Recycling Recap: Let’s Get It Right!
Recycling at the University helps reduce waste and even generates income. Here’s how you can do your part:
Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR) – Keep It Clean!
Our blue DMR bins are for small cardboard, cans, tins, cartons, and plastic bottles. If something ends up in the wrong bin, don’t worry—items will be sorted at the Cireco recycling facility in Dunfermline, where AI helps put materials in the correct place. However, sometimes contamination (like food, liquids, or non-recyclables) can send good materials to incineration instead. Keeping DMR streams clean improves our overall recycling rates—so every correct toss makes a difference!
Vegware – A Better Way to Take Away
Grabbing a coffee? Many of our cafés use Vegware, a compostable alternative to plastic cups. Dispose of them in Vegware bins (located in the main library café, medical school café, and physics café), and they’ll be composted locally at Glenfarg for use on Scottish farms. If no Vegware bin is available, they can go in general waste—where they still burn cleaner than plastic.
Paper & Cardboard – Recycle and Reuse
Recycling paper and cardboard isn’t just good for the environment—it has financial benefits too! High-quality paper and bulky cardboard are collected separately and can generate up to £75 per tonne. Keep paper and cardboard free from food, liquids, and plastic, and flatten boxes before disposal. Bring this to a recycling point outside of your building. Clean, well-sorted recyclables help the University recover costs and support sustainability initiatives.
Small actions = big impact! Let’s work together to keep our waste streams clean and maximise recycling.
If you want more information, check out these videos we’ve made about recycling at the university and in Fife:
https://www.instagram.com/ustasustainable/reel/C_YOmJFof1N