Policy for Minimisation of Disposable Items

The University of Newcastle has a formal, University-wide commitment to minimise the use of disposable and single-use items. The Environmental Sustainability Policy requires the University to “minimise the use of plastic and disposal items across our campuses” under Waste and Recycling, clause 12(c). Effective from 8 December 2022 and in place throughout 2025, the policy makes the reduction of disposable materials part of the University’s everyday campus operations.

Policy, purchasing and campus operations

The University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy connected disposable-item minimisation with recycling targets, education for staff, students and contractors, and purchasing from suppliers aligned with its sustainability objectives. These commitments support practical decisions about the packaging, materials and products used across University facilities, retail outlets and events.

The University also uses a guide called Plastic Free – A Guide for Campus Retailers, which identifies everyday single-use items such as takeaway food containers, cups and lids, straws, cutlery, plastic bags and disposable bottles. The guide supports retailers, food outlets and event providers to select alternatives and work towards reducing unnecessary disposable products.

Practical action during 2025

Reducing disposable plastics in clinical simulation training

In 2025, staff at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Clinical School Simulation Laboratory implemented a reuse, recycling and donation initiative to reduce plastic consumables used in medical simulation teaching. The project avoided the need for approximately 728 kg of new plastic consumables while maintaining student training opportunities, and was reported to avoid more than 3,500 kg of CO₂-e emissions. It provides a practical example of reducing demand for new single-use training materials.

Reuse-first furniture program

From June to December 2025, the University prioritised the reuse of furniture and circular purchasing practices. It extended the life of 279 furniture items, diverted more than 6.6 tonnes of materials from landfill and estimated that reduced purchasing and landfill impacts avoided 171.73 tonnes of CO₂-e emissions. This wider reuse-first approach reduces the need to buy replacement products and helps extend the useful life of existing University resources.

Recovery pathways for remaining disposable items

The introduction of a Return and Earn machine at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus diverted 143,652 beverage containers from landfill in 2025. Simply Cups, Soft Plastics Recovery and Resource Recovery Kiosks also provided options for recovering used materials. These programs complement waste prevention by improving the recovery of items that still enter campus waste streams.

Read the 2025 Annual Report.

Reducing single-use items through engagement

Plastic Free campaign and retailer engagement

The University’s Plastic Free campaign set a goal of removing single-use plastic products from key areas of campus by the end of 2025. Its approach involved working with campus food outlets on reusable containers and alternative takeaway packaging, encouraging plastic-free products in retail settings and reducing single-use plastics at University-catered events. Campus retailer guidance supports these changes by helping providers make informed product and packaging choices.

In July 2022, the University joined a cross-sector partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority to support implementation of the state’s single-use plastics restrictions. University representatives participated in discussions on practical solutions, building on existing campus recycling and plastic-reduction work.

Ongoing initiatives: Bags to Benches

In 2018, the University partnered with Plastic Police to launch Bags to Benches, collecting soft plastics such as bags and wrappers to be recycled into outdoor seating. Collection points at Callaghan helped staff and students participate in material recovery. This initiative illustrates the University’s long-standing work on keeping disposable materials out of landfill, alongside its more direct efforts to prevent single-use products.

The University's commitment to reducing disposable items is reflected in its environmental policies and practical initiatives that prioritise waste prevention, reuse and responsible resource management. These efforts help reduce unnecessary consumption and support a more circular approach to materials across University operations.