In your room
Every room has a blue recycling bin. What can be recycled can be different in Cambridge than what you’re used to! The Cambridge recycling facilities can handle more types of waste than most, including:
- Paper
- Cardboard (including corrugated boxes and packaging),
- Cartons (such as Tetra Pak)
- Plastic bags except for black bin bags
- Empty aerosols
- Plastic and paper packaging except for metallic plastic like crisps packaging
- Tinfoil and foil trays
- Empty and clean glass containers
Things that you can’t put into the recycling but can recycle elsewhere!
- Toothpaste tubes are accepted along with other hard-to-recycle beauty and personal care packaging at Boots stores in their Recycle at Boots scheme – the one in town does this!
- Soft plastics like crisp packets, bread bags, plastic bags, plastic film lids can be recycled in the Co-operative soft plastics recycling scheme – nearest Co-OP is on 1 Granchester Street, a 15-min walk from Memorial Court.
For anything that was in contact with food, please rinse it under the sink before recycling. When in doubt, feel free to just recycle it! The recycling plant has the capability to sort through materials that cannot be recycled. For more information check out the information provided by the city council.
In most staircases there is a larger recycling bin on the ground floor for larger items such as packaging boxes.
You will have at least one radiator in your room, which can be adjusted on and off by turning the knob on the side of the radiator. The heating will remain on all winter until the weather becomes sufficiently warm for the heating to be turned off – if your radiator is not warm contact maintenance straight away to make sure it is not faulty! Avoid having windows open when the radiator is on. If you will not be in your room for a period of time, keep the radiators off until you are back. It is a good idea to get into a habit of turning your radiator off about 20 minutes before you leave.
Naturally, British winters can be quite chilly so it’s a good idea to bring jumpers and blankets to keep warm. Make sure windows are closed when it’s cold to stop draughts getting in, as well as keeping curtains closed in the evening.
If you have any problems with your radiator contact the maintenance department as soon as possible at https://maintenance.clare.cam.ac.uk/
In your bathroom
Make sure you turn your taps all the way off especially when brushing your teeth. It’s also a good idea to keep the power of the shower low and bear in mind how long you’re in there for.
Remember you can bring your empty toothpaste, shampoo bottles etc to Boots to be recycled!
In the gyps (kitchens)
Each gyp has a recycling bin, a rubbish bin, and most have a food waste bin. There are posters in every gyp to help you decide what can be recycled, but it’s always a good idea to check the product labels.
Try to keep in mind how the foods you are eating impact the environment. It’s easy to forget about your food once it gets left in the fridge so try to plan what you’re going to buy and eat in advance to avoid food waste.
Around College
Recycling bins are available all around College, including the Porters’ Lodge.
Try to do laundry in full loads and bring a clothes airer to save money and energy on drying. A range of eco-friendly detergents, such as ecover, are available in Sainsbury’s.
Outside College:
Alongside buying Fairtrade, donating and buying from charity shops can be a great way to save money and the environment. Whilst there aren’t many in the city centre, a 10-minute walk out of town will bring you to Mill Road or Burleigh Street both of which have a great selection of charity shops, vintage sales and independent cafés.