Waste audits
The University conducts regular waste audits to better understand the composition of our waste currently being sent to landfill. By auditing our waste, we can enhance on-campus sustainability performance.
2019 Parkville waste audit
In 2019 we conducted a waste audit of the University's Parkville campus. The report produced revealed that 38.4% of waste collected in landfill bins consisted of items that could be recycled through the University’s mixed recycling stream.
Key report insights
- Recyclable items that were found in landfill included recyclable plastic containers, cardboard, paper and e-waste.
- Food organics made up the largest portion of landfill waste at 17%.
- Non-recyclable paper (i.e. paper towel) made up the next largest portion of landfill waste at 11%.
Actions moving forward
You can help ensure we reduce waste to landfill and maximise recycling rates by doing the following:
- Always check bin signage or view our A-Z of waste guidelines to find out how to dispose of items correctly.
- You can now keep food waste out of landfill on campus by instead placing them in the compost bins provided on campus. Check the organics page for bin locations.
- Use hand dryers or tea towels to reduce paper towel usage.
