University is a Fan of this Green Van

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• University is a Fan of this Green Van

27 March 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970

It appears that collections of cardboard for recycling at Maynooth University, County Kildare and the movement of cleaning supplies around the site, are now being made by a fully electric van, in line with the institution’s commitment to being a ‘Green Campus’.

The Green Campus programme is an international scheme for third-level colleges. Administered in Ireland by An Taisce, it recognises commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement from the campus community.

Grosvenor Services has been a supplier of Maynooth University for approximately 13 years, providing facility services which include daily cleaning and waste stream segregation and management. It has supported the Green Campus Committee in raising recycling rates by introducing various initiatives and several years ago the ‘binless’ office was introduced to the university and brightly coloured containers were placed in corridors and central spaces to encourage separation of materials and facilitate recycling. To date, this has raised recycling rates as well as saving time and money by making it simpler to collect and replace bins.

The zero emissions electric vehicle is now being used by Grosvenor Service’s staff to collect the cardboard and bale it on site before its onward reprocessing. Bearing the Green Campus logo, the all-electric vehicle is a quiet but visible reminder for the more than 10,000 students and staff on campus of the university’s commitment for greater sustainability.

“In addition to reducing emissions and fuel costs, the new electric van is a visual advertisement for recycling as it drives around campus,” explained said Colm Nelson, Campus Services Officer, Maynooth University. “It underlines how seriously we take sustainability, and hopefully it will encourage people to recycle more.”

Picture             The all-electric Renault Kangoo van is being used at Maynooth University in Ireland.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 27 March 2015

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