Waste Management policy

1. Introduction

1.1 De Montfort University (DMU) is committed to sustainable resource management and reducing environmental impact in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1.2 This policy establishes a structured framework to:

  • Measure, record and report waste generation and disposal,
  • Minimise waste generation,
  • Increase reuse, recycling, and recovery,
  • Eliminate waste to landfill,
  • Reduce the use of single-use plastics,
  • Extend waste minimisation requirements throughout the supply chain.

1.3 The aim of the Waste Management Policy is to ensure legislative compliance and promote environmental best practice throughout the University community.

1.4 Waste collected from the DMU halls of residences is classed as residential waste. This waste is collected and disposed of by the local authority, Leicester City Council.

2. Scope

2.1 This Waste Management Policy is primarily intended to govern the management of non-residential waste generated through the university's operations, facilities, and business activities.

2.2 Unless otherwise stated, the requirements, responsibilities, and procedures set out within this policy apply to non-residential waste streams.

2.3 The university recognises that students living in DMU managed halls and halls provided through nomination agreements will give rise to residential (household) waste. Specific provisions relating to residential waste are addressed in the relevant sections of this policy where applicable.

2.4 The scope of this policy covers campuses and operations within the United Kingdom and applies to subsidiaries of DMU e.g. DMUL.

3. Glossary

3.1 Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling.

3.2 Landfill Diversion: Reducing or eliminating waste sent to landfill sites for disposal.

3.3 Single-use Plastics: Single use plastics are any disposable plastic items designed for a single use. Examples include plastic bags, disposable utensils, beverage containers, coffee capsules, wet wipes, razor blades, plastic drinks bottles, food wrappers, bottle tops, straws, stirrers and plastic lids.

3.4 Waste Hierarchy: The UK's Waste Hierarchy is a structured model that prioritises waste management strategies according to environmental preference. It starts with prevention and reduction actions, followed by preparing waste for reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal. The hierarchy encourages sustainable practices by prioritising waste prevention and reuse before considering recycling, recovery, and disposal. Each level of the Waste Hierarchy Pyramid represents a different approach to managing waste, ranked from most to least environmentally friendly.

4. Responsibilities

Board of Governors

4.1 The Board of Governors is responsible for defining and upholding the overall character and mission of the university and the effective and efficient use of its resources. Their role in relation to this policy is to:

  • Provide leadership on sustainability issues and champion these issues in day-to-day activities.
  • Receive and consider appropriate management report on environmental performance.

Academic board

4.2 Integrate sustainability and waste awareness into curriculum and research.

University Leadership Board

4.3 The University Leadership Team are responsible for:

  • Provide leadership for sustainability and championing these issues in day-to-day activities.
  • Receive and consider environmental performance reports and recommendations from the University Sustainability Committee.
  • Approve the waste management policy and provide the technical, financial and human resources required to implement and maintain a robust approach to waste management as set out in this policy to meet relevant targets.

Vice-Chancellor

4.4 Champion waste minimisation and sustainability culture across the university.

University Sustainability Committee

4.5 The University Sustainability Committee (USC) is comprised of faculty and departmental representatives, Estates & Facilities Directorate personnel, academic staff, union representatives and members of the students’ union. The USC meets every three months and is chaired by the university’s Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) for Sustainability. The roles and responsibilities of USC are to:

4.6 To consider and advise University Leadership Board as appropriate on the development and application of policies and strategies relating to sustainability and the SDGs.

4.7 To advise University Leadership Board as appropriate on the development of protocols and procedures relating to sustainability and the SDGs activities of the University.

4.8 To develop the communication of information concerning sustainability issues across the University and maintain dialogue with appropriate external bodies.

4.9 Monitor compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations.

4.10 To review, support and monitor sustainability activities across the university.

Director of Estates

4.11 Oversee the waste collection and recycling service for the university.

4.12 Ensure that all activities and operations under their control are conducted in accordance with relevant environmental legislation.

4.13 Ensure compliance with procurement and waste policies

Technical managers

4.14 Implement waste management procedures within their areas.

4.15 Ensure that all activities and operations under their control are conducted in accordance with relevant environmental and duty of care legislation.

4.16 Ensure compliance with procurement and waste policies.

4.17 Ensure waste compounds under their control are kept tidy, well organised and have clear signage to encourage appropriate segregation.

