Paper and Card recycling

Rhodes University is trying to improve its waste management practices, with the long-term goal of achieving zero waste. This requires a conscious effort on the part of staff and students to reduce their use of resources, for example, avoid unnecessary printing and paper wastage.

Wednesday on-campus facilities

A new collection service comes into effect on Rhodes University campus from Wednesday 9 February 2011. Before 9 am:

CLEAR bag - RECYCLABLE materials:

• Put altogether in CLEAR BAG: all paper/card (flatten if possible), tin/cans, all plastics /polystyrene.
• Put on the pavement anywhere on the YELLOW ROUTE or at Yellow Points - see PDF Recycling Route Map.
• Please do not mix these with wet/smelly items or food waste.

Daily on-campus facilities

• Every day of the week recyclable waste (clear bags) can also be taken along with your non-recyclable waste (blue bags) to a Waste Collection Point on campus for collection by RU Grounds & Gardens waste truck (these bags are separated by recycling project sorters near to the Grahamstown landfill site).
• Waste Collection Points are those sites on campus where cleaning staff have always taken campus waste (see below). There is no extra work in carrying out the same number of bags as before – the only difference is that some of the bags are clear and some of the bags are blue.
• Special collections - very large amounts of paper/card: please enquire about arrangements with Grounds & Gardens, 046 603 8240 or grounds(at)ru.ac.za 

Recycling Containers and Bags

• Glass bottles: should be placed in separate containers or wheelie BIN / DRUMs at Green Points - see PDF Recycling Route Map - or you may deliver to local Glass Recyclers.
• Indoor Recycling Containers: You are encouraged to use large packing boxes etc - in the spirit of reducing purchase of unnecessary items and reducing our environmental impact. Contact RU Catering Services, Buying Office, Printing Services Unit, etc, for re-usable boxes. Use a simple label: SIGN Paper Recycling or SIGN All Recycling & SIGN Glass Recycling - and more useful signs.
• Clear bags & Blue bags: Order from RU Catering Stores on Mondays - call x8121.

Paper re-use

1-sided paper:

Printed paper with one clean side can be re-used for a variety of purposes.

• Collect used A4 pages in the lid of a paper box - label with SIGN 1-sided paper
• Use for draft printing, or cut up to make note pads, etc.
• You may prefer to donate 1-sided paper to needy schools through the Centre for Social Development.

Shredded paper:

Rhodes University owns a large paper shredder to deal with confidential documents (feed in no more than 10 pages at a time). To arrange for its use, staff may:

• Contact the Janitoring Services who manage the machine - email janitors(at)ru.ac.za. The Janitors deliver it to the University department or section, train the person who has been appointed to operate the machine, and collect the shredder again after the agreed period (e.g. 1 week).
• Collect shredded paper in a large packing box.
• When full, contact a local funeral parlour - they are willing to collect large amounts of shredded paper.

Off-campus facilities

Use the Makana Municipality 2-bag system (initiated 2 March 2009): place ALL recyclable materials (paper/card, glass bottles, tin/cans, all plastics /polystyrene) into an orange/clear bag for the usual garbage collection day. Non-recyclable (disposable) waste should be put out in a black bag. A 2-bag system: why?

You can also take your paper/card to the places below, or arrange for collection of large amounts. The paper recycling company will also empty the paper/card collection containers in various places in Grahamstown.

• Grahamstown Recycling, 13 Scholand Street (industrial area), Chris Smith: 082-657.4719 / chris.recycle(at)gmail.com
• Collection points in Grahamstown: High Street: paper bin behind Mad Hatters (go down avenue between Mad Hatters and Yellow House), and African Street: green container in delivery area of Pick n Pay.

What's in? Most mixed paper is acceptable. Flatten cardboard boxes to take up less space.

What's out? The following cannot be recycled as normal "mixed paper": paper or card that is contaminated by food, metal or plastic bound material, corrugated cardboard, food containers (e.g. pizza boxes), waxed paper, waxed cardboard milk & juice containers, oil soaked paper, carbon paper, sanitary products or tissues, thermal fax paper, stickers and plastic laminated paper such as fast food wrappers, juice boxes, and pet food bags.

It is also good to consider the people who sort through our waste: remove wet food or items that would decompose or attract insects and rats!

Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za