SU Green Guide - Swansea University

Green Guide 

for Students, Staff & Visitors 

Partneriaith Addysg Uwch De Orllewin Cymru 

South West Wales Higher Education Partnership 

our environment... 

Yn gweithio gyda’n gylydd I helaethu a gwella gwasanaethau • Working together to enhance services


Welcome 

...to the 2008/2009 Swansea University Green Guide. We understand 

that our activities impact on the environment in a number of ways and we 

strive to reduce these impacts as much as possible. We can only do that with 

the support of our staff, students and visitors. 

It is also worth considering that it costs the University more to send rubbish 

to landfill than it does to recycle it. So, if you are a resident student, you can 

also help us keep our rent charges down by recycling as much as possible 

and by only using the energy and water you really need. 

This guide is packed full of practical advice on how you can help, whether 

you are here to live, work, study or are just visiting. And don’t forget to 

check out the Useful Contacts page at the back if there is anything you are 

unsure about or if you have any comments or suggestions you would like to 

pass on to us. 

Thanks, the Sustainability Team 

Mark Blackmore, John Thomas, Anna Rawlings & Mark Durdin 

This Green Guide has been produced by the SWWHEP Sustainability Project and is 

available in Welsh and Large Print versions on request - contact the SWWHEP Sustainability 

Unit on 01792 481138. All information was correct at time of publication. 

This guide has been printed 

75%on 75% recycled paper


Some green dates for your diary 

There are loads of exciting green events to get involved in at the University and 

in the wider Swansea Area. Here are just a few... 

100 Days Energy Campaign Launch - November 21st & 24th 2008 

Swansea University will be organising a range of activities for staff and students to mark the 

official launch of our 100 Days Energy Campaign which will end on Energy Monday of our 

Environment Week in March. A full programme will be available later in the year. 

People & Planet Go Green Week - November 2008 

An annual national event which will be organised by the Swansea 

University People & Planet Group. The aim of the event is to raise 

awareness and create pressure for positive action amongst staff 

and students on local and global environmental issues. For more 

information, visit 

http://peopleandplanet.org/gogreen/gogreenweek 

Environment Week - March 2009 

We will be hosting a new and improved Environment Week for 2009 

with a range of exciting events and activities for staff and studebts to 

get involved in. A full programme will be available closer to the time. 

Full environmental event listings for Swansea are available at 

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/environmentalevents 

We will be launching a fully interactive website later this year which will allow you to keep up 

to date with forthcoming events, changes to the recycling system and to leave comments or 

feedback. 

Some useful resources... 

The Environment Centre, Pier Street, Swansea. http://www.environmentcentre.org.uk 

http://www.freecycle.org 

A not for profit free resource that allows people to give and get stuff for free in their own 

towns 

http://www.treehugger.com 

http://www.earthwire.org/uk 

Keep abreast of green news, green solutions and green products 

http://na.unep.net/unep-atlas.php 

See for yourself the impact that humanity has had on the environment over the past 30 years 

through UNEP’s Atlas of Our Changing Environment

What happens to it...? 

PAPER 

BOTTLES & JARS 

made into fresh newsprint & 

paper 

made into new bottles & jars 

DRINKS CANS & made into new cans & tins 

FOOD TINS 

PLASTIC BOTTLES 

made into a wide range of 

products including packaging, 

fleece clothing, filling for duvets 

& new bottles 

POLYSTYRENE 

& PLASTIC COAT 

HANGERS 

TOYS & OTHER 

HARD PLASTICS 

On a serious note...a bit about the law 

It is illegal for the University to allow any electrical or electronic equipment that is broken or no 

longer needed to go to landfill. This includes any equipment thrown away by students living in 

University accommodation. Electrical and electronic equipment includes any item that is powered 

by electricity or batteries or any part or component that was supplied with any equipment of this 

nature. As well as the obvious, this includes things like cables, computer components, calculators 

and remote controls. 

We must also ensure that items containing hazardous substances are not taken to landfill along with 

our general waste. Batteries, printer & toner cartridges, energy saving light bulbs, fluorescent tubes 

and bottles or containers from laboratories all contain, or may contain, hazardous substances which 

are highly polluting to the environment. However, all of these can be dealt with safely and can be 

recycled at Swansea University. 

If you are a resident student and you have any of these types of things to throw away, take them to 

your Site Office for recycling. Your Residences Manager will notify you of any arrangements for 

disposing of these items at the end of the year closer to the time. If you are a member of staff, please 

follow the guide on the next few pages to help you determine how you should deal with each of 

these types of waste. 

