Sustainability

A-Z guide to recycling and waste

This section lists the most common waste types within the University of Exeter and details how to recycle or dispose of each and how to arrange a collection if required. If you cannot find the details on a waste item listed here please contact Paul O’Callaghan, Waste & Recycling Assistant.

The following information and procedures are for dealing with waste produced at the University of Exeter only. The following schemes are not available for the disposal of waste generated in the home.

Waste type	Disposal procedure	What happens to the waste?
Aerosols, paints and solvents	Disposal Please use the following steps to dispose of your empty aerosol cans: 1. Ensure all cans are completely empty before disposal 2. Place the aerosol can(s) into a landfill bin. Aerosols cannot be recycled at the University. Please do not place empty aerosols in the can recycling facilities.	Disposal Waste aerosols go to landfill.
Batteries	Recycling Household Type Batteries - should be deposited into one of the battery collection points. To locate your nearest facility on the Exeter Campuses, please check the sustainability map and select batteries. Please do not deposit batteries in plastic bags. Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Mercury (Hg) and Lead-Acid (Pb) - these types of batteries are classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of via a specialist contractor. Please contact Paul O’Callaghan for advice. There may be a charge for this service. Please do not dispose of these types of batteries in the battery collection points or in the landfill bins.	Recycling The batteries are taken to a recycling specialist who recover the precious materials and recycle the remaining components.
Books	Reuse If you have books you no longer want but are still in good condition and not excessively old we would encourage you to reuse rather than recycle. We have partnered with Book-Cycle and have a number of Shelf–Cycle Schemes across the University where people can select books in exchange for a small donation to Book-Cycle. Small numbers of books can be deposited on one of these shelves. Please contact Sue Addo to locate your nearest shelf. If you don’t have a local shelf or have a larger quantity of books, please contact Sue Addo who will be able to make arrangement for them to be distributed across existing shelves or to be donated to Book-Cycle. Recycling If you have books that can no longer be re-used (poor condition or old), please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange a collection.	Reuse Books sent to Book-Cycle are distributed to local communities in developing countries. Recycling For books that are recycled, the ink is removed and the paper is pulped and turned into newsprint and cardboard.
Bulbs (light)	Recycling Property Services collects spent fluorescent tubes and lamps during the course of their work. If you have a waste light bulb from equipment used at the University please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange collection.	Recycling Fluorescent tubes and bulbs are stored in a large container at Streatham Farm, which is collected when full. Lamps are processed and crushed, without allowing the mercury to escape. The components (mercury, glass & metal) are then separated for recycling.
Cables	Reuse Where possible please try and reuse cables. Recycling For small quantities of cable, please send to Paul O’Callaghan, Old Library, Streatham Campus. For larger qualities, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange collection.	Recycling Precious metals are recovered and plastic is recycled.
Cans (steel and aluminium)	Recycling There are can recycling points distributed in buildings across the Exeter Campuses. For large quantities of cans, please deposit them in one of the external BIFFA (our waste contractor) bins. Cans must not be bagged in the external bins. The Waste Contractor will class the bin as contaminated and will either not collect it, or send it to landfill. If the external bin is full, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk. Please do not leave cans by the side of external facilities. Please ensure that cans are clean prior to disposal, to avoid contamination of the recyclates. Download the A5 Recycling Guide for information about the types of material that can/can’t be accepted. Visit the campus map to find your nearest internal and external facilities.	Recycling Waste cans are collected by the University's waste contractor. Cans are sorted shredded and made into either new drinks cans or other metal products
Cardboard	Recycling Please note, all cardboard must be clean and dry. If dirty cardboard is placed in the bins, the waste contractor may class the whole bin as contaminated and will either not collect it or send it to landfill. If the external bin is full, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk. Please do not leave cardboard by the side of external facilities All polystyrene inserts and any plastic packaging must be removed first and disposed of accordingly. Small quantities 1. Flatten the cardboard and remove any tape where possible 2. Place next to your nearest paper recycling point 3. Your porter/cleaner will collect the cardboard and place is one of the external recycling bins. Larger qualities 1. Flatten the cardboard and remove any tape where possible 2. Place in one of the external cardboard bins Visit the campus map to find your nearest external facilities.	Recycling Waste cardboard is collected by the University's waste contractor and recycled into cardboard usually at a UK mill.
