Sustainability

Waste and recycling

In the 2023/24 academic year, the university produced a total of 1,817 tonnes of waste – a significant reduction from 2,512 tonnes in 2022/23. This decrease reflects changes in how our estate is used as well as increased recycling.

Of the total waste generated, 43% was recovered on site for recycling, while just over 10% was sent to landfill continuing our commitment to minimising waste disposal in line with our Environmental Policy.

We also collected 101 tonnes of food waste, an increase from 96 tonnes in 2022/23, from across our campuses and catered halls. All our food waste is processed locally through anaerobic digestion, generating renewable energy and producing biofertiliser for use on farmland.

We’re proud of this progress, but we know there’s more to do. With your support  by reducing, reusing, and recycling wherever possible we can continue to cut waste, save resources, and make Nottingham a truly sustainable university.

We're reducing landfill waste by...

  • Working with contractors to reduce waste during construction projects
  • Reusing spare furniture
  • Hosting bookcrossing zones
  • Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and cups rather than disposable options
  • Running end of year Pack for Good scheme for students to donate unwanted items to the British Heart Foundation and local foodbanks
  • Recycling IT equipment through our IT supplier [UoN access only]
  • Providing lots of recycling points on campus
  • Running battery recycling scheme for portable batteries
  • Composting around 500 tonnes of garden waste each year, to reuse within the campus grounds as soil improver
  • Composting food waste from halls of residence and catering outlets
 

 

Reduce

The best way to stop sending waste to landfill is to stop producing so much waste in the first place. Think before you buy items and try to reduce the amount of consumables you use.

Good purchasing checklist
[UoN access only]

Reuse

When you no longer need an item, consider whether it could be reused by someone else. This includes packaging too!

 

Find out more about our furniture reuse scheme

Recycle

Even if an item has been reused lots of times, sometimes the product comes to a natural end. Instead of disposing of this item to landfill, please recycle it instead.

Unsure if it can be recycled? Check our A-Z of waste

 

 

Sustainability Team

Estate Office, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Email: sustainability@nottingham.ac.uk