30/03/2011
Exeter Students Given Chance to Recycle
... to lead the way with recycling scheme
Leafield Environmental have supplied over two hundred, 82 litre, Envirobin Recycling Bins and Desk Top Recyclers to Exeter University for a new Recycle Zone scheme on the campus supported by Coca-Cola Enterprises.The following news item has been issued by Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) and Exeter University.
• 82% of students claim to recycle at home every week.
• Nine out of ten students say it is important for recycling
facilities to be more available in public spaces.
• 74% of students would recycle more often if recycling areas were more readily available in their area.
The University of Exeter today launches a new Recycle Zone scheme on its Exeter campus, supported by Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE). This sees 200 recycling collection points strategically placed around the University’s campuses to encourage students to recycle bottles, cans, paper and card when out and about.
The importance of such schemes is highlighted by a survey, conducted by CCE, which has revealed that students are especially keen to have on-the-go recycling to match their on-the-go lifestyles.
Students ranks slightly below the national average when it comes to recycling at home, with 82% saying they recycle at least weekly, in comparison to the national average of 87%. However, the vast majority of UK students - nine out of ten - think there should be more of a focus on recycling in public, saying it is important for recycling facilities to be available to people when they are not at home.
In fact, 74% of students say they would recycle more if recycling areas were more readily available in their area. It is hoped that more students, colleges and universities in the UK will follow Exeter’s lead and review their public recycling facilities.
The new Recycle Zones will help to engage Exeter’s students and staff in the recycling process and improve the quality and quantity of recycling across its campuses.
To coincide with the launch of the zones, guides on recycling have been provided for all students and staff. The new Recycle Zones are a key part of the University’s commitment to increase the amount of waste it recovers for recycling and compost by 45% by the end of 2015**.
A ‘Recycle Zone’ is a public facility developed and funded by CCE for recycling soft drinks packaging and aims to encourage people to recycle their cans and plastic bottles when they are away from home.
The Recycle Zone project is a partnership between CCE, WRAP and RECOUP that combines each organisation’s expertise and forms part of CCE’s wider Keep It Going sustainable packaging programme. There are currently 90 zones across Great Britain, with plans to open a total of 120 zones by March 2011.
Alan Tancock, from CCE said: “Over recent years recycling in the home and at work has become easier and easier. However, recycling options on the streets and in public areas are still few and far between.
“We are committed to reducing the impact of our packaging, and to recycling as much of that packaging as possible. We know that many of our products are consumed whilst ‘on-the-go’, and so we are committed to providing convenient recycling solutions that help our consumers become involved in the recycling process.”
Karen Gallagher, Sustainability Manager, University of Exeter said: “Environmental sustainability is a key focus at The University of Exeter. Our University’s research into the causes and consequences of environmental change is world-leading and we are equally committed to making sure that our own activities are sustainable. Participating in the Recycle zone Project will help us to focus on the development of more sustainable waste management practices and improve the quality and quantity of recycling across our Exeter Campuses.”
Organisations can request more information about setting up Recycle Zones by visiting http://www.recycle-zone.co.uk/ or emailing rz@recoup.org.
For further information on the Envirobin Recycling Bins and Desk Top Recyclers supplied by Leafield Environmnetal visit www.leafieldrecycle.com or call 01225 816500.
