Education Sector Waste Management
Your partner in sustainable waste management
At Cawleys, we recognise the pivotal role that educational institutions play in championing sustainability. As pioneers in the field of innovative education sector waste management, we understand the growing demand for sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
From nurseries and primary schools to colleges and universities, we have extensive experience providing waste management services in the sector and are leading the way in commercial food waste management, making us your ideal partner for sustainable waste solutions.
Determined to ensure that all waste is disposed of efficiently, economically, and sustainably, we believe that by embracing environmentally friendly school waste management practices, learning institutions can inspire and educate the younger generation to be at the forefront of green thinking.
A Complete Solution
Our expertise lies in recycling these waste streams through proper segregation techniques, increasing recycling rates and minimising residual general waste for disposal. As part of our complete campus waste management solutions, we provide the following support to ensure effective implementation:
Staff training - Empowering your staff with the knowledge and skills needed for effective waste segregation and disposal.
Posters and signage - Increasing awareness and participation through strategically placed educational materials.
Expert visits - Our specialists can visit your institution to engage with students, explaining our full-circle waste management process and inspiring the next generation of eco-conscious individuals.
“Cawleys have been providing waste management services to the University for over 20 years and they provide us with a fantastic, tailored solution to meet our unique requirements.
The team are always friendly, helpful, and willing to go the extra mile. At times the waste generated by the different departments can be challenging and complex, but the team will always work hard to find an appropriate solution.”
Education Sectors We Cover
At Cawleys, we understand that each type of institution has unique needs when it comes to education sector waste management. Whether you're managing a small nursery or a large university campus, our services are tailored to support your operational goals, sustainability targets, and duty of care responsibilities. We provide reliable, safe, and environmentally responsible waste solutions across the full spectrum of the education sector.
Early years and nursery settings
For nurseries and early years settings, hygiene and safety are top priorities. As part of our education sector waste management and recycling solutions, we provide secure waste storage, prompt collections, and tailored services for nappy waste, food waste, and general classroom materials, ensuring your environment stays clean, safe, and compliant with safeguarding requirements.
Primary schools
Primary schools generate a mix of waste, from food and paper to packaging and recyclables. In addition to our campus waste management solutions, our age-appropriate recycling programmes and educational initiatives help involve children in sustainable practices, creating a clean, green learning environment for pupils and staff.
Secondary schools and academies
Larger school sites require efficient, site-wide waste strategies. Cawleys delivers flexible campus waste management solutions for canteen waste, classroom recycling, confidential paper, and hazardous science lab waste. We also support staff with training and bins suited to high-traffic environments.
Colleges and sixth forms
Colleges face a wider range of waste types and a more independent student body. To help achieve our goal of promoting proper waste management in school settings, we help implement effective waste segregation systems, including dry mixed recycling, food waste, and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), ensuring cost control and alignment with your sustainability goals.
Universities and higher education
Complex campus environments demand scalable and efficient university waste management systems. From halls of residence to laboratories and lecture theatres, we manage recycling, confidential waste, and clinical and hazardous materials and provide comprehensive reporting to support your environmental performance tracking.
Special Educational Needs (SEN) settings
We offer compassionate, flexible school waste management services tailored to the routines and sensitivities of SEN settings. Our team works discreetly and respectfully to manage clinical, hygiene, and general waste, helping you maintain a calm, safe, and compliant space for students and carers alike.
Adult education and community learning
Community and adult learning spaces often operate in shared-use buildings or non-traditional hours. As part of our solutions for waste management in schools and other learning institutions, Cawleys offers custom collection times, compact bins, and waste education support to help your facility run efficiently while meeting local council and environmental regulations.
Mini Case Studies
See how our team at Cawleys supports learning institutions of all sizes with tailored, effective education sector waste management solutions. These mini case studies highlight real-world examples of how our services help schools, colleges, and universities reduce costs, stay compliant, and meet sustainability goals.
Our partnership with Chiltern Learning Trust highlights how we work with educational instructions to implement innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for the sector.
Supporting the Trust to replace single-use plastics and polystyrene serving trays with Vegware compostable foodservice packaging across their 11 schools, we provide the following school waste management services to ensure ongoing success:
Providing internal segregation stations so pupils know what bins to put their waste into
Introducing our Infinity recycling scheme, allowing the schools to use drop-front bins used for Vegware storage
Providing 240l food waste bins for back-of-house catering staff to keep food waste separate from general waste
Involvement in Vegware's virtual presentations and mini-campaigns to educate staff and pupils
Tailored solutions - Cranfield University
Working together for over 20 years, Cawleys take sole responsibility for managing all the waste produced by Cranfield University, the UK’s leading postgraduate university for aerospace engineering, transport and automotive postgraduates.
Ranging from general everyday items to specialist and complex hazardous waste across multiple locations, we have a team based permanently at the campus to ensure continuity and consistency. For every type of waste, we provide a tailored education sector waste management solution, including scheduled collections, provision of appropriate bins and storage facilities and advice and guidance as required.
As a high proportion of the waste generated is classed as hazardous waste, our specialist team regularly visits to advise on the more unusual waste generated from the science departments and identify appropriate collection, packaging and routes for safe disposal in line with industry regulations.
Beyond efficient and sustainable university waste management, the fantastic working relationship we have developed over the years has led to a seat on the quarterly Waste Steering Group and an involvement in their educational programmes, with our team regularly giving practical talks for students.
Giving back
Our passion for education extends to our support for the local communities in which we operate, and we are proud to be involved in the following recent educational initiatives.
Northampton Town Football Club Community Trust
This year, we are supporting the Community Trust to provide tailored weekly sessions to three local primary schools run by one of their Education and Sports mentors.
From mental health and wellbeing support to academic and sports sessions, the mentors plan the provision based on the unique requirements of each school. Along with weekly mentoring, the schools also receive match tickets, visits from club mascot Clarence, football tournament competitions and raffle prizes.
Northampton Town Football Club Mascot
As part of our mission to educate young people on the importance of recycling and proper school waste management, we have also sponsored Clarence, the club’s mascot, to raise awareness and understanding of green initiatives across the local community and in schools.
Ride High ‘Hobby the Horse’
We have recently provided funding towards the ‘Hobby the Horse’ Programme, a fun and educational programme for schools created by children’s charity Ride High.
Children in participating schools design and make their own Hobby Horse using recycled materials. Schools then host a fundraising event of their choosing where children will seek sponsorship for taking part with their hobby horses and earn themselves a rosette.
Designed to complement the Key Stage 1 Curriculum, the programme is incorporated into various lessons to support key areas of children's learning and development: promoting and encouraging creativity, awareness of environmental issues, including recycling and proper waste management in school settings, creative writing, and physical activity.
Transform Your Education Waste Challenges into Effortless Solutions
Get in touch with our team at Cawleys today to discuss a custom waste management plan that meets your institution’s unique needs. Let’s work together to create a cleaner, greener learning environment!
