Waste & circularity
UM actively wants to contribute to the transition to a circular economy. During the past years, action has already been taken to reduce the amount of waste and to separate waste flows. In the coming years, efforts will be intensified to further reduce the use of primary resources and the CO₂ footprint of UM.
From 2016, UM started collecting PBD packages (plastic, tin cans and drink cartons) separately. From 2017, coffee grounds are collected separately. And in 2020, UM started to collect Styrofoam separately from the faculty of FHML. In the below diagram you can see the development of the different waste flows between 2016-2022. Due to the corona crisis there is a substantial dip in 2020 and 2021.
Waste management at UM
Maastricht University (UM) is committed to contributing to a circular economy by separating waste streams and reducing overall waste production. The university collaborates with an independent contractor who not only manages waste collection but also advises on waste management strategies. Together, they have set a goal: to recycle 55% of collected waste by 2026.
Waste separation begun in 2016, by separating plastic, drinking cartons and metal containers. In 2017, coffee grounds joined the list, and over the years, the system has evolved to further refine waste separation. By 2023, informational boards on waste bins were introduced to guide correct disposal practices. Since, 2023 metal is no longer allowed in the orange bins, however, for drinking cans a deposit is paid: one can either return it to the shop or donate it in donation containers (found at some Eurest outlelts).
Students and staff are now familiar with separate bins for paper, plastic, and other waste. From 2025, a significant addition was made: organic waste bins.
Organic waste bins
In 2023, a pilot project for organic waste bins was launched at FASoS. The results were promising: organic waste recycling increased to 1.3% for the year, and during the pilot period (September–December), it rose to 2.3%, with 148 kilograms of organic waste collected.
The decision to expand organic waste bins was driven by an analysis showing that roughly 10% of residual waste consisted of organic material, such as food scraps.
With these new bins, organic waste will no longer be incinerated. Instead, it will undergo fermentation to produce biogas. Items like vegetables, fruits, food scraps, fish, bread, eggshells, and tea bags can all be disposed of in these bins. This simple change will help reduce CO2 emissions, advance the circular economy, and enhance UM's sustainability efforts.
Circular practices
UM’s waste management efforts align with the "10 Rs of Circularity “. While recycling is a vital starting point, the university hopes to take even higher steps in the long run by implementing practices that focus on other important steps, like further reuse and waste reduction.
Sustainable choice for disposable gloves
Every day, thousands of disposable gloves are used across universities for cleaning, laboratory work, and catering. At Maastricht University (UM), those gloves now leave a much smaller footprint. Thanks to a collaboration with Asito, the cleaning company responsible for UM’s facilities, the university has switched to recyclable circular gloves developed by Gloovy. Read the article here.
Workshops for staff
Furthermore, in 2023, workshops were organised with support staff from different units to translate the principles of circularity to their own field of work. At Facility Services, this is perpetuated with a circularity working group to capitalise on opportunities around circular use of furniture and ICT equipment.
Circularity at the Sustainability Hub
At Tapijn, UM established a Sustainability Hub for students and staff. Here, three circulatory rooms are available:
- Reroom (Reuse Recycle Repurpose) This room is used for anything that can be "the 3 R's". Here, you can find a sewing machine and materials for sewing, there's reusable paper and plastic and a desk with machinery to upcycle plastic.
- Swap room where clothes can be brought in exchange for other clothes.
- Library of things is a room with appliances and decorations that people can use and bring back.