If you are a student living in private accommodation or a visitor to the 

University, your activities should not normally result in you having to 

throw these types of things away. If you have your own electrical or 

hazardous items to discard, please take them home with you. However, 

if your lab work or other activities at the University result in these 

types of waste please ask your lecturer or point of contact to deal with 

them for you. 

our rubbish... 

made into material for patio decking 

made into new toys, plastic pipes & 

other hard-plastic items 

OTHER PLASTICS some plastic items cannot be 

recycled but are used for energy 

recovery. Although controversial, 

this is a more sustainable way of 

dealing with our non-recyclable 

rubbish than landfill. For further 

information, visit 

http://www.r-pa.org.uk


Our Recycling System 

We operate a very simple recycling system at Swansea University, 

helping you to recycle a wide range of materials without the need to 

separate everything out into different bins. Here’s how... 

We collect paper, cardboard, cans and plastics for recycling in our 

white Mixed Recycling Bins. These are emptied twice a week by Veolia 

and the contents taken to a Materials Recycling Facility where they are 

sorted and processed ready for recycling. 

Mixed Recycling Bin 

We ask that you only use clear bags to put your recycling in - not 

carrier or other coloured bags - so that we can see that what’s in them 

is suitable for recycling. Any bin that is suspected to be contaminated 

with food or other non-recyclable items will be taken to landfill. 

Get clear bags through Estates or your Residences Site Office. 

We collect glass for recycling separately in our blue Glass Bins. These 

are collected by Swansea City and County Council. This is because the 

Materials Recycling Facility we send our mixed recycling to cannot 

process glass. If there is no Glass Bin, please put your glass in the 

General Waste Bins. 

Please don’t put any glass into the Mixed Recycling Bins. 

General Waste Bin 

Glass Bin 

Anything that cannot be recycled should be put in the grey General 

Waste Bins. These bins are emptied regularly by Veolia and taken 

to a nearby landfill. 

Landfill is both an environmentally damaging and costly way to 

deal with our rubbish. Please help us to reduce the environmental 

impact of our University by recycling as much as possible. 

In teaching, office & communal areas, bins with white or clear liners are for mixed 

recycling, and bins with black liners are for general rubbish 

We would also recommend that you: 

• Consider donating items you no longer need or want to charity for re-use 

• Try to avoid purchasing things that are heavily packaged 

• Use re-usable shopping bags instead of disposable carrier bags 

• Buy products made from recycled materials whenever the option exists


Plastic Bottles 

All clear & coloured 

bottles e.g. for milk, 

soft drinks, shampoo, 

household chemicals 

etc. 

Plastic Containers 

Sandwich boxes, 

coffee cup lids, trays 

from fruit, veg & other 

foods 

• Mixed Recycling Bins 

• All recyclable 

• Please loosen lids before placing in bins - tightly 

screwed lids make batches of bottles difficult to 

bail 

• Please wash out milk bottles where possible 


• Most are recyclable 

• Please wash out when possible 

• Please remove foil lids etc. 

• Please separate lids from coffee cups before 

placing both in recycling bins 

Polystyrene Cups 

& Food Trays 

• General Waste Bins 

• Not recyclable - only very clean polystyrene is 

suitable for recycling 

• Not suitable for energy recovery because of the 

risk of high levels of chlorides 

Plastic Cutlery & 

Hot-Drink Stirrers 


• Suitable for energy recovery 

Crisp & Snack 

Food Packets 

All plastic wrappings 

from crisps, biscuits, 

chocolate, sweets & 

other foods 

Carrier Bags 



• 

Mixed Recycling Bins 

• 

Suitable for energy recovery 

• 

Only empty bags to be put in the bins please 

• Please do not use carrier bags to put your 

recycling in - we can’t see what’s inside them! 

Use the clear bags provided


Plastic Films 

Cling film, bubble 

wrap & other plastic 

wrappings from food 

and household & 

electrical items. 

Polystyrene Chips 




• Not recyclable - too small to be separated from 

other materials at the Materials Recycling 

Facility 

• Not suitable for energy recovery because of 

high levels of chlorides 

Polystyrene Packaging 

Large pieces of 

packaging from 

electrical equipment 

and furniture etc. 

