Recycling and Waste
New Waste Separation Requirements for 2025
The University has updated its waste management system in response to the Separation of Waste Regulations 2024, which came into force on 1 April 2025 and require businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to separate waste into four distinct streams before collection, outlined by DEFRA.
Waste is now collected in four streams:
- Non-recycling – Sent to an energy-from-waste facility
- Mixed recycling (glass, metal, plastic) – Sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility for onward recycling, anything that can’t be recycled will either go to energy from waste or turned into fuel for cement kilns
- Paper and cardboard – Collected separately to maintain quality and sent directly to a specialist paper recycling facility
- Food waste – Processed at an anaerobic digestion facility, converting it into fertiliser and biogas.
Collection schedules for the different waste streams are:
- Monday – Non-recycling (and autoclaved waste)
- Tuesday – Paper and card
- Wednesday – Food waste
- Thursday – Non recycling (and autoclaved waste)
- Friday – Mixed recycling (glass, metal, plastic)
The system aligns with government evidence that source segregation improves recycling rates, as demonstrated in Wales, which now ranks second in the world for recycling.
The default legal requirement is to use four separate containers unless a written assessment demonstrates that separating paper and card is not technically, economically, or environmentally practicable.
The rationale behind this requirement is that keeping paper and cardboard separate from other recyclables significantly reduces the risk of contamination from liquids and other waste, thereby preserving the quality of the material. As this is best practice and the environmental benefits of storing paper and cardboard separately are clear, the University will not be providing a written assessment to seek an exemption.
The University engaged with DEFRA, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, and waste contractors to confirm that the new regulation applies to us and that the four-bin approach meets all requirements.
For further details, please visit our FAQs section.
Posters and bin stickers are available for download below.
The University's commitments, approach and progress can be found on the Waste and circular economy pages.
Bin stickers and posters
| Bin stickers PDF (print) |
| Metals, Plastic, Glass |
| Mixed Paper and Card |
| Food Waste |
| Non Recyclable Waste |
| Bin stickers jpg (digital) |
| Metals, Plastic, Glass |
| Mixed Paper and Card |
| Food Waste |
| Non Recyclable Waste |
| Lab Bin Stickers PDF (print) |
| Metals, plastic, glass - Labs |
| Non-recyclable waste - Labs |
| Mixed paper and card - Labs |
| Posters |
What does this mean for Departments?
To comply with the regulations, your Department/building needs to:
Update internal bins : Ensure your bins meet the new four-stream requirement. This includes updating signage, purchasing new bins where necessary, and removing single office bins.
Communicate with your teams: Cascade information to staff about the changes to encourage understanding and compliance.
Identify challenges early: Let us know about any potential issues so we can provide tailored support.
How we’re supporting you
We understand this change may feel challenging, especially following other recent adjustments . To make the transition smoother, the following support is available:
External bin updates: Facilities Management will handle changes to external bins.
Updated signage: New posters and stickers will be provided on request, or you can download them from this page.
Guidance sessions: On-site guidance sessions can be arranged to address concerns or questions.
Case studies: Read about how the Cambridge Judge Business School is implementing the changes and share your successes and suggestions.
Next steps...
Your co-operation and leadership are essential to ensure a successful transition. By working together, we can meet our legal obligations and continue driving improvements in waste management and sustainability.
If you have questions or require additional support, please contact Facilities Management
Portal access
University departments can now request access to the waste and recycling portal to view waste and recycling information including collection amounts and recycling rates.
If you would like access, please email ucam@mountainrecycling.co.uk with ‘portal’ in the email subject and your building code.