Stagnating recycling rates have recently hit the headlines with many councils in England struggling to achieve the target of recycling 50% of household rubbish.
Students make up an important constituent of the community in Lenton. Yet different treatment methods mean that recycling practices vary across the UK and further afield, so Nottingham’s recycling guidelines may be different to what students are used to at home. This lack of consistency means simple errors can lead to domestic waste being rejected for recycling in Nottingham. In particular, putting recyclable materials into plastic bags, rather than directly into the bin, can lead to an entire wheelie bin being rejected as contaminated and go on to cause further issues for the household who then generate a backlog of waste.
The Off-Campus team recently led on engagement days within the ‘Lenton Triangle’ between Derby Road and Ilkeston Road. With the simple message of Please, no more bags, the team took to the streets with the assistance of student ambassadors to talk to students on the doorstep about keeping recyclables loose and further key messages on recycling. Each of the 485 households visited was offered the opportunity to add a sticker to their recycling bin as a reminder.
It is hoped this simple intervention will lead to an increase in the local recycling rate for these households, reducing non-recycled waste and the potential for neighbourhood waste problems. The Off-Campus team are exploring the opportunity to extend the campaign to include more streets in the neighbourhood.
You can read more about the campaign and find out more about what you can recycle in Nottingham City.
Posted on Wednesday 3rd April 2019