NYUAD is committed to waste minimization through collection services, and upstream solutions through purchasing and IT sustainability, and programs like the Green Events Standard and Green Workplace Certification.
NYUAD recycles paper, cans, and plastic. The type of materials being recycled within the UAE is limited as recycling is a relatively new operation here. Recycling opportunities along with awareness are growing at a rapid pace and as new recycling opportunities become available, NYUAD will continue to expand its recycling program. As always, it is much better to reduce the waste produced or reuse it than send it for recycling.
There is one refuse room on each floor of B1 and B2 with recycling bins in addition to the chutes, to assist with recycling clarity. The bins are clearly marked for plastic, cans, and paper. There are also signs indicating where to place glass items and cardboard boxes. The garbage chutes are for general waste.
Recycling bins are located in every administrative building on campus and on the main walkways outdoors.
Each A block has a refuse room on the second floor. Residents take both their recyclables and general waste to these refuse rooms.
What's allowed: CLEAN items only. No food or liquids.
Paper
Cans and Plastic
Not allowed: wet paper, batteries or electronics, plastic bags, plastic films, Styrofoam
The type of materials being recycled within the UAE is limited as recycling is a relatively new operation here. Recycling opportunities along with awareness are growing at a rapid pace and as new recycling opportunities become available, NYUAD will continue to expand its recycling program. As always, it is much better to reduce the waste produced or reuse it than send it for recycling.
The Abu Dhabi government mandates reducing waste by 25 percent each year whether through recycling or actual waste reduction. In 2020, NYUAD diverted 29 percent of waste from landfill.
NYUAD does not have a formal program for taking recycled oil from residents. However, residents may purchase a galvanized steel can, which the Facilities team can collect and recycle the oil.
NYUAD has established the following methods to maximize the value from asset disposal. Where the options below exist and offers value:
A sustainable “cradle-to-cradle” model is to be employed while managing the acquisition and disposal process. Contact NYUAD Facilities Helpdesk to submit an application for asset disposal.
Items include:
Compost collection is available in NYUAD dining halls and in the Marketplace. Residents may collect food scraps in apartments or offices and drop them off at one of these locations.
Items include:
Not allowed: plastics, styrofoam
If there is no compost bin available, all food, liquids, and food-soiled items should be placed in the Landfill bin.
On receipt of a request to collect e-waste, a Waste Management Operative from the service provider is sent to collect the item for storage in the central waste area in Basement 2. When there is sufficient number of e-waste items, the authorized Waste Removal Contractor is employed to remove them.
Despite being biodegradable, a lot of food waste still ends up in overflowing landfills. The campus food digester turns food into usable compost, which is then used on campus plants.
Mercury from light bulbs is considered hazardous waste. If not disposed of properly, mercury builds up in the atmosphere, and returns to land as rain or snow, polluting our water sources and poisoning marine life — making it dangerous for human consumption.
The bulb crusher reduces the volume of glass, it also removes mercury from the bulbs by means of a HEPA filtered vacuum system. This allows the glass to be disposed of locally as general waste, while the HEPA filter alone is disposed of as hazardous. Previously, the entire bulb would be handled as costly hazardous waste.
The baling machine reduces the volume of recyclables to more dense and easier to manage loads, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of truckloads transported to recycling facilities.
The Waste Compactor reduces the volume of waste to more dense and easier to manage loads, which has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of truckloads transported to a local landfill.