Cartridges and Toners	Disposal Ribbon cartridges or broken cartridges - cannot be recycled. These items must be placed into a landfill bin within your office or work area. Recycling Other toners and cartridges - Office Depot, the University's stationery provider, offers collection boxes for old cartridges to be taken away to be recycled. Boxes can be ordered online and have a collection telephone number printed on them. Departments can call this number to arrange collection of the box when it is full. A Waste Transfer Note must be sent to Nancy Smith at Streatham Farm.	Disposal Ribbon cartridges or broken cartridges go to landfill. Recycling Office Depot recycle old cartridges.
CDs and DVDs	Please Note - If your CDs or DVDs contain confidential or commercially sensitive information, you will need to dispose of them as confidential data. Please refer to the Confidential waste section. Reuse Waste CDs and DVDs can be sent to the Children’s Scrap Store: Deposit in your nearest Children’s Scrap Store Collection Point. If you do not have a local point, please send to Paul O’Callaghan,Old Library. Recycling Old, broken, unwanted CDs and DVDs can be sent to Polymer Reprocessors Ltd who will accept the CD cover and insert so you do not need to separate these items.	Reuse Materials are reused in Children’s Art Projects. Recycle CDs and DVDs are granulated (as well as the covers) and used in the manufacture of other plastic products
Centrifuges	As centrifuges are refrigerated items they have a specific disposal route. Please refer to the Fridge and Freezer section for disposal information.	N/A
Chemicals	Disposal Chemical waste should only be removed by our specialist waste contractor Labwaste. Please contact Karen Gallagher for further information.	Disposal Some chemicals are recovered and reused while others undergo specialist treatment and incineration.
Clinical Waste	Disposal Clinical waste should only be removed by specialist contractors. Contact the Health and Safety Office for advice.	Disposal Clinical waste is incinerated.
Clothing and Textiles	Please note - The following guidance related to unbranded textiles only. If you have waste textiles with University logos and text, please contact Paul O’Callaghan to discuss disposal options. Reuse For students leaving Halls of Residence, clothes that are in good condition can be donated to the Student Re-Use Project. Watch out for information about forthcoming Free Stuff and Give and Take days. Recycling Dispose of textiles in the textile banks at one of two locations in the University. Visit the Campus Sustainability Map to find your nearest facilities.	Reuse Clothes donated to the Student Reuse project are either donated to other students or passed onto local charities.
Confidential Waste (non paper)	Disposal Please use the following steps to dispose of your NON-PAPER confidential waste eg, laminated paper, CDs, tapes or mass storage devices containing confidential information which cannot be erased: 1. Remove any non paper confidential material eg, cases or containers and dispose of that waste stream using this A-Z. 2. Place non paper confidential waste in a BIFFA confidential bag and seal. Bags can be obtained from the Campus Services Helpdesk. 3. Add a sticky label to the outside of the bag which clearly identifies the waste as NON PAPER. 4. Contact Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange collection.
Confidential Waste (paper)	Recycled Confidential paper waste should be disposed of in one of the designated Collection Consoles. Download the inventory of confidential waste points (coming soon). For large collections, please contact Campus Services Helpdesk for confidential waste collection sacks. Please arrange collection of full sacks with your local porter. Full bags should be locked away securely until collection. If you would like to request a collection consol or report a missing or full consol, please contact Campus Services Helpdesk. Please DO NOT dispose of any non-paper items e.g. folders, disks, CDs or non-confidential paper in the confidential waste bins.	Recycling Confidential paper is recycled into animal bedding using a low grade recycle process
Cooking Oil	Disposal Any waste cooking oil generated in self catering accommodation must be disposed of in the landfill / external waste bins. Please use the following steps to dispose of your waste kitchen oil: 1. Place in a container with a lid and seal tightly. 2. Place this in a carrier bag / bin bag and tie tightly. 3. Place into a landfill bin. Please DO NOT dispose of cooking oil down the sink. This can lead to blockages in the sewers. Recycling Waste cooking oil is collected from catering kitchens on a fortnightly basis (normally on a Wednesday between 7.30am and 10.30am) by Convert2Green. Please note: There will be no collections during public holidays or University closure. Collections points are: Birks grange Cornwall house Holland hall Lopes Reed hall St Luke's WestPoint [ stored in the green and red porta cabin] XFi Please can staff note that: 1. All containers MUST be sealed with a lid or top; 2. Containers MUST not be full to capacity to due to reduce the risk of spillage during transport. If you have large quantities of waste cooking oil to dispose of, and are not currently included within the list of collection points, please contact Paul O’Callaghan.	Disposal Waste kitchen from self catered halls will go to landfill. Recycling Waste cooking oil is converted to biodiesel and used in our supplier’s vehicles.
