WARPit

Queen’s has their very own corporate E-bay/Freecycle-style network, called Warpit. It allows staff to redistribute unwanted and underused assets within Queen’s. This avoids unnecessary purchases, saves money, and reduces waste going to landfill.

There are two scenarios which mean as an organisation our resources are often wasted:

• Due to limited communications, space and time pressures, we often have to dispose of surplus resources because a new owner cannot be found quickly and easily
• It is human nature to hoard items that might be needed later – this leads to inefficient use of space as the stored unused resources become obsolete

Why use WARPit?

Money: By making sharing resources easy, WARPit helps the University cut procurement costs - by avoiding unnecessary purchases, and by allowing the university to share with other local organisations.

Embracing a low carbon future: Re-using unwanted items instead of buying new has major environmental benefits – it reduces waste to landfill, cuts carbon emissions and saves natural resource which get depleted when making new items.  WARPit is part of the University’s embracing a low carbon future campaign for a more sustainable university.

Community: It is also a way of ‘giving back’ to the community. The site allows local organisations (such as schools and local charities) to access any unwanted resources which are unclaimed internally.

By using WARPit we are also able to create sharing relationships with local charities and partner organisations. These relationships have mutual benefits, as the recipient avoids paying for new items whilst the University will avoid paying taxes and charges associated with waste disposal.

To sign up go to the Queen’s University Belfast WARPit portal. To find out more please watch the video below.

Ban the Bin

Queen’s ‘Ban the Bin’ Campaign aims to increase recycling, reduce landfill and make us all conscious of where we dispose of our waste.

How does it work?

Individual desk bins are removed. They are replaced with desk top bins and designated recycling points throughout the office.

How does this improve recycling?

Removing under-the desk bins while providing sufficient recycling bins as an alternative has been an effective way of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

• Much of what we throw away can be reused or recycled but having a bin right by your desk provides a temptation not to bother
• The campaign aims to raise awareness of recycling: getting us really thinking about which bin items of rubbish should go in

Figures from other schools and directorates that have adopted ‘Ban the Bin’ indicate that recycling has increased by 30%. Areas involved include the MBC, DKB, International and Post Graduate Student Centre, Academic Affairs, Education, HAPP, English, Registrar’s office, Information Services and Estates.

If you would like to implement ‘Ban the Bin’ in your office, please click here for our ‘How To’ guide.

Clear Outs

If your office is going to undertake a clear out, please click here to download Queen’s ‘Clear Out Guide’. This will provide a step by step process on how to minimise your waste.