Waste Management Strategy

With over 21,000 students and 4,500 staff members, the University produces up to 2500 tonnes of waste each year. Waste is generated through the residential Colleges, academic departments, catering outlets, professional service departments, libraries, museums and attractions, the Graham Sports Centre, Durham Student’s Union, Green Lane Depot, and from capital building projects. 

Whilst we are working to reduce the amount of waste we produce, it’s important that every tonne of waste produced is manged in a responsible and compliant way. This strategy and the accompanying action plan, outline how the University will achieve this, in the most sustainable way possible. 

We also continue to commit ourselves to sending none of our waste to landfill outside of where we are legally obligated to do so. 

Within our Waste Management Strategy we state our ambitions to reduce usage of disposable and single use items across the estate. We have removed straws and stirrers from all cafes and are always seeking opportunities to remove other items. 

We are keen to extend these good practices, including on minimisation and disposable products, up our supply chain. This falls within our Sustainable Procurement policy, which we are refreshing to support achievement of these ambitions.  

Read the Waste Management Strategy  

Read the Sustainable Procurement Policy 

We track the amount of waste generated and recycled across the university, see the graph below for our progress over the last few years. For full information, you can visit the HESA website here. 

The charts below demonstrate our waste volumes and waste destinations over the last 2 academic years. We are continuing t reduce our overall waste footprint whilst maintaining our 0 to landfill status.