Electrical (excluding IT equipment)	Recycling Contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange a collection.	Recycling These items are collected by a specialist processor, who dismantles the products and recovers metals and other parts. Some refurbishment and re-sale may happen, dependent on the age, specification and condition of the equipment.
Envelopes	Reuse Envelopes should be reused where possible for internal mail Recycling Envelopes can be disposed of as paper waste. This includes those with windows. Waste Jiffy and poly-envelopes CANNOT be recycled and MUST be disposed of in a landfill bin.	Recycling Waste paper is collected by the University's waste contractor and recycled into paper, usually at a UK mill.
Fluorescent Tubes and Lamps	Recycling Property Services collects spent fluorescent tubes and lamps during the course of their work. If you have a waste light bulb from equipment used at the University, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange collection.	Recycling Fluorescent tubes and bulbs are stored in a large container at Streatham Farm, which is collected when full. Lamps are processed and crushed, without allowing the mercury to escape. The components (mercury, glass and metal) are then separated for recycling.
Folders	Reuse If the folders are still in good condition then you can reuse them rather than buying new, you can do this by: 1. Once emptied, put them back in the Stationary cupboard, if there is one. 2. Advertise the folders using the intcomsec distribution list. If you have large quantities, please bag the unwanted folders and contact Paul O’Callaghan. Recycling This is dependent on the folder type, if it is plastic or cardboard. This is the route if the folders cannot be reused. Cardboard folders (lever arch files and box files) - These can be bagged into clear sacks and will be put into the Card Recycling Stream for recycling. All the content should be removed. Plastic folders - Due to the various material that make up plastic folders they need to disposed of via the landfill bins Content in Folders Before folders can be reused or recycled the content MUST be removed. All paper content can be put into the paper recycling points. All plastic dividers or plastic pockets MUST be taken out, either for reuse by the office or black bagged if damaged. These items cannot be recycled so please reuse as much as possible before sending them to landfill.
Food Waste	Disposal Staff are encouraged to establish their own collection systems for tea bags and other locally generated kitchen waste to use in their own composting facilities at home. These materials cannot be accepted within the University compost scheme at present. Please note: raw meat products from catering kitchens cannot be placed into the landfill bins. Recycling The University is presently piloting a food collection and composting system for waste arising from University kitchens.	Disposal Food waste (other than from University catering kitchens) is sent to landfill. Recycling Food collected by the University is used to generate compost on site.
Furniture	Re-use If furniture is serviceable, please 1. Advertise internally by contacting: intcomsec@exeter.ac.uk. 2. If you do not receive a response to your email, please contact Paul O’Callaghan who will seek alternative disposal options. Recycling / Disposal If furniture is no longer serviceable or cannot be utilised elsewhere, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk.	Recycle Furniture is dismantled. Metal parts are recycled and the remainder sent to landfill. Disposal Material that cannot be recycled will be sent to landfill.
General Waste	Disposal Waste that cannot be reused or recycled should be deposited in one of the internal or external landfill bins.	Disposal All waste of this type goes to landfill.
Glass (non-pyrex)	Recycling External BIFFA glass bins are located around the site. See campus sustainability map. Schools/Services should make their own arrangements to collect bottles and deposit them in the external BIFFA bins. Glass MUST be clean prior to disposal, to avoid contamination of the recyclates. Glass MUST not be bagged in the external bins. BIFFA will class the bin as contaminated and will either not collect it or send it to landfill. If the external bin is full, please contact Campus Services Helpdesk. Please do not leave cans by the side of external facilities. Please note: Pyrex and drinking glasses should not be disposed of in the BIFFA glass bins	Waste glass is collected by the University's waste contractor. The glass is ground and used for road surfacing.
