University of Technology, Sydney

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Waste

At UTS, we are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling campus waste rather than simply disposing of it.

What do we want to achieve?

  • reduce the amount of waste we produce
  • reuse what we can on campus or sell or donate it to others
  • recycle as much as possible of what is left
  • dispose of any leftover waste in a responsible manner.

We are keen to partner with our neighbours, the City of Sydney, our educational precinct and neighbouring developments on programs to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

How are we performing?

In June 2000, a waste audit found that at least 60% of our waste could be recycled and we were only recycling about 4%. Since then, we have made substantial improvements and now recycle about 85% of our total waste output.

Paper

Every weekday, UTS generates over a tonne of paper waste and, in 2007 alone, 280 tonnes of this was sent to the recycler with a result that 250 tonnes were recycled (10% goes to landfill), saving about 5000 trees and 1500 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

General waste

Co-mingled (including glass bottles, aluminium cans and PET bottles) and general waste is sent to a recycling plant which has a recovery rate of 80%.

Toner cartridges

Over 416kg of toner cartridges were recycled in 2007.

Glass

In 2007, all glass collected from UTS union bars and food outlets was recycled into new glass.

Furniture

Unwanted office and classroom furniture is reused inhouse where possible or sent to auctioneers or charities. If it can't be reused, it is placed in a skip bin or sent to a recycling facility with a recovery rate of 80%.

Computers and other equipment

Computers, photocopiers, video projectors and science equipment which is in good working order and relatively current is initially made available for reuse within UTS. After this, equipment is offered for sale to staff. Older equipment is donated to charity while old or broken equipment is sent to a specialist EPA-licensed recycler with a 98% recovery rate.

Chemical and clinical/biological waste

In 2000, we developed an online chemical inventory database to allow staff to manage their own chemical stocks online. The system allows staff to search for chemicals already possessed by other users rather than purchasing new chemicals. This saves time and money and prevents the build-up of old chemicals. Since the system was introduced there have been over 11,000 chemicals added and staff from over 100 locations are now using it.

Of the 2789 tonnes of chemical waste collected in 2007, a licensed contractor repackaged 45% for reuse and disposed of 55%.

What are we doing?

We are currently working to identify, quantify and confirm what we are doing with each of the different waste streams. The next step is to identify gaps and opportunities for projects to reduce annual waste by changing our purchasing patterns, reusing materials and recycling as much waste as possible.

Paper

To reduce paper use UTS is:

  • defaulting all computer lab printers to double-sided printing
  • encouraging faculties and units to default their printers and photocopiers to double-sided printing
  • encouraging faculties to accept double-sided, single-spaced assignments
  • switching all campus paper towels to recycled paper towels.

To make paper recycling easy, UTS is:

  • providing a recycling box in every UTS office
  • providing large recycling bins in every print and photocopy room
  • sending collected paper to a specialist contractor who has a recovery rate of 90%.

Chemical and clinical/biological waste

The Faculty of Science, which produces the bulk of this waste, is reducing the level of chemical waste produced by practising micro-chemistry (using smaller amounts of chemicals in experiments wherever possible).

Chemical and clinical/biological waste is collected by licensed specialists. Chemical waste is then either repackaged for re-use of disposed to landfill. Clinical/biological waste is either incinerated or shredded, treated with lime, compacted and sent to landfill.

What can you do to help?

  • Print double-sided
  • Use your desk-side recycling bins for all mixed paper
  • BYO coffee mug
  • Think before you print. Read and file electronically.
  • Reuse paper for notepads and phone messages

For more information please visit:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/education/waste.htm (opens an external site)
http://www.cleanup.com.au/au/ (opens an external site)
http://www.planetark.com/index.cfm (opens an external site)
http://recyclingnearyou.com.au (opens an external site) "Don't dump it, recycle it! This is the Planet Ark and Sensis 'Recycling Near You' website. You can search for local recycling information either by 'Council Area' or 'Product'."

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