Tech for Treasure: New e-waste recycling bins launched at UCL

UCL has partnered with alumna Alice Chave, founder of Incador, to launch a new initiative aimed at improving e-waste recycling on campus. As part of the Tech for Treasure campaign, two electronic waste collection points have been installed – one at Ramsay Hall and one at Marshgate (UCL East) - to provide students and staff with an accessible and responsible way to dispose of small electronics.

“Don’t bin it, bank it” 

The bins are designed to accept domestic e-waste, such as old phones, laptops, chargers, and wires. To ensure safe and manageable collection, each bin is fitted with a slot that restricts the size of items to no larger than a standard laptop.

The goal of this initiative is to divert electronic items from landfill, recover valuable materials, and support a more circular approach to technology consumption. All collected items will be processed through UCL’s specialist recycling partner, where components and raw materials will be recovered and repurposed for future use.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to return to UCL as an alum and collaborate on something that combines smart design, sustainability, and education. We hope this makes recycling more accessible – and   little more stylish – for the UCL community.” - Alice Chave

The initiative also aims to raise awareness around the environmental impacts of e-waste and the importance of proper disposal. In 2022, an estimated 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated globally, yet only 22.3% of that waste was formally collected and recycled. The rest—containing valuable materials such as copper, gold, and rare earth elements—was lost to landfill or incineration.

This project aligns with UCL’s broader sustainability goals and complements The Loop, a Sustainable UCL initiative that promotes reuse, repair, and recycling to keep valuable materials in circulation and reduce waste across campus.

Locations:
•    Ramsay Hall (Bloomsbury)
•    Marshgate Building (UCL East)

If you’ve got unused devices or cables gathering dust, now’s the time to act. Drop them in the e-waste bins and help build a more sustainable campus – one gadget at a time.