1. EAUC-Scotland Campus Sustainability Programme 21 November 2007
Case Studies
EAUC-Scotland
Campus Sustainability Programme
21 November 2007

2. OC wanted to recycle more and ultimately reduce the number of 1200litre bins from 4 to 3

3. What was done Set up working group Senior management support
Engaged with CaSPr
Envirowise audit
Meetings with local authority
Proposal to management group
Staff workshops
Developed posters with SWAG
Implemented recycling (staff and students)

4. Issues Using the right bins Locating bins based on use
Lack of time to invest in project
Local authority procedures – changes to cleaning contract
Lack of money
Lack of time to attend events
Majority of events not relevant to small rural colleges

5. Lessons learned Important to engage with staff as early as possible
People have been more supportive than anticipated – particularly as staff and students have to take material to central collection points

6. Other Institutions
Shetland FE College and Fisheries College have had a environmental/waste audit undertaken by the Council and the SIC have delivered CIWM training.
Elmwood College have been composting for 15 years, diverting 8 skips (£800) from landfill per year. This excludes savings from buying in compost.
Moray College are investigating the potential for large-scale in-vessel composting to reduce the amount of compostable material disposed of to landfill and provide them with compost to use around the college.
University of St Andrews set up a compulsory recycling scheme for all staff and students in all buildings. They achieved savings of £100 per annum and diverted 22% (1137 tonnes) of waste from landfill in first year.
The University of Aberdeen diverted 6 tonnes of furniture waste from landfill by working with Creative Waste Exchange
The University of Edinburgh uses a private contractor to collect mixed material for recycling.

7. A Sustainable College Ref A sustainable college should be… 1
Reducing, re-using and recycling wherever possible 2
Generating their own alternative energy – renewable, bio-fuel, biomass etc 3
Energy efficient - lights on until 10pm every night. Maintenance 4
Including environmental and social issues in purchasing decisions (products and services) 5
Using alternative fuel sources for fleet vehicles such as Bio-diesel 6
Changing working hours to reduce travel (e.g. work from home/flexible working hours) 7
Composting 8
Providing education on sustainable development for business 9
Purchasing as much green energy from their electricity supplier as possible 10
Using resources as efficiently as possible – only using what is needed 11
Educating staff, students and community on individual responsibilities associated with reducing environmental impact and encouraging sustainable development

8. A sustainable college continued…
Research into sustainable technologies
Incorporating Sustainable development in corporate strategy
Monitoring and reporting on performance - management systems
Supporting communities in developing countries
Challenging different perspectives
Incorporating environmental and social costs in financial planning
Reducing environmental footprint / impact
Sustainable design and construction
Biodiversity
More use of video conferencing

9. Next steps
Refer to EAUC waste management guide (
Identify responsibilities for waste within institution
Establish costs and consumption levels for waste
Establish any waste minimisation projects being undertaken
Contact CaSPr Programme managers for advice or strategic partners
Participate in the Sustainability Baseline Review
Sign up for future CaSPr events