How to reduce, reuse and recycle

Help us to achieve this goal. Graduate Accommodation sites are provided with blue mixed recycling bins, recycling takes little effort, but has an immensely positive impact on the environment.

Food waste

Communal kitchens and self-contain flats are provided with an internal food waste caddy. With larger external red food waste bins positioned throughout our sites, these are for food waste only.

Did you know?

Residents are required to recycle wherever possible. If you need guidance or assistance on recycling or disposing of unwanted items, please contact your Site Assistant.

What can be recycled

Yes please

Glass bottles and jars
Drinks, milk or shampoo bottles
Bottle tops
Newspapers and magazines
Foil trays
Cartons
Food pots, punnets, trays and packaging
Plant pots and trays
Plastic bags
Coffee machine pods
Aerosols

No thanks

Food waste (use food caddy or red food bins provided)
Black bin liners
Textiles or clothes
Salad bags
Baby wipe packets
Pet food pouches
Polystyrene foam
Plastic toys/gadgets
Crisp packets

For further information on what can and cannot be recycled, please visit the Oxford City council website.

Reduce waste

Follow the waste hierarchy: the most favourable options are prevention, reduction and reuse, the least favourable is landfill. The higher up the waste hierarchy the better.

Prevent: do you really need to create the waste in the first place, could you borrow, rent or hire it instead?
Reduce: do you need as much as you think? Can you buy materials with recyclable content? Can you use materials more efficiently? For example, if you print, print double-sided.
Reuse: can it be repaired or upgraded or can someone else use it?

Reduce energy consumption

Every little helps:

Turn off your PC, both the computer and the monitor, when not in use.
Turn off other appliances when not in use, especially over holidays.
If you are in a flat or house where you have control over your heating system do not overheat buildings and rooms. Be aware that turning the thermostat up higher will not warm the room quicker.
On warm days open windows and pull curtains closed when you are in during the day.
Do not overfill the kettle. Boil water with the pan’s lid on. Both of these changes will save you time as well as saving energy and reducing moisture in the air (which can lead to mould).
You wouldn’t leave a room with the tap running so, turn off the lights when you leave.
Choose sustainable travel options, visit travel.admin.ox.ac.uk for more details.

Accommodation location map

Qualifying criteria

Rent information

Gas and electric bills

Oxford University Security Services

Policies and guidance