Line managers

4.18 Promote responsible waste practices among staff.

4.19 Ensure operational compliance with this policy and waste legislation.

Employees

4.20 Follow waste segregation and reduction practices.

4.21 Participate in training and awareness initiatives.

Students

4.22 Engage with campus waste systems and segregate waste accordingly.

4.23 Support waste reduction behaviours.

Suppliers/contractors and sub-contractors

4.24 The importance of following the commitments of this policy extend to suppliers and contractors working on the university’s behalf. These organisations will

  • Understand DMU’s Waste Management Policy.
  • Demonstrate that they are meeting the requirements of the policy and are working within the operational control procedures as set out within this policy.
  • Provide evidence and information to the university, if requested, that they are working within the parameters of the policy’s operational control and are legally compliant.

4.25 Engage with campus waste systems and segregate waste accordingly.

4.26 Support waste reduction behaviours.

5. General principles/Policy statements

5.1 There is a legal requirement for all who produce, keep or dispose of waste of any type to comply with the various regulations (see Appendix A) and the Duty of Care under Environmental Protection legislation.

5.2 The University recognises the importance of meeting these legal requirements and to manage its waste responsibly; avoid waste sent to landfill; maximise potential for reuse and repair; and ensure all recyclable waste is recycled at local facilities where possible.

5.3 DMU commits to the waste hierarchy, prioritising waste prevention, reuse over disposal and to implement digital first processes to reduce materials consumption.

Waste Reduction, Recycling and Recovery

5.4 The University will:

  • Provide clearly labelled waste segregation facilities across its buildings.
  • Maximise recycling rates across all waste streams.
  • Ensure food waste is separated and treated appropriately where financially viable.

Landfill Policy

5.5.1 The University commits to:

  • Maintaining a zero waste to landfill approach to waste management for non-residential waste on campus and maintain this commitment through relevant contract specifications and management.
  • Prioritise reuse, recycling, energy recovery and circular solutions.
  • Engage only waste contractors who demonstrate landfill diversion practices.

Single Use Plastics Minimisation

5.6.1 The University commits to:

  • Understand the current usage of single use plastics across campus.
  • Work with staff and students to eliminate non-essential single-use plastics across campus.
  • Promote reusable alternatives for staff and students.
  • Require catering contractors to remove or significantly reduce single-use plastics.
  • Collaborate with event organisers to reduce single use plastics from events on university campus.
  • Support refill and reuse schemes for staff and students.

Procurement and Supplier Requirements

5.7.1 DMU will extend waste minimisation principles to suppliers through:

  • Sustainable procurement standards requiring reduced packaging and recyclable materials.
  • Preference for suppliers demonstrating circular economy practices.
  • Contractual obligations for waste reporting and reduction.
  • Avoidance of suppliers reliant on single-use plastics where alternatives exist.

Furniture

5.8.1 The University, through the Estates and Facilities Directorate, will collect and store redundant furniture to minimise waste, reduce costs and reduce the carbon impact of its supply chain.

5.8.2 The University will promote the contents of the furniture to staff to ensure that staff are aware of the store.

5.8.3 Staff will be expected to contact the Estates and Facilities Directorate before purchasing new furniture to make use of items stored in the furniture store in the first instance.

5.8.4 Where circumstances allow, surplus furniture will be offered to local community groups and organisations.

Confidential waste

5.9.1 Confidential waste will be disposed of in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards and requirements.

5.9.2 To arrange for a confidential waste collection please contact the Estates Helpdesk via one of your nominated Helpdesk representatives, stating the number of bags required. Bags will be delivered for your use, and should not be filled to a weight exceeding 13KG. Once full, please contact the Estates Helpdesk again with the number of full bags requiring collection.

5.9.3 Confidential items will be shredded, in line with our confidential waste disposal procedure.

Equipment disposal

5.10.1 Faculties and Directorates will have items (whether consumables or equipment) that are no longer needed to meet the operational requirements of that school or department, but which are considered to have some residual value.

5.10.2 Faculties and Directorates should in the first instance use resale platforms for redundant equipment to recover value from surplus equipment. A full audit trail should be kept of use of resale platforms. Information on reuse platforms can be obtained from the DMU Sustainability Team sustainability@dmu.ac.uk

5.10.3 Where Faculties and Directorates are replacing domestic white goods such as fridges and freezers, preference should be given to suppliers who offer collection and recycling services as part of the purchase of the new appliance. This reduces the costs and time involved in organising disposal by the University.

5.10.4 All DMU owned IT equipment is centrally managed by Digital & Technology (D&T). Staff can arrange for IT equipment including end-of-life IT hardware to be collected and upcycled by raising a support ticket via the Self-Service Portal or email servicedesk@dmu.ac.uk.

