The University’s Sustainable Waste Management Strategy builds on previous successes.  We have a range of actions to promote reduction in consumption, re-use and repair as well as recycling initiatives. Read our annual plan here.

 

The University works with a number of local charities to offer its unwanted furniture and equipment for charitable purposes, UniGreenScheme and Project 58.  We also partner British Heart Foundation providing clothing and reuse banks on campus, and end of year 'clear-out' campaigns and vintage pop-up shops on campus throughout the year.  Not sure if something can be recycled? Read our helpful guides on 'Rubbish, recycling and waste' and 'Recycle, reuse and repair.' Here is a map to help you locate where to recycle more obscure items at St John’s Campus.

Waste Management SMART Targets

Our current targets and some examples of how we are going to achieve them can be accessed through the sustainability targets document.

A small collection of rubbish

Student projects

The recycling in homes project has been developed over the years with a variety of students and organisation partners encouraging better segregation and recycling in homes.  Free reusable bags are distributed.

Winning an International Green Apple Award presented at the Houses of Parliament the scheme was expanded to include a social landlord Platform Housing, in 3 high rise blocks with tenants over 55 years old, demonstrating a student-led project can work with not just student tenants and landlords.  This project has gone on to develop students leading workshops in primary schools.

In 2023 we ran a Repair Café, inviting staff, students and members of the community to bring their items for repair.  This helps to reduce waste by helping to get things back in working order. 

Repair cafe

It was a great success and we plan to run regular sessions.  

British Heart Foundation - ‘Pack for Good’ campaign

Since 2013 Worcester University Students have generated 37.4 tonnes of donations through the ‘Pack for Good’ campaign, that’s £65,602* raised to help support help lifesaving research, driving breakthroughs for heart patients all across the UK. It’s the equivalent weight of 5.3 African, male elephants in waste not being sent to landfill* and the equivalent of 241,847kg CO2 emissions*.      

*based on average value of £14/bag

BHF collection banks are located on St John Campus outside the Students Union and in the Recycling Area near Teme Halls of Residence.  A BHF bank is located at City Campus outside the Chancellors Halls of Residence.    

Special arrangements are made for students at the end of the year for on and off campus collections

 

bhf-waste-management-23

 

The SDG logos for 11.Sustainable Cities and Communities and 12.Responsible Consumption and Production