A place for conversations from the University of Edinburgh community on topics around social responsibility and sustainability.
Stationery recycling with the Centre for Open Learning
For their 2019 gold project, the Centre for Open Learning worked to collect, recycle and redistribute stationery from the University to reduce waste and help share resources with the local community.
One of the stationery collection boxes.
Since November 2018, the Centre for Open Learning have been leading a stationery recycling collection scheme accepting a range of pens, folders and erasers before either recycling or donating them to a local school.
Saving waste and sharing
This scheme was done through Terracycle’s initiative sponsored by Bic.
Students and staff from the Holyrood campus then sorted through the donations, sorting them into the following categories:
- Materials to be redistributed around the University (e.g. working whiteboard pens, sticky notes, plastic wallets)
- Materials to be redistributed to organisations/charities/schools in Edinburgh (e.g. coloured pencils, felt-tip pens)
- Materials to be recycled as part of Terracycle’s initiative (e.g. dried up whiteboard pens, correction fluid, ball-point pens)
- Materials that cannot be recycled or redistributed (e.g. glue sticks, broken folders)
The team tested the response to the scheme initially through talking to colleagues and conducting web-based research. After circulating information, they made ‘deposit boxes’ where people could leave stationery.
Find out more about the Sustainability Awards
Find out more about Terracycle at the University
Hello,
I have pens to recycle (they dried up). you refer the Terracycle initiative but their site the program is closed. Any alternative?
Cheers,
Renaud
Hi renaud, thanks for your comment. One of our Sustainability Champions has been recycling stationery at Rymans. Worth checking if they might accept them!
Good morning
I would appreciate your assistance.
I am the Finance Manager for this Company, Tempus 4 Limited.
I work from home (since COVID began!) and am at the moment doing a clear out of our flat.
There is a lot of excess stationery which is not needed… this includes Lever Arch files; envelopes; various sizes of sticky labels; lots of file dividers; paper clips and pens.
All brand new and perfectly usable!!
Please advise whether this is something you can assist in “recycling” or getting donated and whether it can be collected? I am at Pirniefield Bank, Edinburgh EH6.
I have contacted a couple Primary Schools in the area but they have not replied.
Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
David Warren AfICB
Finance Manager
TEMPUS 4 Limited
This isn’t something we can help with. I’d suggest taking them to a charity shop if they are in good condition. Here’s the page on donating on the Edinburgh Council website: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/10259/edinburgh-reuse-tool/category/10513