterproof plastic lining. Drop your cup into one of the new orange bins located around the building to give your cup a new lease of life.

    Glass: Blue Label

    Glass recycling image, which is blue. Accepted items: Glass jars and glass bottles. Unacceptable items: No mirrors, No Crockery, No Glass Cookware.

    Long description: Glass recycling image, which is blue. Accepted items: Glass jars and glass bottles. Unacceptable items: No mirrors, No Crockery, No Glass Cookware.

    Yes please (just make sure it is clean and dry!): 

    • Jars (lid removed)
    • Bottles (top removed and placed in the orange recycling bin)

    No thanks:

    • Food
    • White Takeaway Cartons (Vegware)
    • Takeaway cups
    • Mirrors,
    • Drinking glasses,
    • Cups, plates, crockery

    If you have a broken glass or bottle etc to be disposed of, please wrap it in a bag or paper and place in the general waste bin (black bin).

    Food Waste: Green Label

    Food Waste poster, which is green. Accepted items: Raw and cooked food, fruit and vegetables peelings, meat and fish, tea bags. Unacceptable items: No food packaging and no liquids.

    Long description: Food Waste poster, which is green. Accepted items: Raw and cooked food, fruit and vegetables peelings, meat and fish, tea bags. Unacceptable items: No food packaging and no liquids.

    Food waste: Think about what you are throwing away!  Can you eat it the next day? Can you make another dish with leftovers?  – not only will you reduce waste, but you will also save some money.

    Always try to minimize your food waste, throwing away food costs money so plan your meals and get creative, try new recipes to use up your leftovers.

    Yes please (just make sure it is clean and dry!):

    • All food waste, raw and cooked
    • Egg shells
    • Tea bags
    • Coffee grinds

    No thanks:

    • Liquids
    • Food or drink packaging
    • Compostable cutlery
    • Plants
    3. Can it be recycled? No

    If the answer is No and you have exhausted all options of recycling and re-use then as a last resort you can put it in the Black labelled bin for non-recyclable waste.

    Non-Recyclable Waste: Black Bin Label

    Non-recyclable waste. Acceptable waste: Non-recyclable materials, contaminated waste. Unacceptable: No glass, no recyclable mater, no food waste, no liquids, no batteries and toners.

    Long description: Non-recyclable waste. Acceptable waste: Non-recyclable materials, contaminated waste. Unacceptable: No glass, no recyclable mater, no food waste, no liquids, no batteries and toners.

    Yes please – If you have to:

    • White Takeaway Cartons (Vegware)
    • Compostable Cutlery
    • Greasy pizza boxes

    No thanks:

    • Drinks cans,
    • Tins,
    • Lids from bottles and jars
    • Plastic Bottles,
    • Envelopes,
    • Paper, card,
    • Old notebooks
    • (spine removed)
    • Plastic food trays
    • Pizza boxes ( no grease / grease liner removed)
    • Glass Jars
    • Glass Bottles
    • Food waste, raw and cooked
    • Egg shells
    • Tea bags
    • Coffee grinds
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