Updates on St. Edward’s Sustainability Efforts

Richard Hayes, Head of Capital Projects and Sustainability, Shares Updates on St. Edward’s Sustainability Efforts

At St. Edward’s, sustainability continues to be a top priority, and we’re taking steps every day to reduce our environmental impact.

Recycling Initiatives

Recycling remains central to our sustainability efforts. Our dedicated Logistics team, managed by Mr Maciej Mazur, our Security and Logistics Manager, provides a collection service for all the school’s recycling points seven days a week. In February 2025 alone, we successfully recycled over 8 metric tons of waste and disposed of 9 tons of general waste.

The materials we recycle include paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, and food waste. Food is sent to a biodigester in nearby Eynsham. This biodigester produces gas for commercial use and creates fertilizer that benefits local farms and garden centres.

Our non-recyclable waste, or general waste, is sent to an Energy-from-Waste (EFW) plant. Here, the waste is burned to generate electricity through steam-powered turbines. Although EFW plants do produce emissions, they are generally a better option than landfills, which release harmful methane as waste decomposes. Reducing general waste and increasing our recycling efforts remains the best path forward.

Energy Saving Efforts

In line with our commitment to sustainability, we’ve also made significant strides in energy savings. Classrooms in the Math, Art, and DT departments, as well as many of our boarding houses, now feature wireless radiator valves, allowing us to control heating more effectively. This change will significantly contribute to reducing future gas bills and support our efforts to lower overall emissions.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that during the upcoming Easter holidays, we will be installing a large-scale photovoltaic (PV) system on Cowell’s roof. This commercial-grade solar system will generate approximately 55,973 kWh per year, leading to an estimated annual saving of 25 tons of CO2. This project is a major step towards achieving our Net Zero target.

Electric Vehicle Charging

Our electric vehicle (EV) charging network continues to support sustainability. Over the past year, we’ve provided 10.47 MWh of power to EV drivers, which equates to an indirect saving of 5 tons of CO2.