Sustainability and your hall of residence

We are working hard to produce a new sustainability programme across all our halls. Find out more about recycling and donating your unwanted goods.

Recycling

With your help last year, we recycled over 169 tonnes (about the same weight as 30 elephants or one and a half blue whales).

We’re passionate about leading a more sustainable world, which is why, in all halls, we make sure you have access to separate recycling bags in your kitchen and recycling bins outside. There should be stickers/notes on the bags and bins to tell you what you can and can’t recycle.

Blue bins, bags and containers

Your blue bin is for paper and card. Things you can put in it include:

  • Cardboard boxes
  • Paper and shredded paper
  • Newspaper, magazines and catalogues
  • Envelopes and junk mail
  • Greetings cards and wrapping paper (without glitter)
  • Drinks cartons (Tetra Pak)
  • Toilet and kitchen roll tubes

Please ensure you crush down boxes and large bits of cardboard to fit as much in your bins as possible.

Brown bins and containers

Your brown bin is for metal, glass and hard plastic containers. Things you can put in it include: 

  • Empty plastic bottles - such as shampoo, bleach, mouthwash, drinks, washing up liquid and milk 
  • Empty plastic pots - including those used to hold yoghurt, soup, cosmetics 
  • Empty plastic tubs - including those used to hold butter, laundry powder, chocolates 
  • Empty plastic trays - including those used to hold meats, fruit and veg punnets 
  • Empty foil and foil trays 
  • Empty aerosols 
  • Tins and drink cans 
  • Glass bottles and jars 

There are some plastics that can't be recycled, including plastic film, carrier bags, crisp packets or pet food pouches. You should put these in your grey non-recyclable waste bin. 

Green bins, containers and boxes

Your green bin is for food and garden waste. Things you can put in it include:

  • Meat and fish bones
  • Raw and cooked food
  • Tea bags and coffee grinds
  • Egg shells
  • Grass cuttings, hedge clippings, twigs and branches.

Grey/black general waste bin

Your general waste bin is for things that can't be recycled, including:

  • Coffee cups
  • Plastic bags, film and bubble wrap
  • Bottle tops
  • Polystyrene

Not sure whether some can be recycled? See our A to Z of waste and recycling to find out what to do with it.

If you have questions about how to recycle and dispose of waste from your room and kitchen, speak to the staff in your hall, who can offer advice and guidance on local arrangements.

Additional recycling facilities

You'll also find vape and battery recycling facilities across our halls.

Many of our halls have book swaps. Ask your local reception for more information.

Donating items

Throughout the year, you can donate your unwanted items or food.

Manchester Central Foodbank

The Manchester Central Foodbank, takes donations of tins or packets (unopened and non-perishable). These can be given using donation bins located at the following reception areas:

  • City campus: Whitworth Park (Grove House) and George Kenyon Hall reception.
  • Victoria Park: Hulme Hall reception and Dalton Ellis reception.
  • Fallowfield campus: main reception.

British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation accepts donations of clothes, shoes, books, handbags, DVDs, small electrical appliances, furniture, pots, pans, and crockery. The bins in our halls hold these donations.

British Heart Foundation Bin Locations (including what 3 words location)

City Campus
  • Whitworth Park 1 (Toward.piano.butter)
  • Whitworth Park 2 (Face.drape.notion)
  • Whitworth Park 3 (Dinner.cuts.foam)
  • George Kenyon Hall (Crisis.slim.level)
Victoria Park
  • Hulme Hall (Spine.dogs.rental)
  • Dalton Ellis (Drip.taps.memo)
  • St Anselms (Stale.staple.wings)
Fallowfield
  • Richmond Park Carpark (Secure.wrong.ticket)
  • Armitage Sports Centre (Fits.golf.quit)
  • Uttley House (Frost.guides.ocupy)
  • Woolton (Hiking.formal.estate)
  • Oak House 1 (Cove.twig.radar)
  • Oak House 2 (Valves.later.remedy)
  • Oak House 3 (Causes.gloves.stale)
  • Oak House 4 (Noises.miss.blues)
  • Oak House 5 (Edgy.fantastic.since)
  • The Limes (Dice.rainy.neck)
  • Ashburne Hall (Grain.start.ready)
  • Unsworth Park (Spots.outfit.token)

Circular economy partnership work - summer 2023

We are delighted to share an impact report published by Hazaar on how Hazaar and the University of Manchester worked together so effectively over the summer of 2023. 

You can find out more about Hazaar by visiting their website here.

Accommodation Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024-2028