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Premier recycles waste from UK's greenest university

A North East waste management firm is expanding into the Yorkshire region after securing a major contract, which will maximise recycling efforts and benefit almost 40,000 people studying in Leeds. Durham-based Premier Waste Management hopes to help the University of Leeds improve its reputation as one of the UK’s greenest universities after finalising a six-figure waste collection and recycling contract.

Premier will now collect all the university’s general waste and transport it to a materials recycling facility in Leeds, diverting it from landfill. The three year contract will see Premier deliver over 150 wheelie bins to the university to be emptied daily; plastic, paper, cardboard, wood, MDF and glass will then be removed for recycling. Compost bins are also being supplied to separate food and green waste from the general waste. This green waste will be made into compost.

Paul Hodgkiss, Premier’s head of operations in Yorkshire, said: “This was a challenging contract to win. The university is a busy location so we can only be on campus between 4am and 7.30am. We are set to reduce the level of material going to landfill and increase an already high recycling figure.”

The university won a Green Gown Award in 2007 for its work promoting an environmental agenda across departments. It is currently working to meet UK waste targets and currently recycles 40 per cent of its waste. However the new contract will see recycling totals across the university reach 70 per cent.

Dr Keith Pitcher, Environmental Officer at Leeds University, said: “Staff and students have contributed to the university’s success in winning national awards for our waste management programmes. The contract with Premier is the latest initiative and we see this as a major step to improve our performance.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .