Paper Recycling
Paper Amnesty
We encourage staff to have regular paper amnesties to rid the office of waste paper or paper records that are no longer required.
If you are having a clear out of paper in your office so expect large volumes of paper to go to recycling please fill in this form to have some wheelie bins delivered.
The wheelie bins will be delivered by the porters from a store at Kensington Terrace and will be emptied by our waste contractor, O’Brien’s, for free.
You can have the bins for as long as you need them, once you have finished using them they can be returned by the porters
To inform staff what can go into the bin use this poster.
If you are carrying out an office clearout use this guide for advice on how to break down the task.
Paper Recycling Bins
Paper recycling bins should be placed in photocopier rooms, next to printers, in large offices and any other areas that are heavily used. Cleaning staff will empty them as and when necessary.
Display this poster next to your paper bin to show what can and cannot be recycled.
If you require a new or replacement bin please use the Porter Request form.
Types of Paper that can be Recycled
- Any white or coloured paper
- Shredded paper
- Photocopier or computer paper
- Leaflets
- Glossy magazines if in a separate bag to office paper
- Envelopes (including brown and those with windows)
- Magazines
- Journals
- Newspapers
- Thin card, such as cereal packaging and microwave meal sleeves
- Books
- Directories
- Catalogues
NEW (since October 2010)
You can now dispose of paper coffee cups in the paper recycling bins. Please empty the cup of any contents before disposal to avoid contamination of the paper waste.
Why Recycle Paper?
Virgin paper requires commercially grown forests. This causes loss of valuable wildlife habitats and ecosystems, as old forests have been replaced by managed plantations, usually of fast-growing conifers.
Manufacturing recycled paper requires less energy than producing virgin paper so produces lower carbon dioxide emissions. By using waste paper to produce new paper a demand is created for paper to be recycled.
Where does the paper go?
The paper is collected from the university and taken to a recycling centre where it is quality checked to filter off any other materials e.g. cardboard. From there it is loaded into articulated vehicles that can carry 27 tonnes of paper at a time. The paper is taken to Aylesford Newsprint in Kent where it is cleaned, broken down to a liquid and recycled into newsprint. The newsprint is then supplied to newspaper printers around the world for you to read.
Reducing and Reusing Paper
- Think before you print! Only print when necessary
- Print double sided where possible
- Keep paper which has been printed on one side in a tray on your desk to take notes or phone messages etc. Recycle when you have used both sides.
- Always specify that paper products contain a minimum of 80% recycled content
- To order your free paper decanting tray contact: recycle@ncl.ac.uk
Paper recycling and fire safety
Placing paper recycling bins in corridors is to be avoided. They must not block or hinder escape routes. If there is any doubt or if a particular area is indented as suitable and the users are not sure, then advice can be obtained from the University Fire Officer.