Member Article

Environment Secretary ?kick starts? student recycling scheme

Environment Secretary David Miliband last week launched a new ‘green’ scheme to encourage Durham University students to recycle more of their rubbish. Mr Miliband – who chairs South Shields Football Club in his free time – was presented with a football to reuse, marking the start of the University’s first-ever Green Move Out initiative. The Green Move Out will see students from Durham’s 16 colleges recycle, take to charity shops or give away unwanted items at the end of term instead of throwing them in the bin.

Mr Miliband said: “I’m extremely impressed by the level of Durham’s engagement with environmental agendas at all levels, and by the breadth of its internationally-recognised research programme in this area. One of the Government’s aims is to encourage people to take responsibility for their environment and the effect of their actions on climate change. Even small changes to their daily lives can make a difference. The Green Move Out is an excellent example of a project which has inspired students to contribute to recycling efforts, and will be a valuable lesson which will stay with them long after they leave Durham.”

The students’ Green Move Out is led by sustainable energy expert, Dr Antje Danielson, who came to Durham from Harvard University, where she initiated similar conservation programmes which saved the US institution over $100,000 in the first year. It is part of a wider Sustainable Living programme, which has a dedicated action group.

Dr Danielson said: “Based on my experience at Harvard, I think our sustainability programme overall could potentially reduce the CO2 emission from the University by 500 tonnes and generate £40,000 in savings in the first year. This is the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 120 average households.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .