Second-year Biosciences student Amy Mountstephens has been appointed to manage the Reuse project
End of term pack-up has wider benefits
As University of Exeter students pack up for their Summer break, they are being encouraged to think responsibly about their unwanted items. Students are being asked to donate unwanted reusable items to benefit local charities and future students.
And special rubbish collections organised by the University and local council are keeping streets clear.
Items with resale value are sent to local charities ELF, Devon Air Ambulance and MIND. Items such as clothes and shoes, bedding, pots, pans, crockery and books are being collected, sorted and redistributed. Anything that might be suitable for new students, especially kitchen equipment, books and stationery will be made available during a ‘free stuff’ event at the beginning of the new academic year. A 2 tonne skip is filling up on campus, and staff at halls of residence are also collecting goods. Collections run until 3 August.
A similar project last year saved 3.5 tonnes of items that could otherwise have gone to landfill, and helped the University win a national recycling award.
In an initiative to address the build up of extra rubbish generated during this key period, a series of targeted refuse collections across several streets in the St James Ward is underway.
The University of Exeter has paid for the three special community clear up days as part of the ‘Student’s On the Move’ project in partnership with the Student Guild and Exeter City Council. Student Community Wardens will be working with Council Refuse Collectors on clearing the streets that have been identified as hotspots.
All residents, students and non students alike, on Union Road, Culverland Road, Springfield Road, Victoria Road and Victoria Street will be encouraged to get rid of their rubbish between 10am – 3pm on Saturday 4 July. Student Wardens will be knocking on doors and the Council’s slow moving refuse pickup vehicles will be taking the waste away. Some 16 tonnes of waste has already been disposed of through this scheme and other student cooperation. A final collection will take place on 25 July.
Rory Cunningham, University Community Liaison Officer explains: ‘We recognise those particular streets are most affected by the usual increase in waste at the end of the academic year. The narrow streets and lack of front gardens are not ideal situations for putting out rubbish bags. It is anticipated that this special initiative will assist in addressing the situation. We are pleased to be working in partnership with the City Council to address this issue.’
Date: 3 July 2009
