Environmental management Office waste recycling March 2006 University of Leeds EAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – 5 July 2006 Dr Keith PitcherEnvironmental

Environmental management Office waste recycling March 2006

University of LeedsEAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – 5 July 2006

Dr Keith Pitcher Environmental Officer

tel: 37255

email: [email protected]

web: www.leeds.ac.uk/environmental


Environmental PolicyThe University approved its Environmental Policyin November 2001.This was also approved bythe VC in March 2006.

Our EMS:

• is the focus of all activities that have environmental effects;• is the summary of our environmental performance;• sets and monitors targets for environment improvement; • provides new programmes and financial resources; and• delivers a culture that embraces environmental best practice

Waste management and recycling is a key objective

We will conduct our own activities and operations to reflect best environmental practice, implement an environmental management system (EMS) to pursue sustainability and continuous improvement and seek innovative ways of meeting environmental objectives.


Waste management – not recycling

‘I was shocked and appalled by our visit to the waste site yesterday;within 5 minutes I was knee deep in paper and books. These were not isolated incidences but originated from across the university community.’ – Quote from Environmental Co-ordinator


Waste management – targets & performance

• We will meet or better UK recycling targets– 25% by end of 2005– 30% by 2010– 33% by 2015

• Office waste recycling scheme 80% complete across campus, finish in next 6 months

• Offices monitored before scheme implemented recycled 24%• Audits carried out post scheme implementation

– Mechanical Engineering 56%– Estate Services 62%– Psychiatry 59%– Leeds University Union 75%

• Voluntary scheme achieved only 28% recycling• Electrical & electronic waste needed to have a separate collection &

reuse/recycle scheme


Hazardous Waste Directive

• Environment Agency provided advice and support• Big change in emphasis

– Mixing waste streams with IT equipment makes the whole lot hazardous

– Much further distance to licensed hazardous waste site– Potential issues with IT equipment being found in a landfill

– WITH University of xxxx non-removable markings!!– Big cost increases

• Project team established:– Information Systems Services, Cleaning Services,

Environmental Management


WEEE programme

• Review of systems – 2004 situation– Collection and transport of IT equipment to a local charity

established by Leeds Council to provide employment– Issues with increasing volume of IT equipment and its

condition– Issues with certification for transfer and disposal– Issues with medium term viability of the company

– Donation of computers to schools in Leeds, Lesotho and Kenya

– Use of waste skips, 1100 litre bins and in their vicinity to ‘dispose’ of redundant IT equipment


What we found in unlocked skips


New Electrical & Electronic Waste System

• Discussions with companies to collect, transport and process redundant equipment

• Assessment of likely amounts of waste• Key requirements:

– Licensed for BOTH transfer and processing– Disk wipe to a high standard (same as Home Office) – Efficient and regular collection from several university sites

on campus– Provision of information on individual assets and method of

disposal• University financed costs of the scheme


Issues to consider

Pre-contract• Confirm the ability of the contractor to carry out the work to cost,

time and standards• Check licensing with Environment Agency• Follow up references• Ensure disk wiping is to the appropriate standardOperational• Get business case approved• Set up internal collection system• Confirm collection arrangements, one or multi pickup per

campus• Obtain records of items and disposal methods:

– Reuse or recycle• Don’t underestimate what will come out of the woodwork!


Progress

• Initial assessment - a bit of an underestimate!


Recycling performance

In 2005 1772 tonnes of waste from campus and 26.6% recycled– 323 tonnes of waste paper– 25 tonnes of cardboard– 1445 electrical & electronic items– 333 computers reused by ISS

– reused by departments– 150 donated to schools in Lesotho and Kenya

– printer & photocopier cartridges & toners – 6000 chemical bottles returned & reused– batteries, wood and furniture recycling commenced

– Hazardous waste items


Recycling performance

Recycling % 14.8 18.0 16.5 19.5 26.6

Refuse

Paper

Other

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Tonnes


Weights of electrical/electronic waste collected

• Weights of electrical/electronic equipment are summarised below

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2003 2004 2005 2006 (Jan-June)

Ton

nes

Accredited collectionISS complete unitsKeyboardsPrintersMonitorsBase units


….and finally – support from the VC

The VC said ‘The office waste recycling scheme has already been a great success, but we need everyone to take part if we are going to make a real difference.’

Documents

Environmental management Office waste recycling March 2006 University of Leeds EAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – 5 July 2006 Dr Keith PitcherEnvironmental