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Oxford Direct Services secures two-year extension of University recycling and waste management contract

December 12, 2018 – Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has secured a two-year extension, worth up to

The contract extension comes after an initial three-year period where ODS worked hand-in-hand with the university to raise recycling rates from just under 58% to the current recycling rate of 71%. Oxford Brookes University has the ambitious goal of recycling 75% of its waste by 2020.

The Oxford Brookes University Environmental Services Team and ODS has implemented a wide range of initiatives to improve recycling rates.

Quick wins through standardisation
Initial quick wins included standardising the colour coding of all 1,100 litre bins and recycling receptacles across the halls of residence to make it easier for staff and students to recognise the correct types of waste to deposit in each bin.

Welcome packs
All new halls of residence students are delivered a welcome pack explaining the re-use and recycling programs operating from the halls. The welcome pack is backed up by door knocking, posters and staff training to ensure everyone is aware of the recycling goals and the ever improving recycling options offered by ODS.

Fairs, tours and new initiatives
The ODS recycling education team, working with the Universityional tours to recycling centres, energy recovery and anaerobic digestion facilities have also been popular activities to raise awareness and help educate staff and students.

The University also runs a variety of in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, who have all year-round donation bins as well as extra bins during the end of year campaign. All dried food is donated to the Oxford Food bank.

Latest statistics
This year, ODS will transport almost 900 tonnes of waste for recycling and incineration. All waste is processed for recycling or incineration within the County and transport journeys have been minimised by the provision of waste compactors on the university campus, with the resulting reduction in carbon footprint.

The efforts of the university and ODS have resulted in Oxford Brookes reaching a 71% recycling rate this year, putting it in the top third of further education facilities for recycling, according to official data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Simon Howick, Managing Director of ODS, said,

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