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We are thrilled to announce the recent success of a student reuse scheme piloted by the UCL Accommodation team. The initiative, aimed at reducing waste during the end-of-year move-out period, resulted in a substantial 535kg of donated items.ÌýWithout this effort, the items would have either been recycled or incinerated for energy recovery.ÌýInstead, these donated items will either be reused by incoming students or donated to the British Heart Foundation charity.

The trial is part of UCL's Sustainability Strategy:ÌýChange Possible, which champions sustainability across our research, teaching, and operations. UCL's SustainabilityÌýCampaign, The Loop, promotes a circular economy by prioritising reuse and recycling whenever possible.

At this year's move-out, the trial scheme was implemented in four UCL halls: Astor College, John Dodgson House, John Adams Hall and New Hall. Residents in these halls were encouraged to donate any unwanted items before leaving at the end of the academic year. Donation points were set up at each Hall’s reception, where Sodexo, Õ¬ÄÐÊÓƵ waste and services contractor, collected and transported the items to Ifor Evans Hall for storage and inventory.

The collected items, ranging from rice cookers, kettles, and hair dryers to kitchenware and soft furnishings, will be given a second life. Some of the items will be made available to students to claim at an upcoming event at Ifor Evans Hall on Monday, 23 September, from 11am to 1pm. This event is for Ifor Evans Hall students only and initially, the focus will be on kitchen items, with plans for another event later in the term, to distribute clothing and other goods.Ìý

Emma Unwin, Weekend andÌýOut of Hours Property Service Manager and organiser of this event said, ''We are thrilled with the enthusiastic engagement of our residents during the pilot.ÌýTheir eagerness to contribute illustrates their dedication to sustainability and reducingÌýwaste. Best of all, our new residents will save money and protect the environment by receiving access to the recycled items as they move into their Hall.''

The scheme is set to expand in 2025, with the aim to involveÌýmore halls of residence and to divert even greater items for reuse. The initiative not only benefits the environment but also provides students with an opportunity to save money and reduce the consumption of new goods.

The success of the student reuse trial highlights the collective efforts of Õ¬ÄÐÊÓƵ Accommodation and Sustainability team, Sodexo our waste and services contractor,Ìýand the students themselves. Initiatives like this are crucial in promoting a culture of reuse and reducing waste across campus.

Want to keep up to date with future initiatives?Ìý

• Stay in The Loop by signing up to theÌýÌýand followingÌýÌýon Instagram.Ìý
• UCL Accommodation residents will be contacted through their weekly newsletter when there is more information or other ways to get involved.