All dry mixed waste collections will be made by electric, zero-carbon tailpipe emission vehicles. Credit: Mountain Recycling
The University of Cambridge is looking to boost the amount of rubbish that gets recycled on campus by introducing new bins, 3D scanners and miles of conveyor belts.
Once implemented, staff and students will benefit from having just two types of rubbish bin to choose from; one for food waste and one for dry mixed waste, labelled ‘resource recovery’. The new wheelie bins will be made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic collected from the local area. There will be no general waste bins.
Food waste will be collected and converted into energy at an anaerobic digestion facility. All dry mixed waste collections will be made by electric, zero-carbon tailpipe emission vehicles. It will be taken to a materials recovery facility (MRF), run by Mountain Recycling. At the MRF, waste will be sorted on 22 miles of conveyor belts using near infra-red separators and 3D and 2D scanners, which can identify and sort with precision accuracy.
The trailblazing initiative, a “first of its kind in the UK higher education sector", is expected to boost the university’s waste recycling rate from 50% to 80%.
University of Cambridge facilities management operations manager, Steve Matthews, said: “The University of Cambridge is committed to exceptional environmental performance. The new system will allow us to recycle far more materials than before which will make a positive contribution to protecting the environment.”
Mountain Recycling director, Abigail Johnson, added: “As a team we’re extremely proud to have been selected as a supplier to the university. Mountain Recycling’s innovative sorting technology is a win-win, providing an easy way for bin users to recycle, and an improvement in the amount of resources that can be recycled.”
Looking for your next technology, science or engineering role? Maybe you’re just starting out in your career? Polytec is here to help you find the perfect position for you. Browse our current vacancies now >>> www.polytec.co.uk/jobs
In a UK first, seriously ill babies can now be cared for by Cambridge-based consultants without needing to be transferred, thanks to new life-saving virtual technology.
The UK’s thriving technology sector ended 2022 on a high by retaining its position as number one in Europe, recently revealed data shows.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a solar-powered system that can convert plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels.
Job interviews can be intimidating and nerve-wracking, especially if you've not had a face-to-face one for some time. However, with the right mindset and some advance preparation, you can go into your interview with confidence and boost your chances of securing the role.
A woman from Cambridge has been named Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET).
New research by a team led by the University of Cambridge could lead to EV battery performance improvements.
With the battle for top talent as hot as ever, organisations must prioritise workplace culture over salary if they want to attract and retain the best staff, new research has revealed.
The streets of Cambridge are now being navigated by autonomous delivery robots, as part of a new scheme by Cambridgeshire County Council.
The FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge – a global science and technology tournament delivered by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) – is now accepting entries from interested parties.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) hiring tools that are designed to reduce interview bias do not work as well as their creators claim, according to researchers from the University of Cambridge.
The new owner of Cambridge’s Grafton Centre has revealed plans to transform the shopping mall and create much-needed laboratory space in the process.
A company that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to augment and enhance humans’ ability to invent has opened a new, larger office in Cambridge.