The best ways and where to recycle whilst living with us

This article applies to residents of College Hall, Connaught Hall, International Hall and Nutford House.

Recycling feeds materials such as plastics, paper, metal, and glass back into manufacturing and reduces the need for virgin materials, saving both money and carbon in the process. I'm sure you already do your bit for the planet by separating your waste and recycling, but as you propabably already know, recycling is complex and what you can and can't recycle unforunately changes depending on where you are. To help, we have put together this guide. Please follow the guidance below when you are in your University of London Hall or if you visit Senate House for the library or the Bloom space. 

Your waste streams are:

• Paper, Cans, Plastic containers and Cardboard (PCPC- mixed recycling)
• Glass
  
• Last Resort (general waste)
  
• Batteries and Vapes
  

How to use these waste streams:

Paper, Cans, Plastic containers and Cardboard:

This is your mixed recycling bin.

Yes please:

• Paper
• Clean and dry cans and tins
  
• Clean and dry plastic containers
  
• Cardboard - break down larger boxes and flatpack them so they don't take up all the space in the bin
  

When we say clean and dry, the recycling doesn't have to be spotless, but if you wouldn't hold it over your head for fear of getting covered in food/drink then please give the plastic/can/tin a quick rinse and shake the water off before putting in the recycling bin. 

No thanks:

Please put the following items in the Last Resort bin.

• Food contaminated packaging (see above), this includes greasy cardboard
• Tissues, napkins and paper towels
  
• Plastic bags and plastic film
  
• Coffee cups
  
• Compostable packaging
  
• Polystyrene packaging
  
• Shredded paper
  
• PPE
  
• TetraPaks (food and drinks cartons)
  
• Glass (ideally locate a glass recycling bin)
  

Did you know: Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60W light bulb for up to 6 hours.

Glass:

Glass recycling bins are located in your communal areas.

Yes please:

• Clean and dry glass jars and bottles

No thanks:

• Broken glass

Did you know: Glass can be recycled over and over again, without losing quality.

Last Resort:

This is your general waste bin.

Yes please:

• Non-recyclable waste

• Food (don't worry as you are in catered accommodation there are food waste bins in our kitchens that our catering providers use).

If you are concerned about your food waste not being recycled from your pantries and from the self-catered flats in International Hall, please contact sustainability@london.ac.uk to voice your concerns.

No thanks:

• Batteries
• Used disposable vapes
  
• Clean recyclable waste
  

Did you know: London has a recycling rate of 41%. Can you do your bit to help London improve this?

Batteries:

Only:

• Batteries

• Used disposable vapes

Please find the battery recycling bin in your Halls reception.

Did you know: In the UK, we spend nearly £5 million each week on batteries, yet 98% of them are not recycled and end up in landfills

Read this article to find out more- 'Used disposable vapes and what to do with them'.

Clothes and small electrical items:

Recycle these in local recycling banks which can be found all around London. Alternatively, donate clothes to local charity shops. Find out more here- London recycles clothing and textiles.

If you would like to find out more, please email sustainability@london.ac.uk