Waste

Resource and waste management is vital for global sustainable development. The disposal of waste presents a significant cost to the University, while reusing and recycling resources presents an opportunity to reduce procurement costs. Waste also presents an environmental risk, with impacts in terms of potential direct damage to the environment as well as indirect effects such as the release of greenhouse gas emissions from waste transport, disposal and treatment.

Our central aims are to manage resources more efficiently, prevent and minimise waste and increase recycling and participation. University waste is disposed of in accordance with the waste hierarchy which represents a chain of priority for waste management, extending from the ideal of prevention and reduction to the last resort of disposal.

Waste Management Plan

The Waste Management Plan (2021 - 2025) outlines and informs how and why the University of Liverpool manages the waste streams created by its activities and demonstrates how the University plans to improve its waste management practises, minimising waste generated. The plan informs how the University seeks to keep waste to a minimum by doing everything reasonable to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste, and to ensure that any waste produced is stored responsibly, handled safely, and transported and disposed of lawfully.

Prevention, reuse, recycle, energy recovery, disposal

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are one of the key drivers in delivering global change and through the implementation of good waste management, effective policies and operations the university can help deliver across a majority of the goals and associated targets. It also ensures that we are compliant with all relevant legislation, particularly in relation to maintaining certification for the University’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and demonstrating continual improvement in performance.

Our waste is processed by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery, find out more about what happens to our waste.

Our good practices

The University has a number of initiatives and activities to help tackle waste on campus.

#SMART campaign: in an effort to reduce single use plastic across the institution, the University issued all first year undergraduate students, living in our halls of residences, with a reusable carrier filled with a reusable coffee cup, reusable water bottle and information leaflet detailing how to act #SMART (Save Money And Reduce Trash).

Bin the bin: all University buildings and student halls  have 3 different bins, which are emptied daily where staff and students can separate waste into the correct recycling bin. Blue bins are for paper, red bins are for plastic glass products only, grey bins are for metal and green bins are for glass only.

Removal of desk waste bins: All individual waste bins were removed from office areas and replaced with centralised recycling facilities, which included bins for the four main waste streams: paper, cans, plastic bottles and general waste.

Divert waste from landfill: all general waste is now disposed of via a ‘waste to energy’ plant.

Introduction of onsite aerobic composting: a Rocket Composter was successfully trialled on campus for the management of food waste produced by the Hospitality dept. Now Ness Gardens has purchased a second Rocket Composter and now recycles all the food waste arising from their catering outlet.

Waste audit programme developed: As part of the Student Switch Off, students have carried out detailed waste audits of the halls of residences. This has identified actions that can be taken to improve performance as well as measure the success of interventions. 

Food Waste Composting: The Guild of Students invested in dewatering and composting equipment to close the waste management loop, omit costly waste disposal fees and create a valuable resource to grow produce in the on-site rooftop gardens and cultivation plots. The composter is able to process up to three-quarters of a tonne (750kgs) of food waste per week and has increased the University’s recycling rates, as well as attracted businesses from across the world to come and witness our urban farming model in action.

Control of waste streams: the Guild of Students, , together with SUEZ, uses computerised weighing technology to accurately record the weight of recycling or waste materials collected. This has increased staff and student’s knowledge and awareness of how they can dispose of their waste and limit environmental impact.

Duty of care checks: Checks are carried out for all of the University’s waste contractors to ensure that the company has the necessary environmental permits and licences to remove waste and apply the waste hierarchy when disposing of the waste.

Leave Liverpool Tidy: Leave Liverpool Tidy is a city-wide project run by the Liverpool Guild of Students that aims to re-use and recycle your unwanted belongings, reducing the number of items that go to landfill. Find out how you can donate clothes, bags, books and other small items.

Battery recycling: Batteries can be recycled with convenience BatteryBack bins.

Crisp packet recycling: The Guild of Students has a collection point for Terracycle's crisp packet recycling scheme. You can drop off used crisp packets at the Guild reception and they send them off to be recycled. Find out more about the scheme.

Collection service: The University collects paper, cardboard, fridges, freezers, washing machines and other electrical and electronic components from University buildings free of charge and makes them ready to be 100% recycled. Book a collection or find out more.

Find out about all of the University's recycling practices here