Zero Waste

The best approach is to minimise waste as much as possible. This means making smart, conscious, and sustainable purchasing decisions (or not purchasing at all) and extending the lifespan of existing products and resources through reuse, repair, and refurbishment.

Good examples of this include the use of disposables and the reuse of furniture at VU Amsterdam. As of July 2023, we have discontinued the provision of free disposable cups. Reusability is the norm, and "bring your own" is the starting point. This significantly reduces waste; we used around 1.4 million cups per year!

We are also strongly focusing on a more circular approach to furniture in the coming years. The goal is to use less new furniture and instead refurbish and prolong the use of existing furniture. Our contractual agreements are based on this approach.

We consider the waste we produce as valuable resources and aim to separate them as much as possible. In the coming years, we will significantly increase the separation rate. We will achieve this by improving source separation and making agreements with our supplier for post-separation (separation after collection).

Currently, we collect about 25 different streams, including (confidential) paper, cardboard, glass, organic waste, wood, metal, and various types of hazardous waste. One of the first steps is to collect plastic packaging and beverage cartons (P/D) on a larger scale. We are actively working on this. New waste bins for plastic and beverage cartons will be installed in the new study areas in the Main Building. We have also started separate collection of paper towels from the bathroom areas (these are used to make ceiling tiles).

For all waste streams that we separate and collect, recycling is the primary goal. Only when recycling is not possible, the material is used to recover energy. This means that this waste is incinerated to generate energy. This way, we aim to process our waste as sustainably as possible. 

Try to prevent waste as much as possible, for example, by bringing your own cup, printing sparingly, and being frugal with your belongings.

You can also contribute by separating waste at the VU whenever possible. You will find more and more waste collection stations for separate collection at the VU in the near future. We are replacing general waste bins with waste stations for separate collection as much as possible. You will find these waste bins/stations in central locations, such as the pantry/coffee machine area, open workspaces, or near lecture halls. This primarily involves confidential paper, cardboard/paper, plastic, beverage cartons (P/D), and general waste. In the lab areas there are separate waste rooms, meant for the collection of company and hazardous waste, such as chemical waste and specific hospital waste (SZA).

Read more about where you can dispose of different types of waste at Waste disposal.