Student Re-use Project

In University halls of residence, a waste peak occurs at the end-of-term, when departing students dispose of anything they do not want to take home. The normal disposal route is to landfill and the project challenges this common assumption whilst acknowledging the institutional and individual barriers to change in moving up the waste hierarchy. 

The scheme involved reducing waste generated by students leaving halls of residence. The average student generates between 10 and 20 kg of reusable items a year, including stationery, kitchen appliances, books, clothes and bedding. Often these things are thrown away at the end of term, although many are in very good condition. This scheme enables unwanted items to be donated to local community organisations or to existing or new students. This means that as well as cutting waste, the scheme helps provide affordable items to the community. At Exeter, we divert over 3.5 tonnes of material from landfill each year via this project.