Coat Hangers 

Small Plastic Items 

Credit-style cards, 

pen barrels, tags, 

household items, toys 

etc. made from hard, 

moulded plastics 

Large Plastic Items 

Boxes, tubs, furniture 

& other household 

items made from 

hard, moulded 

plastic 


• Recyclable 



• The plastic used is actually polystyrene and so 

these are recycled into materials used for 

decking 

• Steel components are recycled along with food 

cans 


• Some hard plastic items are recyclable 

• Some are suitable only for energy recovery 

• All components should be plastic - please 

remove any non-plastic components 

• If non-plastic components cannot be removed, 

please place item in General Waste Bins 

• Staff - please raise a Works Request for collection 

by Estates 

• Resident Students - please contact your Site 

Office who will arrange for the item to be 

recycled

paper 

& card 

Office Paper 

Printer & copier 

paper, writing paper, 

note paper, posters 

etc. 



• Paper Bins where facilities exist 


Plain Envelopes 

without windows 




Envelopes with 

Windows 


• Remove windows to be able to put them in the 


Confidential 

Waste 

Newspapers, 

Magazines, 

Inserts & Junkmail 

• Students - can be placed in Mixed Recycling 

Bins but it is strongly advised that any communication 

with your identification on be shredded 

prior to disposal 

• Staff - contact Estates for collection & new blue 

bags 



• Glossy magazines produce a pulp with strong 

fibres, which is essential in the recycling process 

Telephone Directories, 

Brochures, 

Catalogues & 

Prospectuses etc. 

• 

• 


Paper Bins where facilities exist


Books oks & Hard- 

Backed 

Directories 

paper 

& card 



Greetings Cards 



Card Boxes & 

Packaging 

Cereal boxes, egg 

boxes, card inserts 

from packaging etc. 



Cardboard Boxes 

& Corrugated 

Cardboard 



Please flat-pack ALL boxes 

• If you have large boxes to recycle, please 

flat-pack them and place next to the cream 

Mixed Recycling Bins outside 

Tetrapak Cartons 


• No facilities exist for us to recycle Tetrapaks from 

Swansea University at present 

• Students - the Civic Amenity Centres in Swansea 

now collect Tetrapak cartons for recycling 

Food & Drink Tins 

& Cans 

Including biscuit & 

sweet tins 



• Please rinse where possible


Aerosol Cans 



Tin Foil & 

Aluminium Food 

Trays 


• Can be recycled through the Mixed Recycling 

Bins only if they are thoroughly clean 

N o n - E l e c t r i c a l 

Metal Items 

Any household items 

made from metal e.g. 

cutlery, tea pots etc. 


• Most will be made from stainless steel and we 

cannot recycle this at present 

• If in good condition, consider donating to a 

charity 

Glass Bottles & 

Jars 

Clear & coloured 

glass bottles & jars 

• Glass Recycling Bins 


• Please do not put any glass in the Mixed 

Recycling Bins 

• Please rinse out where possible 

China, Pottery & 

Pyrex Items. 


• Not recyclable or suitable for energy recovery 

• If in good condition, please consider donating to 

a charity 

Flat Glass & 

Mirrors 

• Resident Students - contact your Site Office 

• Staff - raise a Works Order to Estates for Collection


Filament Light 

Bulbs 


• Not suitable for recycling or energy recovery 

• Consider using energy efficient bulbs which can 

be recycled and last longer 

Energy Saving 

Lighbulbs 

Fluorescent Tubes 

IT, HiFi & Other 

Electrical Equipment 

Including PC components 

& peripherals, 

and remote controls 

Cables 

Ink & Toner 

Cartridges 


• Staff - raise a Works Request to Estates for 

collection 

• Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and other 

heavy metals that are highly polluting to the 

environment - please do not put them into the 

General Waste Bins 



collection 

• Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and other 

heavy metals that are highly polluting to the 

environment - please do not put them into the 

General Waste Bins 

• PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY ELECTRICAL 

OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT INTO 

GENERAL WASTE 


• Staff - complete a WEEE form & raise a Works 

Request to Estates for collection 



GENERAL WASTE 


• Staff - complete a WEEE form & raise a Works 

Request to Estates for collection 


• Staff - send to the Disabilities Unit via Internal 

Mail


CDs, DVDs, Tapes 

& Minidisks 


• Consider donating to the University or Public 

Libraries or to charity for re-use 

CD, DVD & Tape 

& Minidisk Cases 

Including spindle 

cases 



• Consider donating to the University or Public 

Libraries for re-use 

Batteries 

• PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY BATTERIES 

INTO GENERAL WASTE 


• Staff - send to Estates via Internal Mail 

Mobile Phones 

Household 

Electrical Items 

White Goods 



GENERAL WASTE 


• Staff - complete a WEEE Form and raise a 

Works Request to Estates for collection 



GENERAL WASTE 



Works Request to Estates for collection 



Works Request to Estates for collection


Clothes, Curtains, 

Blankets, Bedding 

& Textile Scraps 

etc. 


