Cambridge University will use new bins, 3D scanners and 22 miles (35 km) of conveyor belts to increase recycling from 50% to 80%.
Staff and students have two bins to choose from – one for food waste and the other for dry mixed waste.
The university said the “groundbreaking” project is “the first of its kind in the UK higher education sector”.
A spokesman said the university is “committed to exceptional environmental performance.”
The university said in a statement: “Waste is neatly sorted into recyclables after collection to avoid confusion and unintentional contamination of materials.”
“Food waste is converted to energy in an anaerobic digester, and the dry mixed waste is separated into recyclables in a groundbreaking Material Recovery (MRF) facility that can identify and sort recyclables with extreme precision.”
“The MRF (operated by Mountain Recycling Company) uses 22 miles (35 km) of conveyor belts and sorting equipment including 2D and 3D scanners and near-infrared separators.”
In addition, it said that all of the university’s dry mixed waste collection would be done with electric vehicles.
“Another first in the UK is that the University’s stock of new bins is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic collected from the local area. These containers can be recycled ten more times,” it said.
Steve Matthews, Facility Management Operations Manager, said of the project, which will start in July: “The new system will allow us to recycle far more materials than before, which will make a positive contribution to protecting the environment.”
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