None
Tuesday, 13 August 2013

More than 90 tonnes of annual landfill is expected to be saved on The University of Western Australia's Crawley campus through the installation of public recycling bins.

The University's Recycling and Waste Coordinator Alain Twynham said the bins addressed student needs for more recycling on campus.

"Students have been telling us and the Student Guild for some time that they want to recycle on campus," he said.

"Given students represent our future global leaders and citizens, this is encouraging," he said.

The bins will do more than service UWA's community of 25,000 staff and students because more than 200,000 people visit the University campus annually.

During last Sunday's UWA Open Day, which attracted several thousand people, 13 cubic metres of waste was diverted from landfill through the recycling bins.

"Recycling bins at UWA will enable hundreds of thousands of people to reduce resource wastage and lessen environmental impact," Mr Twynham said.

A recycling rate of 60 per cent is expected which will save about 40 tonnes of carbon emissions per year - equivalent to taking eight cars off the road.

"Most waste generated outdoors is recyclable, including drink containers, newspapers and food packaging.  The bins are co-mingled, which means they accept a mix of common recyclables," Mr Twynham said.

The bins will complement recycling stations in the UWA Guild Village and recycling systems within the University's buildings and workshops.

The recycling stations received financial assistance from Keep Australia Beautiful's Beverage Container Recycling Grants Program funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Media references

Trish Howard (UWA Sustainable Development)  (+61 8)  6488 7540
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

Tags

Channels
Events — Media Statements — University News