Phil Towers

Leeds Trinity University’s Environmental Champions have outlined their ambitions to reduce waste at today’s Environmental and Sustainability Update. 

William Townend, the university’s Sustainability Manager, said he was working towards “a sustainable, green campus” with a greater focus on reducing single-use plastic and improving biodiversity. 

He outlined his aims to the group, which include engaging with the wider Horsforth community and focusing on celebrating achievements so that students feel more informed and involved. 

The university has been working with biodegradable packaging manufacturers Vegware to introduce some of their plant-based and renewable items into the university’s catering facilities.  

Now that they are in use, a campaign will shortly be underway to increase awareness amongst students of the role that they can play in helping the university reach its sustainability goals through proper recycling. 

When asked about demand for biodegradable packaging, David Dyce, Waste Management Consultant from Vegware, said: “It’s something we’re seeing a massive uptake in at the moment.”  

Once used, the items go in with food waste rather than into the general waste, meaning that they are composted instead of going to landfill. 

It is claimed by Mr Dyce that this packaging can lead to a 75% reduction in carbon footprint from that of what was used before, “mitigating some of the impacts of climate change.” 

The university has also seen some success in its recent cup recycling scheme.  

Since January, a levy has been put onto the price of a single use cup when buying from any of the campus coffee shops, leading to over a thousand fewer cups being used.  

 “Where we can’t use Vegware, we’ve joined a national cup recycling scheme,” said one contributor. 

For this to work, the single-use cups will instead be collected in bespoke cup holders which are being installed throughout the university over coming weeks. 

The group will meet again next month to review their introduction and discuss the progress of their other initiatives.