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As the Sustainability Engagement Officer here at the University of Sussex, I’m passionate about sharing the importance of sustainable practices—and recycling is a big part of that. 

Recently I joined our University’s Community Ambassadors on a tour of the Hollingdean Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Brighton to see first-hand how recycling works and to better equip our student community with the knowledge to recycle right. 

The visit started with a talk from our guide, followed by a tour of the facility. It was fascinating to see how materials are separated and processed—often by hand! Workers sort through recyclables at incredible speed, making it clear that contamination (whether that means food, liquids, or unrecyclable items) creates extra challenges for them. 

Seeing the hard work behind the scenes was a powerful reminder of why recycling right matters. Contamination doesn’t just waste resources; it affects the workers and risks recyclables being sent to landfill. 

During the Q&A session, Brighton and Hove City Council’s simple mantra was made clear: Clean, Dry, and Loose! This means: 

Clean: Rinse items to remove food or liquids (it doesn’t need to be sparkling clean, just give it a rinse) 

Dry: Wet materials, especially paper, can’t be recycled effectively 

Loose: Don’t bag your recyclables—place them directly in the bin. 

Recycling is vital for reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. By giving materials like glass, paper, plastic, and metal a second life, we minimise the need for raw material extraction, which can harm ecosystems and deplete finite resources. 

The timing couldn’t be better. With the festive season fast approaching, it’s a time of year when waste tends to spike. That makes it even more critical to adopt the principles of reducing, reusing, recovering, and recycling. 

This winter, let’s reduce, reuse, and recycle responsibly. Small steps—like rinsing jars or keeping paper dry—make a big impact. Together, we can support both the planet and the people making recycling possible. 

Find out what you can recycle  

Are you interested in touring the facility and seeing how our recycling is managed?Join the sustainability mailing list to sign up to any future events.