Viridor has signed a five-year contract with one the South West’s leading educational and research institutions – the University of Plymouth – to manage its hazardous and non-hazardous waste across all university campuses in Devon.
Viridor Account Manager (South West) Ian Poyser said the contract saw Viridor offer a new campaign to boost recycling across the university’s campuses and a full review of collection services, including laboratory and clinical wastes.
Mr Poyser said: “Viridor is committing to providing high quality services and innovation while delivering significant cost savings to the university over the term of contract. As a graduate of the university it is wonderful to come back and make a positive difference.”
He said Viridor had engaged with students and staff and, using their feedback, had designed a new simple-to-use comingled recycling scheme. All internal and external waste containers had been rebranded, with clear instructions on what can and cannot be placed in recycling containers.
“Viridor is committing to providing high quality services and innovation while delivering significant cost savings to the university over the term of contract. As a graduate of the university it is wonderful to come back and make a positive difference.”
Mr Poyser said campus cleaning teams had been trained to help respond to recycling enquires, a number of promotional events had been scheduled to help raise staff and student awareness and where site users can pledge to recycle and also win prizes.
All the university’s waste will be processed at local materials recovery and energy recovery facilities, enabling Viridor to offer a zero to landfill solution.
Professor Judith Petts, CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “We are a university that is deeply committed to sustainability, and that is reflected across our curriculum, through our research, and in the way we operate our campus and estate. We have set ourselves some challenging targets in areas such as waste reduction and recycling and these latest measures support this ambition.”
Lowri Jones, President of the University of Plymouth Students’ Union, added: “We know that our students are passionate about recycling – and indeed we know some students choose to come to Plymouth because of its reputation in the realm of sustainability. So this joint project between our students, UPSU, the University and Viridor, moving to a mixed recycling model, is a very positive change and one that will make it easier for everyone to recycle.”