• Consider donating to charity for reuse through a 

local charity shop or Civic Amenity Site 

Shoes 




Carpet, Rugs & 

Mats 




Yarn & Wool 




Soft Toys 




Wooden Furniture 



Collection

asbestos & 

chemicals 

Timber & Other 

Scrap Wood 

organic 

waste 




Collection 

Wooden Pallets 


Collection 

Raw & Cooked 

Food Waste 


• Catering Staff - follow the guidelines provided 

by your manager 

Nappies & 

Sanitary Products 

• Sanitary Bins or General Waste Bins 

• Don’t flush nappies or sanitary products down 

the toilet 

• Consider using real nappies instead of disposable 

ones 

Containers & 

Equipment from 

Laboratories that 

contain chemicals 

Asbestos 

• Firstly, identify any residual chemicals present 

• If they are hazardous, contact the Safety Office 

for disposal 

• If they are non-hazardous, dispose through the 

Mixed Recycling Bins, Glass Recycling Bins or 

General Waste Bins, depending on the materials 

they are made from 

• Alert the Estates department immediately

our water... 

Water & Pollution 

Water is a precious resource and needs to be conserved, but it also allows 

pollutants to be transported quickly and in large volumes to the wider environment. 

As we are so close to the sea, we need to be able to act very quickly in 

response to any spillages that could be washed into our drains. Please help us 

by following these guidelines. 

Only use the water you really need 

Running taps can waste up to 6 litres of water a minute. Keep tap water in the fridge to cool 

instead of running the tap until it is cold and don’t leave the tap running while you are brushing 

your teeth. 

Make sure you have a full load before washing your clothes 

Tell us about leaks and dripping taps 

A dripping tap can waste up to 140 litres of water a week - that’s enough for 4 

showers! Let the Estates Department or your Residences Site Office know immediately 

if you spot any dripping taps or water leaks. 

Let nothing but water go down the drain 

Fats, oils and grease can cause blockages in drains and sewer pipes as they solidify which can 

cause sewer water to back-up in the drains. Dairy products, such as milk and cream, are highly 

polluting to aquatic environments as they starve the water of oxygen as they degrade. Please don’t 

allow anything but water to go down the plug-hole. 

Report spillages immediately 

Let Estates or your Residences Site Office know immediately if you 

notice a spillage of any kind that could enter the drains. Even 

substances that are not marked as hazardous can be polluting, 

especially dairy products like milk and cream. 

And if you live off-campus... 

...there’s lots more you can do to save water. Why not check out the Water Wise 

website at http://www.waterwise.org.uk for ideas.

Saving Energy Together 

our energy... 

Last year, Swansea University emitted 14 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide as a result of 

the gas and electricity we used. We are working hard to try and reduce this huge impact 

by introducing energy saving technologies. But how staff and students use electrical equipment 

at the University makes a huge difference too. Please help us by following these 

simple guidelines. 

Your Computer 

•Change the power saving settings on your PC by going to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Power 

Options and setting your: 

• monitor to switch off after 5 minutes. 

• your PC to go into standby after 30 minutes. 

•Switch off your PC and monitor when you leave your room or 

workspace 

•Switch off your printer, scanner and photocopier when you leave 

your room or work space. 

•Remember to switch equipment off at the plug - PCs, especially 

laptops, still use energy when they are shut down but still plugged 

in. This will also reduce the risk of overheating and fire. 

Other electrical items 

•Use only the water you need when boiling a kettle. Use the 

hydro-boil heaters where they are provided, as these are much 

more energy efficient than a normal kettle. 

•Turn TVs and DVD players off at the plug when you have finished 

with them. Do not leave them on standby. 

•Unplug your mobile phone charger when you aren’t using it or it 

will continue to use electricity.

our energy... 

Lighting 

• Use only the lights you need and switch them off when light is sufficient. 

• Switch off any remaining lights when you leave your room or work 

space. 

• Report faulty lights to the Campus Site Office - they will still be using 

energy, even if they are broken. 

Heating and cooling 

• Set heating thermostats to a maximum of 20 °C. 

• Set air cooling thermostats to a minimum of 23 °C. 

