Recycling in Queen Mary halls

Posted 6 months ago

Help us increase our recycling rates

Queen Mary is committed to the principles and practices of environmental protection and sustainability. Residents are asked to dispose of their waste in the correct bins and not to contaminate any recycling containers with food or other non-recyclable waste.

Dry mixed recycling and general waste bins are available in every kitchen. Larger wheelie bins are located close to all residential buildings and residents are responsible for taking their waste to these bins over weekends. Large cardboard boxes must be broken down and placed into the large external recycling bins.

Additional charges will be applied to residents (or flats) in cases where glass removal from kitchens is required.

Kitchen and Bathroom Waste

Residents should use the appropriate general waste and dry mixed recycling bins provided in each kitchen.

What should go into the kitchen recycling bin:

• Metal cans and tins Paper and cardboard, broken down
• Plastic containers (except black plastic)
• Cartons
• Clean kitchen towel
• Glass jars

Please refer to the recycling guidelines located in your kitchen for the full list.

All waste put into the Dry Mixed Recycling bin should be rinsed out and any liquids tipped down the sink, to prevent contamination within the bin.

Please note residents are responsible for taking glass bottles from kitchens and placing them into the dry mixed recycling wheelie bins provided in the external bin areas. Please put glass bottles in the green bags provided in your kitchen.

Additional charges will be applied to residents or (flats) in cases where glass bottles are required to be removed from kitchens.

What should go into the kitchen waste bin:

• Food waste
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Contaminated food packaging
• Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
• Single use coffee cups • Polystyrene
• Pens and pencils
• Used tissues
• Soiled kitchen towel
• Ceramics and Pyrex

Certain items cannot be disposed of within the dry mixed recycling and general waste bins. These items must be disposed of correctly, which is required by UK legislation.

These items include:

• Batteries
• Computers/electronics
• Light bulbs
• Mobile phones and chargers
• Clothes, shoes etc
• Toner cartridges
• Sharps (needles, broken glass etc)

To find your nearest recycling station, visit: www.recyclenow.com/recycling-locator

Residents can collect bin bags from the Aspire Point Reception and should remember that black bags are for general waste and clear bags are for plastics, cardboard, and bottles. Bins are marked as General (green bin top) and Recycling (orange bin top) - residents should check if they are unsure about what items to place into each bin, with the Aspire Point Reception.

Residents will find 'General Waste' and 'Recycling bins' in the kitchens and bin stores. Waste collections happen on a Wednesday and Saturday, to keep their flat tidy, residents should bring any waste down ahead of these collections – on Tuesday and Friday nights. Residents need to separate their waste to help improve the recycling rate and reduce the amount of contaminated waste, for example, cardboard can be stained by food waste. Both locations also have donation stations for the British Heart Foundation and a local foodbank – residents should try to put good quality items in these before using the bins provided.