In an effort to raise recycling from 50% to 80%, Cambridge University will be using new bins, 3D scanners, and 22 miles (35 km) of conveyor belts.
One bin will be designated for food waste, and the other will be designated for dry mixed waste, giving staff and students a choice.
The "pioneering" project, according to the university, will be "the first of its kind in the UK higher education sector.".
The university, according to a spokesman, is "committed to exceptional environmental performance.".
To prevent confusion and unintentional contamination of materials, waste will be cleanly sorted into recyclables after it is collected, according to a statement from the university.
The dry mixed waste will be separated into recyclables at a cutting-edge Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that can identify and sort recyclables with high-tech precision, while the food waste will be converted into energy at an anaerobic digestion facility.
22 miles (35 km) of conveyor belts and sorting equipment, such as 2D and 3D scanners and near infrared separators, are used by the MRF (operated by Mountain Recycling). ".
Additionally, it stated that only electric vehicles would be used to collect all dry mixed waste at the university.
"The university's stock of new wheelie bins is another UK first; they are made entirely of post-consumer recycled plastic that has been gathered from the neighborhood. These trash cans can be recycled ten more times, it stated.
Facilities management operations manager Steve Matthews said this about the project, which begins in July: "The new system will allow us to recycle far more materials than before, which will benefit the environment.
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