Sustainable University

Waste Sorting and Recycling at BUT

Sustainability Starts with Everyday Actions . Even small choices – like where we throw our waste – make a difference. At Brno University of Technology (BUT), we aim to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills and to support recycling. By sorting waste correctly, each of us helps to reduce the ecological footprint of both our university and the city of Brno.

How Are We Doing with Waste at BUT?

In cooperation with a PhD student from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, we commissioned a waste management analysis in 2025. The study shows how much waste is produced at the university, how it is managed, and where there is room for improvement. The results confirm that a large share of our waste could be reused or properly sorted. Each of us can help to reduce the amount of mixed waste – making BUT a cleaner, more responsible, and more sustainable university.

Take a look at the results of the BUT Waste Management Analysis and see where we are already doing well and what we can improve together.

How Is Waste Sorted at BUT?

Proper sorting can significantly reduce the amount of mixed waste and contribute to a more sustainable university operation.

What Happens to Waste from BUT?

All sorted waste streams are handed over to contracted partners – primarily SAKO Brno, which further sorts, processes, and recycles them. Thanks to this, a significant portion of waste from BUT returns to circulation as new materials or energy.

How to Produce Less Waste?

Even the best sorting is not enough if too much waste is generated in the first place. Let’s try to reduce waste together – starting from its source.

Waste Management Hierarchy:

Small Steps Matter

use your own mug and water bottle – drinking fountains are available in many buildings
think before you buy and consider whether you really need it
avoid wasting food
prefer digital documents over printing
try digital notebooks – smart apps can replace hundreds of sheets of paper
use re-use corners and exchange shelves
donate surplus materials or equipment
don’t hesitate to repair, maintain, or creatively upcycle items
treat bio-waste as a valuable resource

Where to Learn More?

BUT Campus Map – Waste Section (login required)
City of Brno – Waste and Recycling Interactive Map
SAKO Brno – How to Sort Waste Correctly
Waste Sorting in the South Moravian Region
Samosebou.cz
Ekomapa

Do You Have an Idea or a Question?

Want to report a problem, a missing bin, or suggest an improvement?
Let us know: udrzitelnost@vut.cz

Source of funding from the National Recovery Plan project: Acceleration of Green Skills and Sustainability at BUT (Component 7.4 of the National Recovery Plan for the Higher Education Sector for 2023-2025). Project registration number NPO VUT_MSMT_2143/2024-5.