Recycling and Waste FAQs

Please click the question to reveal the answer.

The new four-bin system is required by the Separation of Waste Regulations 2024, which legally mandates businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to separate their waste into four streams.  

The new system will come into effect on 31 March 2025. 

Each area will have four clearly labelled bins for: 

  • Non-recycling: Items that cannot be recycled. 

  • Mixed recycling: Plastics, glass, and metals (e.g., cans, bottles). 

  • Paper and cardboard: Clean, dry paper and cardboard only. 

  • Food waste: All food scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags.  

The timing of our communication was directly influenced by the release of the guidance note for Simpler Recycling from DEFRA, which was only published recently. Until this official guidance was issued, there was limited detail on the exact requirements of the regulations and their practical implications for institutions like ours. 

Given the scale and complexity of implementing these changes across the University, it was critical that we fully understood the requirements before issuing communications. Acting prematurely might have led to miscommunication, inefficiencies, or even unnecessary costs. 

Departments will need to make space for the additional bins within their buildings and ensure staff are aware of the changes. 

Failure to comply could result in penalties for the University.  

  • Providing updated signage: Clear visuals for the new system will be available. Facilities Management will distribute new signage on request. You can also find the signage on the Estates website. 

  • Offering guidance: We’ll also host brief sessions on request to address any concerns. 

  • Procurement advice: The Estates website also contains information on where you can purchase new bins if required.  

  • All changes to the number/type of external bins will be sorted for you by Estates.  

We can offer either 1100lt euro bins or 240lt wheelie bins in areas with low waste levels or small spaces. 

External bins are funded centrally, departments pick up the cost for internal bins.

This will vary from building to building dependant on expected levels of waste. If you find you are accumulating too much waste, please do contact the Facilities Management office and let us know. facilities.management@admin.cam.ac.uk  

If you have been missed, please contact the Facilities Management office facilities.management@admin.cam.ac.uk as soon as possible and they will check on this. 

Our waste contractor notifies us of any missed collections due to contamination, which we then forward to the relevant personnel to resolve and prevent reoccurrence. Repeated contamination will lead to unemptied bins and costs to departments for collection.  

Please contact the Facilities Management office - facilities.management@admin.cam.ac.uk  

Food waste will continue to be collected separately and sent to specialised facilities for anaerobic digestion, where it can be converted into energy and fertiliser. 

Please contact facilities.management@admin.cam.ac.uk with any feedback or specific challenges. We value your input and are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. 

We will monitor waste streams regularly and provide feedback to departments as needed. Awareness campaigns will also be conducted to ensure staff understand the importance of proper waste separation. 

  • Food waste collection – Turned into fertiliser and biogas via a process called anaerobic digestion (contaminants sent to landfill)   

  • Paper/card collection – paper recycling facility  

  • Non-recycling collection – incineration with energy recovery  

  • Mixed-recycling collection – separated and recycled (contaminants sent to energy recovery)   

The four-bin system aligns with current legislation and national recycling strategies. While further updates could arise as environmental policies evolve, this system is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future. 

This is up to your department to decide. We recommend having bin stations in key areas such as canteens, coffee machines and kitchens. Please avoid placing single bins around the building.  

Clear visuals for the new system will be available. Facilities Management will distribute new signage on request. You can also find the signage on the Estates website. 

Personal bins should be removed, these encourage users to place everything in one bin and is not compliant with the new legislation.