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Play your part

Reduce this way

Choose packaging that you can reuse and recycle.
Use reusable bags and containers.
Choose products that can be returned or that are reusable or refillable above items that can be used only once.
Avoid individually packed items or snack packets or containers that can be used only once.
Be aware of double packaging – some "bulk packagings" are merely individually packed items that were repacked and sold as a bulk item.
Buy items such as dishwashing liquid and washing powder in concentrated form.
Reduce the amount of unwanted post you receive.
Buy from secondhand stores.
Buy items made of recycled material, and use and reuse it as many times as you can.
Use rechargeable batteries, where possible.
Print on both sides of the paper or, even better, use electronic media.

Reuse this way

If you cannot reuse something yourself, give it to someone who can.
You get your deposit back when you return glass and plastic bottles.
Reuse your plastic shopping bags and refill your water and milk bottles.
Give your toilet rolls, egg boxes and breakfast cereal boxes to local schools for craft projects.
Give your old clothes, furniture, toys and magazines to welfare organisations.
Repair broken items rather than disposing of it.

Stellenbosch University has made the following arrangements for the reuse of waste:

The furniture store makes use of a tender process whereby second-hand furniture can be sold.
Old paving that is removed, is stored and used for the repair and maintenance of landscapes, or is sold.
All wood that is removed from campus, is chopped up and reused as ground cover in gardens.
The water stations on campus encourage the reuse of water bottles.
Old irrigation fittings that are not broken are reused for the repair of damaged irrigation systems.
Construction rubble is crushed and reused.

Recycle this way

Refer to the signage on the 3-bin system to assist you in separating your materials at source.
Ensure that your recyclable item is free from liquids, sauces or food residue. This reduces the contamination of clean, dry recyclables.
This results in sending less waste to landfill.

 

E-waste

E-waste – or electrical and electronic waste – includes everything from old kitchen appliances to computers and cell phones. These items are recyclable, but do sometimes contain hazardous materials which must be reduced in a safe manner. The hazardous materials must be disposed of correctly as it poses an environmental risk.

The Information Technology (IT) division is responsible for the safe disposal of e-waste on campus and the recycling thereof in the correct manner.

All environments on campus that generate e-waste must ensure that nothing accumulates in storage areas. Contact the IT division for the transportation of all e-waste to a central storage area where it will be dealt with correctly and recycled. There are also delivery points for e-waste at the Facilities Management building.

The IT division does the following:

IT stores the e-waste whereafter it is collected by a specialist company and disposed of via the correct methods.
It can be repaired and upgraded for use by someone else.
It can be taken apart for the reuse of certain of the materials, e.g. metal, plastic, glass and other materials, for the manufacturing of new products or for decorative art.

The e-waste stream: