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Composition of waste in FHE

The majority of waste produced in FHE tends to be paper and card. Surveys of waste arisings from several universities have been collated and presented here to provide indicative breakdowns.


Typical University Waste Compositions

Waste Category EAUC1 Leeds Met2 Edinburgh3 UNN4
(Lipman)		 Worcester College5
Paper / card 50 – 78% 20% 61% paper
12% paper towels
5% cardboard		 56% paper 35 – 45% paper
Glass 3 – 8.5% 10%      
Ferrous metal 1%   1%    
Non-ferrous metal 1%   1% 2% Al  
Plastic film 1%        
Dense plastic 3 – 7%   7% all plastic 24%  
Putrescibles (inc food) 5 – 9%   7% organic    
Textiles 1%        
Other (inc wood) 4 – 10%   6% 18%  
Classroom/household/refectory materials   45%      
Old furniture, workshop material, wood, rubble etc.   25%      
  1. Data presented in Gilmour, B and H Manns (2001) A Practical Guide to Waste Management for Universities and Colleges. EAUC. Figures are compiled from compositional data from a number of institutions including University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge, University of Bradford, Glasgow Caledonian University.
  2. Figures from the joint Leeds Metropolitan/Bradford waste management invitation to tender issued in August 2001. The figures are based upon a visual estimate of % volume in waste receptacles.
  3. Figures from University of Edinburgh Waste Management Briefing 6, November 1999. Figures presented are % by weight.
  4. Burgess A (2000) Research into the Waste Management Practices at the University of Northumbria. Undergraduate dissertation. Figures presented are % by weight.
  5. Personal Communication with Iain Patton, Sustainable Development Officer, Worcester College of Technology. Figures are based upon visual estimate of % volume in waste receptacles.
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