Shared recycling points across the Estate encourage the separation of waste therefore increasing the quantity and quality of recycling. Find out what you can dispose of in each bin: Orange: Dry Mixed RecyclingAny recyclable packaging must be free of food leftovers before it is placed into the orange bin. If this is not possible, place in grey General Waste bin.Yes please No thanks✅ Plastic bottles✅ Empty drinks bottles✅ Rinsed cans (food or drink)✅ Cardboard (corrugated, cereal boxes, non-plastic coated packaging)✅ Paper (newspapers, office paper, magazines, sticky notes)✅ Envelopes (including window envelopes)✅ Newspapers✅ Books, catalogues and journals✅ Aluminium foil✅ Tetra Pak ❌ Disposable hot drinks cups❌ Plastic coated cardboard (e.g. noodle pots, takeaway food boxes, etc)❌ Paper towels❌ Glitter cards/wrapping paper❌ Electrical equipment❌ Batteries❌ Crisp packets❌ Sweet wrappers❌ Polystyrene❌ Hard and rigid plastics (window frames, pipes, drums) ❌ Containers with food residues❌ Hazardous waste (paint tins, bleach bottles)❌ Padded envelopes❌ Sandwich boxes (cardboard/cellophane mix)❌ Glass❌ Aerosols and gas canisters❌ Paint, varnish and glue❌ Printer cartridges❌ Microwaveable food trays❌ Plastic packaging strapping❌ Bioplastics❌ Any non-polyethylene film e.g. polypropylene (PP)❌ Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)❌ Cling film❌ Food and drink pouches❌ Film lids from food trays❌ Plastic freezer bags❌ Plastic bags❌ Packaging films❌ Plastic bags from cereals❌ Plastic wrappers from mulitpacks of cans and plastic bottles❌ Plastic wrappers from toilet roll and kitchen roll❌ Plastic magazine and newspaper wrap❌ Bubble wrap❌ Plastic bread bagsGrey: General WasteGeneral Waste bins are to be used for any waste that is not suitable for recycling.Yes pleaseNo thanks✅ Paper towels✅ Polystyrene✅ Food waste✅ Containers with food residues✅ Coffee grounds and tea bags✅ Disposable hot drinks cups✅ Plastic coated cardboard✅ Paper towels✅ Glitter cards/wrapping paper✅ Crisp packets✅ Sweet wrappers✅ Polystyrene✅ Containers with food residues✅ Padded envelopes✅ Plastic bags❌ Aerosols and gas canisters❌ Paint, varnish and glue❌ Printer cartridges❌ Electrical equipment❌ Batteries❌ Hard and rigid plastics (window frames, pipes, drums)❌ Hazardous waste (paint tins or bleach bottles)Blue/Green Caddy: GlassGlass caddies are provided in all kitchen and tea-preparation areas.Yes pleaseNo thanks✅ Empty recyclable clear, brown and green glass bottles and jars✅ Winchester glass bottles (must be rinsed three times, and air-dried before disposal)❌ Pyrex❌ Water jugs❌ Drinking glasses❌ Ceramic items (e.g. plates, mugs)Green Caddy: FoodFood waste bins are located at all cafes across the University. Otherwise, the grey General Waste bin should be used to ensure the recycling bins remain uncontaminated.Yes pleaseNo thanks✅ Cooked food✅ Uncooked/raw food ✅ Plate scrapings✅ Meat✅ Fruit✅ Vegetables❌ Compostable packaging❌ Compostable disposable drinks cups❌ Biodegradable plasticsCompostable packaging must not be placed in green Food Waste bins. Compostable packing is required to be processed using in-vessel composting - the University's general waste contractor is not able to utilise this technology due to the scale of food waste they are collecting across the city of Edinburgh. Instead they send all the University's food waste to anaerobic digestion, and compostable packaging cannot be treated in this way and would be removed from the food waste stream (as a contaminant) and sent as refuse-derived fuel. This article was published on 2024-08-05
