MOST SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATION – EDUCATION recycling


• To use highly visible bins (using biodegradable or reusable sacks)


• Waste recycling compounds to avoid contamination


• Effective communications support Imperial’s Centre for Environmental


Policy and ESOC, the Student Union Environmental Group, were engaged in the planning process and their support and buy-in sought.


RECYCLING INITIATIVES Investment in capital equipment designed to improve the College’s recycling rates has resulted in significant cost savings. Some of the initiatives have been relatively minor and simple and yet have made a significant contribution to increasing recycling rates. These include the introduction of a colour-coded system for various wastes and the installation of highly visible waste disposal bins. Batteries are collected in designated bins for subsequent processing and recycling.


By restricting the access through the waste compounds, the quality of the recyclates has been improved thereby removing the requirement to send contaminated wastes to landfill. In both 2009 and 2010, a Student Halls Scheme was implemented at the end of the academic year whereby resident students are encouraged to donate unwanted items such as clothes, kitchen equipment, books, furniture and household electrical equipment. Over 90% of students’ discards have been diverted from landfill as a result.


A further outcome of this initiative is the piloting of a re-use scheme in one of the larger halls of residence in partnership with the charity TRAID whereby textile banks have been installed enabling the donation of clothes and shoes. These items are placed in TRAID shops and the proceeds used to fund overseas social development projects in deprived areas. Earlier this year, Imperial introduced a food waste recycling system whereby all food waste produced on its main, South Kensington campus is collected and recycled on site into high quality compost. The compost is then used on the grounds to aid plant and grass growth, thereby negating the requirements for peat-based compost. In a world first Imperial has installed a mobile building, called the “CompPod”, which houses all of the equipment required to complete the recycling process and which can be simply moved to an alternative location on the campus should the need ever arise. Food waste composting forms an important part


of Imperial’s overall implementation of its Waste & Recycling Strategy. In diverting the food waste from landfill, the College is not only complying with the EU Directive but enabling a change in the way in which its landfill waste is handled.


As a direct consequence of the food waste composting scheme, the College has been able to change the type of skips used for landfill waste thereby making substantial cost savings by taking advantage of the regulations whereby Local Authorities are only able to charge educational establishments for the collection of waste. The buy-in and support of the students have been actively sought and encouraged and the CompPod was promoted during the College’s annual Green Week which is organised by the Students’ Union. The very presence of the dedicated building helps to convey the seriousness with which this important issue has been tackled. Imperial is very proud of its “world first” status and intends to raise its profile to not only help establish the College’s credibility in this area but help generate awareness of the solution amongst the wider educational community.


In recent months, Imperial has hosted a guided tour of the food waste recycling system by delegates of the London Mayor’s C40 International Conference, as well as delegations from interested parties from as far afield as Brazil, Hong Kong and Australia, all of whose countries are facing problems with food waste disposal.


ENFORCEMENT OF OPERATING PRACTICES


The vigilance of the housekeeping team has proved essential in key areas such as the management of loading bays and recycling compounds where those staff not following the correct procedures can be traced with a view to further training. The housekeeping team can liaise with the security team to check CCTV footage in order to identify culprits and to work with the FM Support team to ensure that the waste can be dealt with using the correct route. This has been especially important when the waste is subject to legislation, such as WEEE, for example.


COMMUNICATIONS


A variety of communications have been implemented to help generate awareness of the initiatives that have been carried out. These include:- • A leaflet for incoming students • Articles in College publications • Posters


NEXT STEPS


In the last few weeks, Imperial has set in motion the procurement and installation of a pyrolysis plant with which the many tonnes of clinical waste it produces as a direct consequence of its academic programme can be dealt with on site.


SUSTAINABLE FM AWARDS 2010 |29 The


CompPod interior


• Participation in Green Week • Recycling Roadshows • Ongoing training for operational staff


• Incentive schemes for cleaning staff


• Membership of, and promotion through, EAUC (Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges) and LUEG (London Universities Environment Group)


• Regular liaison with the Student Union, Department Administrators and the Residency. In addition, the recycling


arrangements and procedures for all waste streams are published in an on-line Directory, where there was no instruction of any type available previously, and the College is presently developing an online recycling training facility as part of its induction programme.


RESULTS


Imperial is ahead of its schedule having reached a recycling rate of 34% in 2009.


It has improved its position in the national Universities Green League table and is confident this will improve still further the next time the League is refreshed.


The impetus of the recycling initiatives has prompted a review of the College’s Environmental Policy and a commitment to reduce the effects of College operations across a number of areas.


The on-line Directory has impressed other HE institutions who have contacted Imperial to find out how the College has approached recycling. The Directory can be easily replicated by other establishments.


The simplicity of the colour-coded domestic recycling system has been adopted by the Royal College of Music.


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