Recycling and waste management
Waste not only has a significant effect on the environment, it also has a financial cost and is one of the most visible areas of sustainability on campus. Waste is a global problem most commonly seen through plastics entering our environment affecting species on land and in our oceans, however, there is also a carbon impact of waste through the production and reprocessing of materials and end of life treatment.
Striving to minimise waste and increase recycling
Our institutional activities produce several different waste streams, including recyclable materials, general waste, clinical and hazardous waste.
To ensure that we manage our resources and waste responsibly, we follow the waste hierarchy. This strives to avoid and reduce the generation of waste, reusing and repairing where possible and actively promoting recycling. We avoid disposing direct to landfill by instead opting for energy-from-waste.
We aim to:
- reduce the amount of waste generated each year
- increase our recycling rates to 70% by 2031
- maintain that all non-recyclable materials are sent to energy-from-waste treatment
- collect and monitor our waste data to review our waste practices and progress against targets, and to set new targets
How we are recycling and managing our waste
We have facilities and processes in place to help students and staff dispose of a range of recyclable and non-recyclable waste from paper, cans and batteries to electronics, heavy goods and clinical waste.
In the majority of areas around campus, our waste is split into two waste streams, dry mixed recycling and general waste. Always check any bin signs for direction, but the most common items which should and shouldn’t be put in each waste stream include:
Faq Items
Dry Mixed Recycling
General Waste
We also have designated bins for recyclable items such as vapes and batteries which cannot be put in dry mixed recycling or general waste. These can usually be found in the foyers of our buildings, please ask at the front desk if you can’t see them.
For a full A-Z guide on what and where you can recycle your waste on campus and what each bin accepts, see our waste guides below.
If you can’t find how to correctly dispose of an item of waste or if you’d like more information, email the team at sustainability@ljmu.ac.uk.
How can you help?
To find out what you can do to reduce your waste impact, visit our ‘What can I do’ page.
Recycle Week
This year Recycle Week, an annual campaign run by Recycle Now, runs from 14 to 18 October 2024. See below how you can get involved.
Recycling Game
Come and play our recycling game as we bring this to different areas on campus across the week. We’ll be keeping a leaderboard of players scores throughout the week and have some great prizes for our top three winners!
Waste Seminar
Tuesday 15 October, 1pm
Dr Konstantina Skitsovali will be holding a seminar to learn about the impact of waste and to explore sustainable solutions. This is open to staff and students from any discipline, so everyone is welcome and it will be an interactive way to learn more about waste, consumption and how we can make positive changes.
View the Waste Seminar event and sign up
Litter Picking
Wednesday 16 October, 12.30pm
Join us as we litter pick around Mount Pleasant! We will be litter picking for up to 2 hours, but if you can only come along to the first hour that’s fine, just let us know.
View the Litter Picking event and sign up
Waste Bingo
Play our Waste Bingo to receive a reusable coffee cup and a £3 voucher towards a drink from our cafes. You’ll need to complete each of the tasks below and send photo evidence of each to sustainability@ljmu.ac.uk before Friday 25 October to win!
The different tasks to complete include:
- Donate an item to charity (this can include donation bins or shops).
- Use leftovers.
- Download the Too Good to Go app.
- Use a reusable shopping bag.
- Pick up litter.
- Buy loose fruit or veg.
Waste Communications Competition
We’re holding a competition for students to get creative and make a video or print communication to improve recycling on campus. You have until 14th February 2025 to enter, and winners will receive prizes and have their work shown around campus.
To find out more, read the Waste Competition Briefing Note 24-25 (Word, 42.3KB).
Waste off campus
Whether you live in private accommodation or are just spending time off campus, it’s important to consider your neighbours. Littering and disposing of waste incorrectly affects both the environment and the local community, who spend a lot of time trying to clean up their areas and make them a nice place to live for everyone.