Recycling made easier for city students

Students living in London's halls of residence are being targeted by a campaign to encourage them to increase recycling rates.


CRISP, a voluntary organisation which promotes sustainable development, has team up with London Mayor Ken Livingstone in an effort to boost recycling among students and hopefully persuade them to leave college with good civic habits as well as their qualifications.

The scheme was launched last this and this week the mayor hosted a conference at City Hall to look at the progress of the project.

At the outset, less than half of halls provided dedicated recycling facilities but that figure has steadily improved.

Each of London’s local authorities, halls of residence and universities has now receive a Recycling Implementation Plan showing how they can effectively work together to implement sustainable waste management practices.

Halls of residents were chosen over the traditional student flat since they have a large number of students in one place meaning there is a potential to collect a significant, and economically viable, quantity of recycling.

Also, most halls have well-established means of communicating with their students making it easier to get the message out there.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: “Students have been telling me that they really want to recycle when they move out of home into their halls of residence, but that the facilities simply were not there.

“That is why I am working with CRISP, the boroughs and halls managers to ensure facilities are made available.”

Victoria Hands, a spokeswoman for CRISP, said: “Students are tomorrow’s decision makers and leaders and they are key to a sustainable future.

“The Mayor is giving them the facilities they need to make sustainable lifestyle choices and empowering them to live in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”

by Sam Bond

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