UCL develops waste management strategy to lay ground for a ‘circular economy’ on waste and buying

UCL has high ambitions to work towards a ‘Net Zero Carbon’ and Circular Economy for our campus and materials. These ambitions and targets will be outlined in our forthcoming Sustainability Plan. The University’s responsible consumption objectives are broken down into the following waste targets:  

• 10% reduction in waste tonnage per person by 2027, compared to a 2024 baseline. 
• Work towards an ultimate recycling target of 85% by 2034, demonstrating a year-on-year improvement. 

See the waste strategy online

You can download a copy via the link above.

The current picture and our action plan

The strategy also outlines how waste is currently managed at UCL. You may have heard that since 2019 we have been a “Zero Waste to Landfill” University. This means in practice that we divert over 99% of our waste from landfill to more sustainable practice. The strategy includes information about our different “waste streams” and the state of recycling in UCL’s buildings. 

The action plan lays out the principles that will guide our approach to what, when, and how we buy. As well as how we reuse, repair, or dispose of what we own when we’re finished with it. The plan includes the infrastructure we currently have and what we will need to fully implement this plan. 

You can find out more about the impact of our campaign on reuse and recycling “The Loop” and get information on how UCL handles waste.