The University of Leeds is set to further enhance its reputation as one of the UK's greenest universities, after finalising a major waste collection and recycling contract with one of the UK's leading independent waste management firms.
A three year deal has been struck with North East-based Premier Waste Management to collect all the university's general waste and transport it to a materials recycling facility in Leeds, diverting it from landfill.
The six-figure contract, which has a further one year extension, will see Premier deliver over 150 wheelie bins to the university to be emptied daily; plastic, paper, cardboard, wood, MDF and glass will then be removed for recycling
Compost bins are also being supplied to separate food and green waste and this will be made into compost.
Paul Hodgkiss, Premier's head of operations in Yorkshire said: "This was a challenging contract to win. The university is a busy location so we can only be on campus between 4am and 7.30am. We are set to reduce the level of material going to landfill and increase an already high recycling figure."
The university, which has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff, won a prestigious Green Gown Award in 2007 for its work promoting an environmental agenda across departments.
It is currently working to meet UK waste targets and currently recycles 40 per cent of its waste. However the new contract will see recycling totals across the university hit 70 per cent.
Richard Steel, regional sales manager for Premier Waste Management, said: "We are proud to be working with one of the country's largest and most environmentally conscious universities to build on their award-winning reputation for recycling waste. We launched our commercial waste operation in 2002 and using the latest technology, have grown to become one of the North's largest industrial waste collectors."
Dr Keith Pitcher, Environmental Officer at Leeds University, said: "Staff and students have contributed to the university's success in winning national awards for our waste management programmes. The contract with Premier is the latest initiative and we see this as a major step to improve our performance."
For further information on Premier Waste Management call 0191 384 4000 or visit www.premierwaste.com