The University and Portsmouth City Council teamed up again this year to support students and residents to recycle more and tackle rubbish issues in areas of Southsea and Somerstown.
Students were recruited and trained to work with the council as volunteers, helping drive the message home of how to dispose of rubbish correctly. The volunteers visited students and residents to speak about how they can manage waste correctly and promoted recycling services, to help make the city safe, clean, and tidy.
Cllr Chris Atwell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Central Services and Cllr Suzy Horton, the councils Deputy Group Leader, joined the students in visiting residents. Cllr Horton said "Students from all over the world come to Portsmouth to study. For that reason, they may be used to many different types of rubbish and recycling guidelines which is why it is important we explain how it works in Portsmouth.
"Speaking to the residents, we have found ways to help them straight away such as explaining which bins to use, how they can request a larger bin and what they should do when they have excess waste. The residents we spoke to said they found the information extremely helpful."
Both the council and the University will work together to inform students on how to dispose of waste correctly
We are keen to lend our weight to the council’s plan to reduce waste and to educate students on recycling and waste guidelines in the city.
Ian McCormack, Energy and Environmental Manager at the University of Portsmouth, said: "We are keen to lend our weight to the council’s plan to reduce waste and to educate students on recycling and waste guidelines in the city.
“We have developed the project to train students to help solve waste issues in the area where students typically live. By having them volunteer as champions in the community, educating those who don’t dispose of their rubbish properly on the right way to do things, providing easier ways to dispose of unwanted items and by taking enforcement action where necessary will, we hope, improve the situation.
“We take pride in our city and take very seriously the role we play in our wider community.”
Projects like this are all part of the council's plan to encourage recycling and reduce waste - helping make Portsmouth a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable city.
Find out more about what you can and can't recycle at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/recycling