Use our new campus smart bins to improve container recycling

UNSW is introducing smart bins to make drink container recycling on campus easier and to reduce contamination.

Have you ever stood in front of a bin unsure if your item can be recycled? By only accepting recyclable containers, UNSW’s new smart bins aim to make recycling less confusing and stop items ending up in the wrong bin – and potentially contaminating an entire batch of recycling.

How do the smart bins work?

The bins feature a locked flap that only opens for eligible items. Empty your container, scan the barcode of the item you’d like to recycle and drop it in the opened flap. 

Watch the video demonstrating the simple steps.

The bins accept Return and Earn cans, bottles, cartons and juice boxes. They don’t accept coffee cups, Boost Juice cups or containers with no barcode.

Under the Return and Earn scheme, users receive a 10c refund for eligible containers. The smart bins don’t provide a refund to users, and any revenue generated contributes towards the cost of providing this service. 

Where are the smart bins located?

Four smart bins have been installed across campus:

• Opposite The Little Marionette coffee shop (E24)
• Main Library entrance (D22)
• Quadrangle lawn – next to Pharmacy@UNSW (E15)
• University Terraces – opposite IGA (C9)    

You can find the locations on the UNSW sustainability map (Recycling Facilities).                                             

A UNSW innovation

Contamination is a significant problem in the recycling process for all organisations, and UNSW is no exception. The tolerance level for contamination can be as low as 5% in some recycling streams. That means that even if 95% of students and staff recycle correctly, a bin full of recycling may still end up in landfill if it is contaminated by a small number of unrecyclable items.

The smart bin barcode scanning panels were developed by Charopy, a start-up created by UNSW alumnus Martin Collings, who made key components of the smart bin technology on campus in UNSW’s Makerspace. Charopy’s panels are now found in schools, shopping centres and corporate offices around Australia.

Obviously, the best waste is no waste. Consider reusable options before buying single-use recyclable items. Happy recycling!

Find out more about how to recycle effectively at UNSW and explore the UNSW Environmental Sustainability website to learn more about Environmental Sustainability at the University. 

Have questions or suggestions about UNSW's sustainability journey? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch at sustainability@unsw.edu.au.