The scores are in for this year's Recycling Audits!

Back in March, our Sustainable Halls helpers visited an amazing 539 kitchens across Halls to see just how well you and your flatmates are recycling. Each flat was scored on how well you separate your recyclable and non-recyclable waste, the cleanliness of recycling bins and how well the food waste caddy is used.

The good news is that the average score for each category has improved since November's audit which means you're  getting the hang of recycling in Halls - huge well done and thank you for doing your bit!

Here is the average score out of five  across all Halls. Each Hall's average score has improved (except for Dover Court which has stayed the same) which is amazing news, good job!

Don't forget, the scores from both audits will contribute to the overall winning Hall of the Sustainable Halls competition 2024/25. Stay tuned for the winning Hall announcement in May 👀

Recycling well is one of the main ways you can contribute towards a more sustainable way of living in Halls. So with this in mind and with plenty of scores to be improved on, it's never too late to brush on your recycling habits and be reminded of what goes where.

Your recycling feedback card from March will have left tips on how your flat can improve your recycling habits but just in case you missed it, here's some common mistakes that our Sustainable Halls team found:

❌ Non-recyclables ending up in the recycling bin

Unfortunately it's not possible to recycle all items. The mixed recycling bin is for items such as cardboard, paper, tins, cans, plastic bottles. Food waste items and glass have their own bins. Anything non-recyclable goes in the general waste bin.

❌ Non-food items in the food waste caddy

The food waste caddy is just for food so don't be use it for items such as kitchen roll, tin foil, tissues, string, metal. This caddy is all for the food scraps, leftovers, fruit & veg peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, small bones.

❌ Glass bin being used for non-glass

The glass bin is super simple as only glass items can be recycled in here. Don't be tempted to throw other recyclables. Only use this for glass jars and bottles e.g. old tomato ketchup, face creams, jam jars.

❌ Throwing dirty/unwashed items into the mixed recycling bin

Always be sure to rinse and dry any items before they go into the mixed recycling bin. If you throw in something that hasn't been rinsed through e.g. a tin of beans, it'll leak and contaminate the rest of the items, preventing them from being recycled. 

Reducing the amount of recyclable waste going into general bins is one of the university's main goals. In 2021, the Sustainability team set an ambitious goal to halve the volume of domestic general waste sent for incineration by July 2025. You can read more about this here.

Recycling well means that you're helping to keep waste streams clean and reduce general waste. Making good recycling habits in Halls will set you up for no matter where you live next.

Living in a house share next year? Here's what you need to know about waste and recycling when living out in the community!