Glass from laboratories (Pyrex)	School /service should purchase a suitable collection bin and mark Pyrex Glass Only. Once bin is full, contact local porter to arrange a collection. Pyrex and drinking glasses should not be disposed of in the BIFFA glass bins	Disposal Waste Pyrex is sent to landfill.
IT Equipment	Reuse 1. Cascade the equipment to other users within your School or Service. 2. Cascade the equipment to other users within the University. Recycling / Disposal See the University's IT equipment disposal pages.	These items are collected by a specialist processor, who dismantles the products and recovers gases, metals and other parts. Some refurbishment and re-sale may happen.
Lamps and Tubes	Recycling Property Services collects spent fluorescent tubes and lamps during the course of their work. If you have a waste light bulb from equipment used at the University, please contact the Campus Services Helpdesk to arrange collection.	Recycling The fluorescent tubes and bulbs are stored in a large container at Streatham Farm, which is collected when full. Lamps are processed and crushed, without allowing the mercury to escape. The components (mercury, glass and metal) are then separated for recycling.
Metal	Please contact Paul O’Callaghan for advice.	The scrap metal is recycled.
Mobile Phones	Reuse All waste mobile phones should be sent in the internal post to Paul O’Callaghan, Old Library, Streatham Campus. Don't forget to remove your SIM card first then hand in your phone and battery.	Recycling Mobile phones are currently collected in aid of Hospiscare who recycle them with the mobile phone companies.
Oil (cooking)	See Cooking Oil.	N/A
Oil (ex cooking)	Contact Paul O'Callaghan for advice.
Paints and Solvents	Reuse If paint is no longer required but is of a sufficient quantity and quality for use please contact Paul O’Callaghan to discuss reuse options. Disposal Water based paint / empty containers can be disposed in the landfill bins. Please ensure containers are sealed to eliminate the risk of spillage. Any other type of paint is classified as hazardous waste and MUST be disposed of via a specialist contractor. These types of materials CAN NOT be disposed of in the landfill bins or metal recycling.
Paper	Recycling Internal paper collection bins can be obtained from Campus Services Helpdesk and should be located in communal areas. Paper will be collected by local porters/cleaners and deposited in the designated BIFFA collection area. If you are having a clear out, please contact Campus Services Helpdesk for advice. Download the A5 Recycling Guide guide for information about the types of material that can / can’t be accepted.
Paper waste (confidential)	See confidential paper waste	N/A
Phones	For desktop phones see Electrical. For mobile phones see Mobile Phones.	N/A
Plastic	Recycling There are plastic recycling points distributed in buildings across the Exeter Campuses. Please ensure that plastics are clean prior to disposal, to avoid contamination of the recyclates. Download the A5 Recycling Guide for information about the types of material that can / can’t be accepted. Visit the campus map to find your nearest internal and external facilities. Please note - Plastics MUST NOT be bagged in the external bins. BIFFA will class the bin as contaminated and will not collect or send to landfill If the external bin is full, please contact the Campus Services helpdesk. Please do not leave bags of plastic next to the bins.
Polystyrene (white foam)	There are not presently any facilities to recycle expanded polystyrene (white foam type). Please reuse where possible. Any waste expanded polystyrene will need to be disposed of in the landfill waste bins.
Printers	See WEEE	N/A
Pyrex (glass from laboratories)	Disposal School /service should purchase a suitable collection bin and mark Pyrex Glass Only. Once bin is full, contact local porter to arrange a collection. Pyrex and drinking glasses should not be disposed of in the BIFFA glass bins.	Disposal Waste Pyrex is sent to landfill
Refrigerated (eg, fridges and freezers)	See fridges and freezers.	N/A
Steel Cans	See cans.	N/A
Skips
Solvents	See paints and solvents.	N/A
Telephones	See Electrical.	N/A
Textiles	See clothing and textiles.	N/A
Toners and Cartridges	See cartridges and toners.	N/A
Tubes and Lamps	See florescent tubes and lamps	N/A
Vehicles	Options for sale for reuse should always be considered prior to end disposal. Please contact Rob Pitchford for advice if you have a University owned vehicle which is no longer required.	N/A
Waste Paper	See paper	N/A
Waste Paper (confidential)	See confidential waste.	N/A
WEEE (electrical waste)	See electrical waste.	N/A
Wood	Please contact Campus Services Helpdesk for advice.	Wood is sent to Landfill, although the University is currently looking at alternative disposal routes