A Student’s Guide To Smarter Recycling On Campus

A new semester means a fresh start… And a greener campus! Want to help keep it looking its best all year round? With just a few simple recycling habits, you can make a big difference.

This guide, inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 11: building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities), gives you quick and easy tips to level up your eco-game in 2025.

UL’s Green Campus Commitment

Mr Binman has worked with the University of Limerick (UL) as their recycling contractor for many years and UL has proudly held the Green Flag accreditation since 2015. UL received re-accreditation in 2018 for its environmental impact through waste reduction and waste management. The Green Flag recognises work done across themes like waste, energy, biodiversity, and student engagement. None of this would be possible without the combined effort of staff, students, and sustainability committees across campus.

Know Your Campus Bins

The UL Green Campus team, together with UL Buildings & Estates and the UL Environmental Society, has introduced a clear colour coded bin system across campus. Old bins were even upcycled for the project! Here’s what to look out for while discarding waste on campus:

Green Bin ➡️ Recycling (found along most corridors)
What can go in?

• Clean cans and tins
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Paper (e.g., notebooks, loose sheets)
• Cardboard (e.g., clean pizza boxes, cereal boxes)

Red Bin ➡️ General Waste (available in all corridors)
What can go in?

• Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
• Broken plates or ceramics
• Vacuum bags and dustpan sweepings
• Anything that can’t be recycled or composted

Note: Keep items dry, clean, and loose for smoother disposal.

Brown Bin ➡️ Composting (found in restaurants and cafés)
What can go in?

• Food waste & garden waste (fruit peels, leftovers, bread, leaves, flowers etc.)
• Compostable packaging and cups (where provided on campus)
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Napkins, paper towels, and other compost-friendly paper

Note: These bins are mainly located in areas with restaurants or cafés, so save your compostables for when you’re grabbing a bite!

You can check out the exact bin locations across campus for easier sorting.

The Coffee Cup Question

Coffee cups can be confusing, so here’s the breakdown:

• Standard takeaway cups: Not recyclable. Pop them in the red general waste bin.
• Compostable cups (from some cafés): Use a brown composting bin (if available) or otherwise the red general waste bin.
• 2GoCup system: Available in some locations. Pay a €1 deposit, swap your used cup for a fresh one each time, and save cups from ending up in the bin altogether.
  
  

Recycling at Campus Events

The Buildings and Estates grounds team provide bins for waste generated at events and manage the waste streams… So keep an eye out for them when attending campus gatherings.

Extra Notes on Waste Disposal

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment): Never put electronics or batteries in recycling bins. Instead, send disposal requests to the Buildings Maintenance team. Please contact them at – buildingsmaintenance@ul.ie

By following these simple tips, you’ll be helping to keep UL green, clean, and sustainable, all while making campus life better for everyone.