Waste Sorting at Palacký University
Did you know that more than 50% of the waste found in mixed bins at UP could still be sorted?
Proper waste separation reduces the amount of landfill waste, saves energy, and lowers emissions.
How to sort waste in UP dormitories?
You are responsible for taking out the waste from your room. You have a bin for mixed waste and sorting bags, which you collect at the beginning of the academic year and return at the end. There are three bags – paper, glass, and plastic + metal + beverage cartons (Tetra Pak). Waste is disposed of in outdoor containers.
In the kitchen, only mixed waste bins are available. Sorting is done in your room (using the bags).
In study rooms, bins are available for mixed waste | paper | glass | plastic + metal + TetraPak beverage cartons.
All biowaste goes into composters are located in dormitory areas. Interested in sorting biowaste? Request a special room bin for biowaste.
Small electronic waste (and batteries) can be disposed of at Envelopa (near the Freeshop) or in Neředín at dormitory N I near the laundry room.
Map of dumpster locations and composters on UP dormitory areas
What goes where?
The following overview applies to bins, sorting bags, and containers in UP buildings, where you can dispose of metal and beverage cartons (“Tetra Paks”) in the yellow bin for plastic waste. At public collection points in Olomouc, or in other cities, the system may differ.
Paper
✅ Goes in: all clean paper materials: newspapers, magazines, flyers, books, notebooks, office paper, boxes, cardboard, paper bags, etc.
❌ Does not go in: TetraPak cartons, wet/greasy/soiled paper, waxed or carbon paper, single-use cups with plastic content, carbon copy paper, hygiene products, or diapers.
Plastics + Tetra Paks + Metals
✅ Goes in: PET beverage bottles (please always squash them), plastic packaging from detergents, cosmetics, and cleaning products, bags, films, shopping bags, cups, small pieces of polystyrene, other plastic packaging | flattened milk, juice, and wine cartons | compressed cans from drinks and food, bottle caps, metal packaging
❌ Does not go in: linoleum, medicine containers, PVC pipes, packaging of hazardous substances (motor oils, chemicals, paints), foam rubber, automotive plastics, or any non-plastic packaging | soft coffee bags, powder food sachets, beverage cartons with leftovers | paint, thinner, pesticide, and chemical cans or containers, multi-material items
Glass
✅ Goes in: clean non-returnable bottles from beverages, cosmetics, and cleaning products, glassware, flat glass without wire reinforcement, canning jars, drinking glasses, etc.
❌ Does not go in: plexiglass, ceramics, porcelain, car glass, lightbulbs, fluorescent tubes, wired glass, mirrors, gilded/plated or laboratory glass.
Mixed Waste 
✅ Goes in: all waste unsuitable for sorting, food containers, and coffee cups with plastic content.
❌ Does not go in: batteries, electronic devices, hazardous waste.
Biowaste
✅ Goes in: leftover bread and eggs, fruit and vegetables, soil, sawdust, coffee grounds and tea (including paper filters).
❌ Does not go in: meat, bones, oils, fats, food packaging, coal ash, manure, or animal droppings.
Map of container sites and composters in the UP dormitory areas
How to sort waste in private apartments
Waste can be disposed of either in the bins belonging to your building or at public container stations. You can find their map on the portal Olomouc sorts waste (best viewed on a computer).
Picking up and returning sorting bags
Bags for sorted waste and containers can be borrowed for free by students who live in the dormitories. You keep the bags with you in your room/cell and take them out yourself to the appropriate outdoor containers or composters near the dormitories.
At the beginning of the winter semester, distribution takes place, and at the end of the summer semester, they are taken back.
Each set of bags and container is marked with a code for records.
When you pick it up, you fill in a short form - you enter the set number (written on the bag; from under the container), the dormitory where you are staying and the contact (email and phone number).
Everything must be returned clean and washed.
Those interested who want to keep the sets even during the holidays can make individual arrangements by e-mail with the official of the Sustainable University (nikola.krizova@upol.cz) .
Dates and times for distributing sorting kits and bins
Sorting bags can be borrowed from the offices of the dormitory registrars, the Freeshop and the office of the Sustainable University.
In the dormitory on 17. listopadu, the bags are introduced in the rooms as a pilot from the new semester.