Where to put your waste

Paper waste goes into bins with blue signage.

Yes items:

• Printer paper (no need to remove staples)
• Shredded paper
• Brochures and folder dividers
• Envelopes (including with plastic windows)
• Magazines, books and newspapers

All paper collected on campus is collected by our waste contracted and recycled into paper and cardboard products.

If a blue paper bin is not available, use the yellow recycling bins.

Flatten cardboard and place it in one of the following:

• The designated collection point in your building
• A cardboard skip bin on campus
• If neither is available, use a co-mingled recycling bin

Make sure the cardboard is clean and dry before recycling.

All food outlets on campus participate in on-site composting.

• Staff and researchers can contribute by using tea-room collection bins for organic waste.
• Griffith composts this waste on-site, with the resulting compost used to enrich campus gardens.

Want a compost bin for your staff kitchen?

Simply lodge a request on service@griffith with a waste request to apply for your mini compost bin.

Want a Mini Containers for Change Bin for your work/study area? Small corflute bins are now available to help you recycle right where you are! Simply lodge a request on service@griffith with a waste request to apply for your corflute bin.

Lodge a request

"Electronic waste" or "e-waste" is a term used to describe old or discarded electronic equipment such as computers, office equipment and other electronic devices, including mobile phones and batteries.

E-waste bins are located in campus libraries and student centres in the following locations:

• Brisbane South (Nathan)
  • Building N53, Room 1.05 (at the back of the Collaboration Zone)
  • Building N63, Room 2.04
• Brisbane South (Mt Gravatt)
  • Building M13, Room 2.01
• Gold Coast
  • Building G10, Room 2.19
  • Building G01, R3.34
• Logan
  • Building L03, Room 2.20
• Brisbane City (South Bank)
  • QCA Building S03, Room 2.30
  • QCGU Building S01, Room 1.22

Before dropping off your devices to be recycled:

1. Back up the device
2. Manually remove any personal information (a factory reset does not necessary delete all personal information)
3. Log out online accounts (iCloud, iTunes, App Store, Google Play) and social media (Facebook, Instagram)
4. Manually turn off any Find My Phone applications (Find my iPhone and Android Device Manager)
5. Unpair any devices such as car media or iWatch
6. Perform a factory reset
7. Remove SIM card

Most e-waste collected on campus is responsibly managed by Crown Waste Solutions who are currently partnered with Eco Batt - Your Battery Recycler. Some eWaste collected on campus is responsibly managed by Substation33, a social enterprise that recycles electronic waste and provides training and employment opportunities in the process.

Guidance coming soon…

Nespresso pods can be recycled in the N54 2.40 kitchen area.

Unwanted furniture and resources can be listed on Warp It, an online platform where Griffith staff can swap items internally. Items not claimed are donated to local charities. Common items posted on Warp It include:

• Furniture
• Stationery and office supplies
• Printer consumables
• Lab equipment

Broken furniture or items that can’t be reused should be taken to the council recycling depot by Griffith’s removalist contractor.

The Technical Services team in the School of Nursing and Midwifery is leading the way in waste reduction by cleaning and reusing medical training equipment such as syringes, IV lines, fluid bags, and soft plastics. Used exclusively on medical manikins, this equipment can be safely reused, allowing the team to significantly cut down on single-use plastics.

Their proactive approach not only supports a more sustainable training environment for over 900 students each week, but also tackles the global challenge of medical waste. Through this initiative, the team has reduced plastic waste, conserved resources, and delivered substantial cost savings—all while modelling circular practices in healthcare education.

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste must never be placed in general waste bins or hoppers on campus. Contractors must comply with Queensland’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2011, including proper tracking and disposal of regulated waste.

To reduce environmental impact:

• Avoid over-ordering materials
• Separate clean waste streams (e.g. timber, metal, concrete, bricks) for recycling
• Reuse materials like crushed concrete on-site where possible
• Use licensed transporters and approved disposal facilities
• Ensure hazardous waste is handled by certified professionals

Following these practices helps reduce landfill and supports Griffith’s sustainability goals.