Waste Management

The University’s activities are guided by the principles of sustainable development with a focus on environmental, societal, economic, and organisational sustainability. Green principles are applied in day-to-day work organisation, including the development of digital teaching and solutions, reducing paper use, sorting waste, and creating solutions that support sustainable mobility.

As a quest, please pay attention to the signs in the University and sort your waste by type, placing it in the appropriately marked container. If you’re unsure which container to use, please dispose of the waste in the mixed municipal waste bin.
NOTE! Hazardous waste, including electronics, batteries, and medicines, must not be disposed of in general waste.
Collection of these items is organized by the Facilities Department: Room Ü011, email haldus@tartuh.ee.

University buildings sort waste according to the following principles. A small act with a big impact – sort waste wisely!

Suitable 

+ Plastic food packaging: plastic bags and wrappers, salad containers, plastic egg cartons, etc. 
+ Tetra Pak cartons (e.g., milk and juice cartons) 
+ Metal food packaging: tin cans, lids, aluminum cans without a deposit label 
+ Consumer goods and hygiene product packaging (e.g., cleaning product and shampoo bottles) 
+ Other packaging materials: plastic bags, cling film, styrofoam, bubble wrap 

Unsuitable 

X Products containing plastic and rubber that are not packaging (e.g., pens, toys, toothbrushes, sanitary pads) 
X Cardboard or paper packaging (e.g., paper egg cartons) 
X Disposable tableware: plates, cups, spoons, straws, food containers, etc
X Tableware, light bulbs  X Packaging with the triangular symbol containing the number 7 should be disposed of in the general waste bin

Suitable 

+ Glass jars and bottles

Unsuitable

X Glassware and crystalware
X Ceramics and porcelain
X Light bulbs
X Window glass, sheet glass and mirrors
X Take glass packaging with a deposit label to a reverse vending machine

Suitable

+ Cardboard boxes and cartons (including clean pizza boxes), the tapes are allowed to stay on the packaging 
+ Paper bags 
+ Wrapping paper, kraft paper, cardboard 
+ Newspapers, magazines, advertising materials 
+ Workbooks, notebooks, books without covers 
+ Office or drawing paper  + Envelopes without plastic windows 

Unsuitable

X Disposable paper coffee cups and food containers (contain plastic) 
X Book covers, laminated or coated paper 
X Candy and ice cream wrappers 
X Tetra Pak cartons (e.g., milk and juice cartons) 
X Soft paper (e.g., household paper) 
X Paper egg cartons 
X Packaging with the triangular symbol containing the number 7  should be disposed of in the general waste bin 

Suitable

+ Pulp-based egg cartons 
+ Soft paper (e.g., household paper) 
+ Coffee grounds, tea bags 
+ Cut flowers, potted plants without pots 

Unsuitable

X Liquid food waste 
X Expired medications 
X Disposable tableware (including those containing bioplastics) 
X Chewing gum 

Suitable

+ Chewed chewing gum 
+ Plasters 
+ Used hygiene products 
+ Very dirty or greasy packaging 
+ Empty blister packs 
+ Incandescent light bulbs 
+ Broken or unusable items (e.g., empty markers, pens, tableware) 
+ Book covers, laminated paper 
+ Disposable tableware (including coffee cups and those containing bioplastics) 
+ Disposable gloves and masks 

Unsuitable

X Biowaste 
X Relatively clean glass and plastic packaging 
X Paper waste 
X Hazardous waste (medications, batteries, accumulators, electronics, construction chemicals) 
X Large-sized waste 

Reelika Vetemäe-Viik

Administration and Workplace Environment Manager

+372 737 0223reelika.vetemae-viik@tartuh.ee