Green Gown Awards 2014 - Facilities and Services - University of Dundee

The 4 Rs of resources

By Reducing, Re-using, Recycling and Rewarding, the University of Dundee has reduced litter, increased furniture and stationery reuse and increased recycling through rewarding its staff and students.

Increasing the number of bins is not always the solution to increase recycling as this does not deal with behavioural change. Through marketing, creative design, meetings with students, Directors’ group and Senior Management Team, the University has successfully engaged with its staff and students, and raised awareness as well as re-use/ recycling figures. The University’s partnerships with other public bodies and charities has also increased its furniture re-use and has helped various charities in the local community.

Students love the University’s recycle and reward machines as well as its ‘Freeshop’ - all of which form part of a student’s experience whilst at University. Both of these have contributed to the University being voted No.1 University in Scotland (4th in UK) for student experience for the 4th year running.

Top 3 learnings

1 Identify specific areas that can be improved - you can’t do everything at once!
2 Speak to others in the sector and other public bodies - learn what worked and didn’t work for them
3 Engage with your staff and students at all levels - emails alone are not enough.