STUDENTS and staff at the University of York have launched a scheme to encourage recycling and divert waste away from landfill.

The university will work with local waste management firm Yorwaste, in a five-year, £1 million contract to collect all the waste produced by the university.

Using an incentive to the university of £15 for every tonne of material that is successfully recycled, the scheme aims to recycle as much of waste material as possible.

Chris Pagan, Yorwaste account manager, said: “We have had very positive discussions with the students’ union and even in the early stages of the contract we are already exploring new ways of making it easier to recycle with a view to increasing rates.

“There are 400 normal-sized wheelie bins and 330 larger bins dotted across the university and we are also looking to introduce co-mingled recycling boxes, which will mean the students will not need to segregate their waste.” Under the scheme, the university aims to reduce the amount of un-recyclable material year on year for the duration of the contract.

Tim Ngwena, 22, President of the University’s Students’ Union, said the scheme had the support of the union.

He said: “57 per cent of all recycling currently carried out at the university is done by students and we hope this will increase even further with the longer-term aim being to ensure no waste generated by the university goes to landfill.”

Yorwaste already collects recyclable materials, including paper, plastic, glass and cans from the university, but will now also collect general, non-recyclable, waste that currently goes to landfill, a service formerly provided by City of York Council.