Almost everything can be recycled. At the University, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic packaging must be sorted, as well as deposit return system containers, paper and food waste. Electronic waste, batteries, light sources and activity-specific waste from laboratories, for example, must also be sorted in accordance with the University's procedures. Unneeded furniture and equipment should primarily be taken to our internal furniture store.
What can I sort where?
In public spaces
In public spaces, there is sorting for food waste, paper packaging, deposit return system containers, plastic packaging and residual waste.
In restaurants and cafees
In restaurants and cafees, there is sorting for food waste, paper packaging, deposit return system containers, plastic packaging, metalic packaing and glass packaging as well as residual waste.
In office floors
In office floors, you are able to sort paper, plastic packaging and residual waste.
In the kitchenette
In kitchenettes, you are able to sort food waste, metal packaging, paper packaging, plastic packaging and residual waste.
In recycling rooms
You can dispose of items such as glass packaging, batteries, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and electronic waste in the recycling rooms. You can also dispose metal packaging, paper packaging, paper and plastic packaging in the recycling room. Ask a service assistant if you cannot find the recycling room.
Material that cannot be disposed of in a recycling bin or a recycling room
Computer equipment and mobile phones
End-of-life computers and mobile phones as well as monitors, keyboards and other computer-related items are treated as electronic waste. They must be cleared of information and handed over to the unit's IT coordinator or ITS.
Furniture and furnishings
Unneeded furniture and equipment should primarily be taken to the University's internal furniture store. If you have a furniture that you don't need anymore or if you are interested in any used furniture from the furniture store for your workplace, you can make a request to Property Management Office.
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste includes chemical products, infectious waste, sharps and cutting waste, cytotoxic waste, medicines, radioactive waste, biological waste and other materials requiring special handling. Specific procedures must be followed to ensure that hazardous waste is classified, sorted at source, stored and labelled correctly. Information on how to sort and manage different types of hazardous waste, as well as how to handle dangerous goods, is available on the University’s intranet.
Umeå Universityworks proactively to prevent hazardous substances from entering the wastewater system. Chemicals and other pollutants must not be poured down drains unless explicitly permitted under applicable procedures. Almost all chemicals must be managed as chemical waste, in accordance with the relevant procedures and the information provided in product safety data sheets. Environmentally hazardous organic substances and substances containing heavy metals must never be discharged into drains. Larger quantities of chemical residues must always be managed as hazardous waste, and dilution of chemical waste is not permitted.
The University also uses technical safeguards to prevent pollutants from entering the sewer system, including oil separators at the Police Education Unit and grease separators at restaurants. The University follows Vakin’s requirements and procedures for wastewater disposal to help protect the sewer system and the surrounding environment.
For further guidance, see the University’s internal instructions on waste from laboratory activities.
Toner cartridges
You can recycle toner cartridges from printers by ordering a return box from Wisum ordering portal for IT products. The box is called "Atea environmental station return box for used laser toner and ink cartridges" and can be ordered in packs of 2 or 6. You can put any type of toner in the box. You then notify the carrier (the phone number is on the box), who will collect the box free of charge and send it for recycling.
Action plan for chemicals and waste
By improving waste sorting, increasing reuse, and reducing the amount of combustible waste, we can lessen our negative environmental and climate impact.
As a part of these efforts, our action plan for climate and sustainability includes a strategic objective to reduce both combustible waste and hazardous waste. This will be achieved by implementing waste sorting across the entire University in accordance with legislative requirements, with priority given to kitchenettes, corridors, and office spaces. In addition, a University-wide guideline on sustainability, work environment, and safety in laboratories will be developed.
