University community tackling waste to help local people and the planet

The university's Reuse Project – now in its 11th year - has supported several local charities. Since 2019, Brighton has been working with British Heart Foundation on its Pack for Good campaign, where the charity collects items for reuse from university halls at the end of each term. Items include clothing, books, DVDs, bags and small electricals, enabling the charity to recycle goods that might otherwise go to landfill. Unopened non-perishable food items are collected too, and distributed to food banks and homeless charities.

Janey Bray Environmental Management Systems Officer

This year, Brighton students donated 288 bags of unwanted items to the BHF that are set to raise over £4,000 to fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases. BHF estimates this year's contributions from University of Brighton students have also saved two tonnes of waste from going to landfill, avoiding approximately 11,899 kg of CO₂ emissions.

The Pack For Good partnership with the BFH is a complement to the university's Warp-It initiative as part of University of Brighton's drive to achieve a target of 75% recycling by 2025 .

Warp-It encourages the re-use of surplus items such as furniture, stationery, electrical items or educational resources, with staff able to sign up for a free account to facilitate contributing. Any items that are not reused by others within the university itself are then offered to local partners, such as schools and charities.

Since 2013, when University of Brighton signed up for the Warp-It service, contributions from staff have saved an estimated 116,515kg of CO₂ emissions, avoided 22,480kg of waste, and saved £238,588. That's the equivalent of 159 trees or 50 cars off the road.

Janey Bray, University of Brighton's Environmental Management Systems Officer, said: “Warp-It is a valuable ‘reuse’ tool for the university in its quest towards greater environmental sustainability – reusing items as opposed to buying new has many benefits. Reuse negates the energy and water use associated with manufacturing and transporting new items. It also reduces the need for raw materials and - unlike recycling - materials are not depleted or downgraded.”

“Keeping items in use for longer supports a move towards a more circular economy, which not only helps to protect our Earth’s precious resources and avoid harmful climate damaging emissions, but can also save the expense of buying new.”

Speaking about the British Heart Foundation charity partnership, Janey added: “BHF shops are an integral part of our high street and we have been able to provide a really convenient service for our students to donate items they no longer need to a good cause. We are so pleased this collaboration has proved to be such a success and hope the service continues to be used, helping us raise vital funds to continue the BHF’s lifesaving research.”

Louis Stephenson, BHF University Account Executive, said: “We have been delighted with the response from University of Brighton students and their incredible support. Our shops rely on donations to continue raising money to fund lifesaving research. Thanks to the generous donations from the students and staff of University of Brighton, we have been able to help our shops in Brighton.”