Seventh Edition
June 2015
W
Swell 7
elcome to the seventh edition of Swell, its all about sustainability and associated wellbeing in the University! This edition features the University’s new recycling and waste collection regime, travel information, EMS updates and upcoming events. Enjoy your read and feel free to contact us at sustainability@swansea.ac.uk or drop by our office on the fourth floor of Union House.
STUDENT GREEN IMPACT
As always students were a great help in not only delivering Green Impact with staff, but also auditing staff teams on campus. The day started with training on an IEMA approved course - ‘Introduction to auditing and evaluating environmental behavior change’. The training covered environmental issues in the office spaces relating to energy use, waste management, ethical procurement and sustainable transport. It also developed professional auditing, analytical and relationship building skills. Students then conducted au-
Student Sustainability Award Interested in promoting sustainability on campus? By being part of voluntary activities and events you will gain experience and skills, and will also fulfil the criteria to achieve the University’s Sustainability Award. Upcoming Projects: Computers to Africa - Feeding hungry students - Waste and energy audits. Different levels of the award can be achieved (Bronze, Silver and Gold) each academic year. The scheme is open to any student. If you need more information on this or would like to sign up for the award scheme then contact sustainability@swansea.ac.uk. I f you are not interested in the award scheme but would like support sustainability on and off campus you can sign up to become a Sustainability Ambassador.
dits on behalf of the Safety Health and Environment Team (SHE). A big thank you to all those students who contributed their time and for the professionalism they demonstrated.
Recycling—new scheme Paper, cardboard, newspaper etc.
Plastic bottles and containers
Aluminium and tin, food tins (rinsed)
Glass bottles, jars
Good News:
Last year our recycling rate improved from 36% to 41% (2013/2014)
TARGET: to achieve 50% recycling by 2016. On the left is the new segregated recycling scheme for Bay Campus. This scheme will also be phased in at Singleton Campus in order for us to keep pace with legislation. This phasing will start with Union House, Fulton House and Data Science later in 2015, and will be rolled out to other areas of the campus in stages. The University is determined to improve its recycling rates with at-source segregation and to move away from ‘mixed recycling’.
FOOD WASTE:
For the first time there will be collection of food waste at Swansea University from later in 2015. Food waste bins and caddies will be placed throughout catering and in the main communal areas. Currently food waste on campus is macerated or sent to landfill. The new scheme will see ur food waste composted as per best practice. Following up on the success of glass collecting in halls, the University will add more glass collection points across other areas of campus.
www.swan.ac.uk/sustainability/
Milestones CHAMPIONS
On the international day of Biodiversity, the SHE team and SERT organised a guided walk on Singleton Campus to promote awareness about biodiversity on campus and its impact on human wellbeing. Staff from all over the campus got together to explore.
We are pleased to announce that this quarter it is the College of Engineering. Moving to the Bay Campus is a big challenge for the College and they have made some great arrangements to minimise their impact.
Admiration of biodiversity by the Nursery: Children from the Student Union nursery made an educa-
Book Charity: Through a student book rummage the College not only got rid of obsolete books but also raised £90 for SwanseaSiavonga Partnership through voluntary donations. Other unwanted
tional trip to the Green House and Polytunnel in the University’s botanical gardens.
books will be picked up by Book Harvest. Furniture: Any leftover furniture is being disposed of in an ethical and sustainable manner by working with local youth groups, churches, and charitable organisations. Computers: Unwanted computers will be given to local schools and also to schools in Africa. CD Recycling: Unwanted CDs and DVDs are being collected for recycling through Polymer Recycling Ltd. The disks are recycled via a chemical free method which removes the paint, aluminium and data for reuse as insulation material. The clean disks are then granulated, blended and compounded into a high quality injection moulding grade polycarbonate for further use in other applications.
Well done College of Engineering and a big thank you to Dr Miles Willis for providing the information
TRAVELLING May was an important month for students at Swansea University. The travel arrangements for students for study year 15/16 were announced in both the Waterfront magazine and also via social media and marketing. Here is a useful fact for students travelling between the two campuses. Burn Calories Save Carbon: The distance between campuses is 6 miles. Want to make most of it? Burn some calories and save carbon emissions by cycling both ways! If you cycle this 5 days a week you will burn about 5606 calories! That's the same as 14.02 hours in the gym. By not using the car, over the course of a year you will save about 428 kg of CO2 .
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£90 saving on current bus ticket price! The Academic Year pass for students travelling within Swansea and between Campuses will now cost £300
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Bus tickets can be purchased in the Travel Shop, Fulton House or via the First Cymru ‘mTicket’ app-download from Google Play or App Store.
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The frequency of bus services has been increased. Buses will run from 6.30am until 23.30 during term time with additional services running until 02.00am linking Singleton, Hendrefoelan and Bay Campus on Weds, Thurs, Fri and Sat (Trial service which will be run as a use or lose it service)
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Both Campuses are linked by Cycle NCN (National Cycle Network) 4 which is undergoing an upgrade prior to the opening of the Bay Campus.
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BayCycle free loan bikes will continue to be available for a duration of 3 hours at Singleton Campus and will also be available at Bay Campus
Coming up Residential impact
Internal Audits 2015 The third cycle of EMS internal audits will run from June until September 2015 . Find out the dates for your College/Department from your environmental coordinator.
Our residences arrange an ongoing charity collection throughout the year for students in halls of residence. There is an extra collection point at both HSV, outside Reception (house 40) and outside Preseli over the months of May - August. Food collections: from the first week of June, there will be a food collection point at Preseli and HSV receptions: food has to be unopened, non-perishable and in date. The items will then be donated to Swansea Young Single Homeless Project's hostel, Drws Agored, and to a local Women's Aid refuge.
Cycle maintenance training What: One to one cycle training sessions for staff When: 15th June, Starting at 10:00am and subsequent sessions will start after every one hour [11,12... ] with the last at 17:00. Where: In front of Fulton House Each session will last around 45 minutes and will be tailored to suit the individual, as per their choice and level of ability. Each session is 1:1 rather than in pairs. For any further details about the cycle mechanic training visit this page http://www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk/maintenance/
Goodbye Green Impact! This year was the last time we ran Green Impact in Swansea University. The SHE team will be developing a new, broader, staff engagement scheme over the coming months. Over the last four years, we estimate that Green Impact teams saved the University around ÂŁ75,358 and 271 tons of carbon. The Green Impact teams, celebrated the positive impact they have been part of on 5th June, 2015 helped by the Registrar, with a BBQ in the ORACLE in the botanical gardens. Here is a glimpse
Spare Computers? Computers to Africa Have you got spare computers that you would like to get rid of? Let us know by dropping us an email: sustainability@swansea.ac.uk Keep a date in your diary to clear out unwanted (working) computers. We will be collecting in mid June.