Drink cans, food tins, metal lids and juice cartons – students, employees and visitors at Palacký University can now (from October 2026) dispose of all these items in the yellow recycling bins for plastics. The university is standardising its waste sorting system across its buildings and gradually introducing updated bin labels.
“Our main goal is to make waste sorting in university buildings as clear and simple as possible. Instead of having to look for separate bins for metals or beverage cartons, people can now dispose of these materials together with plastics in the regular yellow recycling bins,” explains Nikola Křížová, Sustainable Development Officer at Sustainable University.
Labels on recycling bins and containers across university buildings are being updated gradually. All packaging should be empty before disposal, but there is no need to rinse it thoroughly. However, it should not contain significant amounts of leftover food or drinks. Plastic bottles, cans and beverage cartons should also be flattened or crushed before disposal to minimise the space they take up in the bins.
You can find more information about waste sorting at UP on the Sustainable University website.
Plastics + Cartons + Metals
✅ Accepted: Plastics: PET drinks bottles (please always flatten them), plastic packaging from laundry detergents, cosmetics and cleaning products, plastic bags, films, carrier bags, cups, small pieces of polystyrene and other plastic packaging. Beverage cartons: Flattened milk, juice or wine cartons. Metals: Crushed drinks and food cans, metal bottle caps and other metal packaging.
❌ Not accepted: Plastics: Linoleum, medicine containers, rigid PVC pipes, packaging from hazardous substances (motor oils, chemicals and paints), foam rubber, automotive plastics or other non-plastic packaging. Beverage cartons: Flexible coffee pouches, powdered food packaging and beverage cartons containing leftover liquids or food. Metals: Paint tins and containers that held thinners, pesticides or chemicals, and items made from multiple materials.