Around half of Kingston University students are not using the new recycling bins properly, even though 96 per cent think they are a good idea, according to a RiverOnline poll.

The £120,000 recycling scheme introduced at the start of term has generally been well received by students and staff, although some tutors have complained about the “officious and unnecessary” intrusion.

Atal Roman, first year Biomedical Science, said: “The bins aren’t always clear, and I’ll be honest with you, sometimes I can’t be bothered to put it in the right one.”

Out of 100 students, 51 per cent said they only sorted their rubbish into the correct bins ‘sometimes’.

According to Severnside, who process the University’s recyclable waste, if there is a certain amount of food or other landfill waste in the paper and card bin then “that all ends up in landfill”.

A University spokesperson said that during trials separate bins had increased recycling to 59 per cent, and that under the new initiative “far less waste will end up in landfill.”

Tutors’ waste paper bins have been banned, and the spokesperson recognised it would take time for staff to get used to the changes.

One tutor simply called the recycling efforts “officious and unnecessary” on a staff message board.

However Dr Ruth Kirk, Senior Lecturer in Parasitology told RiverOnline all the staff she had spoken to supported the scheme.

She added: “It would have been preferable, however, if our original bins had been left in our offices.”