Case Study

Rescuing student
beds from landfill

Before partnering with us at TFR Group, the University of St Andrews was struggling to find a sustainable way to dispose of the 6.2 tonnes of waste mattresses and bedding materials generated by its student halls of residence each year. This resulted in the waste materials being reluctantly sent to landfill, against the wishes of the University and its environmentally conscious students.

After conducting extensive research, the University discovered TFR Group and asked us for our help in removing and recycling the used bedding at the end of each university year. Since our partnership began, over 2,000 mattresses, duvets and pillows have been donated by the University’s students, who converted their games rooms into donation centres at the end of each term. From here, TFR Group takes the materials away to be recycled, and the sanitised component parts are sent on to be used in the manufacture of new products.

Thanks to this partnership, the students of the University of St Andrews can rest easy knowing their old bedding is no longer being sent to landfill, and the University itself can now begin steadily working towards its target of achieving zero waste to landfill by 2020.