Carbon Footprint Boost for SDC
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- Created on Wednesday, 22 August 2012 08:12
SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE are cutting waste significantly - and the resulting CO2 emissions – by introducing a ‘Zero to landfill policy’ for all waste to be reused, recycled or recovered, rather than end up in landfill.
In a revamp of its waste and recycling policies, the College have appointed Devon Contract Waste as their new waste management contractors, and reduced costs in the process. The Exeter-based company ensure that zero waste goes to landfill thanks to their Materials Recycling Facility - the first of its kind in the Southwest – able to process in excess of 75000 tonnes of waste a year. The process involves extensive filtration and separation of waste to extract materials that can be reused, recycled or recovered, before being sent for re-processing; completely eliminating the use of landfills and the environmentally dangerous greenhouse gases they produce.
“South Devon College takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and have been looking into ways of using waste-to-energy facilities,” said Laurence Frewin, Vice Principal Corporate Services at South Devon College, “We are very excited to not only be able to ensure zero waste goes to landfill but also significantly reduce our annual costs. We are looking forward to working with Devon Contract Waste and finding new ways of reducing our carbon footprint and helping the environment.”
The news is another step closer to the targets outlined in South Devon College’s Estates and Facilities team’s ‘green’ agenda - which has a committed carbon management plan to reduce carbon emissions from energy consumption by 30% by 2016. Since its inception 3 years ago the college estates and facilities team have overseen the installation of solar-hybrid street lamps, a 50kW photovoltaic (PV) panel solar array and the use of low energy cooling and natural lighting. The college have also been awarded Fair-trade Status by the Fair-trade Accreditation; achieved an ‘EXCELLENT’ environmental rating for their University Centre; cut out the use of toxic cleaning chemicals completely; changed paper tissue wiping systems to use 100% recycled UK waste; and stocked their ‘Greenhouse Café’ with fair-trade or locally sourced products, including those home-grown on College grounds.
The College also runs a number of renewable energy courses in its specialised Energy Centre - which aims to train up to 500 students per year in the installation of renewable energy technology, including Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Installation. The next phase of Energy Centre development is expected to open in 2013, creating over 400 jobs and showcasing the most up-to-date renewable technologies on offer in a realistic, working environment.
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Devon Contract Waste were awarded the new Waste Collection contract following the tender managed by Tenet Education Services. If your company would like to be informed about future tender opportunities with South Devon College, please register with
