Recycling on campus set for radical overhaul
Recycling facilities on campus are to be overhauled under a new recycling contract agreed between the University and the City of York council. The proposals, which include the introduction of cash payments to the university for waste it recycles, are seen by officials as essential measures to control the growing mountain of waste produced by the city and the university itself.
The scale of the challenge facing the city was outlined in a recent document produced by the councils commercial services unit. In the next 15 years waste produced by the city is expected to increase by around 60,000 tonnes while government policy makes the landfill option increasingly uneconomic. Under current waste growth projections the potential landfill tax bill for the city is expected to top over £3 million within just six years.
In response to these concerns the new £1 million university contract will place a greater emphasis on identifying and minimising waste production on campus. The university will receive £5 from the council for every tonne of waste it recycles through the introduction of new ‘bin chipping and weighing technology’. The new contract further promises the investment in new recycling facilities and the gradual takeover of recycling collection from student volunteers.
The proposed changes have been cautiously welcomed by those responsible for the existing recycling provision on campus. Derwent ecology rep Samir Jeraj said, “If the changes promised under the new contract come into operation then recycling at York will be dramatically improved for the better”.
At present much of the recycling on campus is down to the voluntary efforts of college JCRC eco reps with the result that recycling provision is often under resourced and highly variable. “The need for proper investment in campus recycling has remained a persistent problem which will hopefully now be resolved”, Samir added.
If York is to get on top of its ever-increasing waste problem the university will play a crucial role as both a major employer and provider of residential accommodation in the city. The ability of administrators to implement campus-recycling improvements will determine whether both university finances and the environment itself benefit from the potential windfalls on offer.
(Justin Webber)
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I am pleased to see an increase in recycling. The Lib-Dem Council has failed over green issues far worse than any previous council administration.
Donald
Alcuin