• Set valves on radiators to a maximum of 3 and remember to turn them off when 

you leave for the weekend or holidays. 

• Turn radiators down or off if your room is too hot. 

• Close all windows when leaving your room or work space. This will also 

improve security. 

• Keep doors and windows closed in areas with air cooling. 

Is it really worth it? 

You can probably think of lots of reasons not to bother, but are they based on fact or fiction? Check 

them out at http://www.nef.org.uk/actonCO2/energymyths.htm and remember that all those 

little things really do add up to make a big difference. 

The power of green 

Environmentally friendly technologies are becoming ever more popular in today’s carbon conscious 

world and as they do, they become cheaper and more reliable too. Consider: 

• using solar power to charge your mobile phone and other gadgets 

• connecting your peripherals to your desktop PC (but not your laptop) and your DVD and VHS 

players to your television through a power-down plug so that they aren’t on or in standby when your 

PC and TV are off 

• using an Eco-Kettle which only boils the water you need even if it is full 

Find out what impact your lifestyle is having and get tailored advice on how to reduce this by going 

to http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html 

If you live off-campus, you can have even more control over your energy usage and carbon footprint. 

Try switching your electricity supply to a green tariff. 

And finally... 

If there are some things you just can’t change, don’t despair. Many organisations now allow you to 

calculate the carbon emissions that result from your activities and off-set them by donating money 

towards projects sustainable projects but do some reading first and find out where your money is 

going to make sure it really will make a difference. Check out the DirectGov website for advice at 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Thewiderenvironment/DG_070060

Some Useful contacts... 

Estates Department – Helpdesk 

01792 295240 or Ext. 5240 

wshelpdesk@swansea.ac.uk 

http://www.swan.ac.uk/estates 

The SWWHEP Sustainability Project 

01792 481138 

anna.rawlings@smu.ac.uk - for enquiries about waste and recycling 

mark.blackmore@smu.ac.uk - for enquiries about energy and water 


Mark Durdin, Energy & Environmental Engineer 

01792 295819 or Ext. 5819 

m.durdin@swansea.ac.uk 

http://www.swan.ac.uk/university/TheCampus/S 

ustainability/ 

Singleton Campus Residences Site Office 

Preseli Halls Reception 

01792 294653 or Ext. 4653 

Hendrefoelan Residences Site Office 

House 40, Hendrefoelan Student Village 

01792 295583 or Ext. 5583 

Swansea University Sustainability Forum 

Jan Morgan 

01792 602655 

susforum@swansea.ac.uk 

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/university/TheCampus/Sustainability/SustainabilityForum 

Off-Campus Recycling 

Please don’t bring any materials from home for recycling. 

Details of the residential recycling services provided by Swansea City and County can be 

found at http://www.swansea.gov.uk/recycling. You can also contact the recycling team 

on 01792 635600 or by emailing recycle@swansea.gov.uk 

For information about Civic Amenity & Recycling Sites in Swansea, go to 

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/recyclingsites 

If you live outside Swansea, go to your local council website for information. 

We will be launching a fully interactive website later this year which will allow you to keep 

up to date with forthcoming events, changes to the recycling system and to leave comments 

or feedback.


Your Notes...


Travelling Sustainably 

It’s really easy to get around Swansea on foot, on a bicycle or by using public transport so why 

not give it a try? Whether you are a student, staff member or visitor to the College, this map 

should help you get travel to and from the college in an environmentally-sound way. 

SV 

82 

82A 

37 

37 

H 

SU 

2A 2B 3A 14 

43 53 82 82A 

14A 

116 

2A 2B 3A 

116 

43 53 82 82A 

Travelling by bus 

First Cymru services 82 & 82A run every 10 minutes between the Quadrant Bus Station, Singleton 

Campus SU and Hendrefoelan Student Village SV 

The following First Cymru services run between the Quadrant Bus Station and Singleton Campus: 

• 2, 2A, 2B, 3 & 3A - every 30 minutes 

• 43 - every hour 

Affordable Bikes 

Volunteer for 2 days at the Re-Cyle workshop on Catharine Street to earn a bike of your choice. 

Call Ian Williams on 07847 474880 for more info. 

For more travel information... 

Pick up a copy of the Swansea Bay Travel Map or go online: http://www.smu.ac.uk/sihe/environment/travel.htm 

For bus, rail and coach 

journey planning and 

timetable information 

Register your details to find 

car-sharing partners at 

www.switch2share.com

SU Green Guide - Swansea University

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