University News Last updated 14 March 2019
Birmingham universities are teaming up for ‘Brum Goes Green’, a week-long campaign aiming to encourage sustainable behaviour for staff and students, reduce food waste and tidy up the city’s streets.
Birmingham City University, Aston University and University College Birmingham are amongst those taking part in the campaign along with local organisations and charities.
Collaborative events during the week include a canal-side litter pick on Tuesday 19 March and a waste free day on Wednesday 20 March.
The litter pick will see staff and student volunteers from the institutions clearing a stretch of land in Birmingham's Eastside, with bags of rubbish being collected by a canal boat provided by the Canal & River Trust.
Staff and students from the universities will then host a ‘waste free day’ event in Victoria Square, where University College Birmingham will deliver cooking demonstrations using ‘wonky vegetables’ donated by local supermarkets and food waste charities before handing out free meals to members of the community.
Kath Turner, Environmental Officer at Birmingham City University, said:
“As an institution, we remain committed to becoming more environmentally friendly. The University already produces enough solar energy to power approximately 20 homes a year and recycles around 60 tonnes of food waste each year.”