5.10.5 Under no circumstances should items be sold or given to any person if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the items might subsequently be disposed of in an illegal or environmentally unsound manner; for instance, fly tipping or burning cable to extract the copper core.

Hazardous Waste

5.11.1 Hazardous waste will be managed in strict compliance with legal requirements, ensuring safe storage, handling and disposal of the waste.

5.11.2 Training and awareness programmes will support compliance across all areas handling such materials.

5.11.3 Documentation from hazardous waste disposal will be retained in line with legal requirements.

Awareness and Behaviour Change

5.12.1 The University will:

  • Deliver regular campaigns on waste reduction; recycling and circular economy.
  • Provide appropriate training for staff and students.
  • Support sustainability engagement initiatives.
  • Develop a Living Lab approach for research activities on campus using waste reduction and circular economy issues.
  • Run awareness and engagement activities in buildings and areas with poor waste segregation including working with catering providers where appropriate.

Construction Waste

5.13.1 The disposal of construction waste for new build and refurbishment projects on campus is the responsibility of the contractor undertaking the work.

5.13.2 The requirement for the disposal of construction waste will be included within project and contract specifications which will require contractors to follow the waste hierarchy and require the prioritisation of reuse and recycling over disposal via landfill.

5.13.3 Contractors will be expected to provide evidence and information to the university, if requested, that they are working within the parameters of the policy’s operational control and are legally compliant with the management and disposal of construction wastes.

Residential Waste

5.14.1 Waste arising from DMU own and managed halls of residence are collected by Leicester City Council and is classed as residential waste.

5.14.2 DMU will work with Leicester City Council to encourage and promote recycling and waste minimisation in DMU managed halls.

5.14.3 DMU will work with private halls providers through the nomination agreements to encourage appropriate waste segregation, minimisation and reduction.

Consequences of Non-compliance

5.15.1 Breaches of the waste duty of care are criminal offences. The penalties are:-

  • On summary conviction (magistrates' court): an unlimited fine since 2015.
  • On conviction on indictment (Crown Court): an unlimited fine.
  • For hazardous waste: variable monetary penalties may also be issued.
  • For failure to produce transfer documentation when requested: fixed penalty notice (typically £300).

6. Monitoring and review

6.1 DMU will work with our waste contractors to:

  • Monitor waste volumes, recycling rates and landfill diversion.
  • Monitor greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste generated by DMU and its disposal.
  • Report annually on waste management performance including waste volumes generated, waste disposal amounts and disposal routes, and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Review this policy every 2 years or sooner if required.
  • Monitor and review waste contracts.

6.2 Waste arising from DMU owned and managed halls is collected and disposed of by Leicester City Council. Reporting of waste collection and disposal from residential halls uses national data sets and disposal data by Leicester City Council.

7. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

7.1 DMU will ensure that:

  • Waste systems are accessible to all users.
  • Communications in relation to waste are inclusive and clear.
  • All stakeholders have equal opportunity to participate in sustainability initiatives.

8. Sustainability

8.1 This policy contributes directly to:

  • The reduction of the environmental impact from waste collection and disposal.
  • The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions arising from the production and disposal of waste.
  • Reducing costs and minimising risk.
  • The legal compliance of waste related activities including following the Duty of Care requirements.
  • The role of universities as key contributors to sustainable development.

8.2 This policy supports the institution submissions to sustainability related benchmarking programmes including Times Higher Impact Rankings, People and Planet University League and the QS Sustainability Rankings.

9. Related policies and standards/documentation

9.1 Environmental Policy.

9.2 Health and Safety Policies.

9.3 Carbon Plan.

9.4 Environmental Management System external certification.

9.5 Legal compliance such as Duty of Care.

9.6 Sustainability benchmarking programmes such as People and Planet University League, Times Higher Impact Rankings, QS Sustainability Rankings.

10. Appendices

Appendix A: x

11. Document and version control information

Owner

Estates and Facilities

Author

Head of Sustainability

Approved by

University Sustainability Committee

Date of approval of this version

9 September 2026

Next review date

9 September 2028

Version number

1.1

Applicable statutory, legal, or national best practice requirements

The Environmental Protection Act 1990

The Packaging Waste Regulations 1997

The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013

The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024

Environmental Management System external certification British Standard (BS 8555)

Equality impact assessment completion date

28 August 2026

Data protection impact assessment completion date

28 August 2026

Coverage

UK campuses