Recycling
What can I recycle?
- Newspapers, printing paper, magazines, junk mail, window envelopes and telephone directories
- Flattened cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars (all colours) without tops
- Plastic bottles without lids
- Washed cans and tins without lids
- Empty aerosol cans
You cannot recycle crisps and snack packets, plastic bags, broken glass, pyrex glassware, light bulbs, vegetable plastic containers and yoghurt pots. The polythene (plastic) window from sandwich boxes needs to be removed. The card can then be recycled and the plastic placed in the general waste bins. This also applies to the envelope ‘windows’.
What recycling goes in which bin?
- Put cans, plastic bottles, cartons and glass in the green bins
- Put paper and cardboard in blue bins
- Put anything that cannot be recycled (landfill waste) into the grey bins
- Drop off old batteries at campus receptions
Recycling stations are easily accessible throughout the University.
It's all about quality
Did you know that the quality of recycling is very important? If recycling bins get contaminated with waste their entire contents end up in landfill. You can avoid contamination by taking the following steps:
- Removing lids and plastic caps; these types of plastic cannot be recycled yet.
- Making sure cans and bottles are empty and there are no food leftovers (eg cheese in pizza boxes). Liquid and food will contaminate the bin.
- Choosing the correct bin. Check the guidelines and symbols to know what goes where.
To suggest places for new recycling bins or request more information on the University’s recycling programme please email recycle@westminster.ac.uk.
