Can we win the 'War on Waste'?
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Loughborough University Sustainability Team have taken on that challenge and entered into battle with the ever growing ‘waste culture’ to encourage their staff and students to reduce waste and create a lasting change on the environment.
Seeking a partner who could support them with this, an initiative was designed to tackle the culture of waste through engagement and infrastructure changes in a single building within their University. Supported by two engagement groups from their Engineering school, the ‘Wolfson War on Waste’ was born. Bright ideas to improve communications to staff and students were turned into posters, stickers, doorhangers and a game and were complimented by new bin stations, food waste bins and signage. |
New food waste bins
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'Crisp man'
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Enva - Loughborough’s waste contractor – supported the process with a bin rollout, audit support and weight data from Wolfson, to back up investigative audits to show the improvements being made as the project unfolded.
An A-Z guide of recycling & waste was also produced to help Wolfson staff and students to recycle correctly. A ‘cup bin’ trial was launched in October 2018 which gave the ownership of bin choices back to Loughborough stakeholders. |
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Loughborough managed to increase their recycling rate in Wolfson by over 30%, surpassing their original target of achieving 75% segregation in the building (76% in September 2018). They also created a positive behavioural shift in how their students and staff engaged with recycling. Surveys of staff and students before and after the project showed that confidence in recycling abilities had increased (53% of those surveyed felt they were more confident after the campaign). 76% of survey respondents agreed they had learned something from the campaign. People were also more likely to recycle after the intervention (87% of those surveyed).
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Setting a target
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To ensure this excellent work continues for future years a new Wolfson Engagement Group have taken ownership of the work and will be meeting regularly.
The War on Waste may still be seen as a battle but in Wolfson building at Loughborough they have found the solution.
The War on Waste may still be seen as a battle but in Wolfson building at Loughborough they have found the solution.
"What a pleasure it was to work with Emma on our recent Waste Reduction Project. Whilst of course I am delighted that we managed to increase our levels of recycling and waste segregation, perhaps the most satisfying aspect was seeing a wider environmental culture change occurring in parallel to the project. Emma's collaborative approach and novel communications methods really have, I feel, made a lasting impact."
(Simon Fawcett, Operations Manager, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering)
(Simon Fawcett, Operations Manager, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering)
Poster for the cup bin trial for the Loughborough stakeholders
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Time for coffee! Carlos is simply swimming through your coffee dregs
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Our partners
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