Between October 2025 and February 2026, LSA Senior Lecturer Dr Hanmei Chen has led two successful SmartSort Recycling Campaigns, funded by the national 2025 ESRC Festival of Social Science (#ESRCFestival) and the RDIF Fund.
The campaigns formed part of the University’s Living Lab Project (Domestic waste on campus) and were delivered in collaboration with colleagues from across the University: Laela Purvis-Greenway (Sustainability Team), Irene Margaret (School of Management), and Justice Osei-Afriyie Justice (School of Law). This interdisciplinary initiative reflects the University’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges through cross-sector collaboration.
Titled "SmartSort: Engaging Recycling Game for Awareness and Colour-Sorting Efficiency" and "Responsible Consumption: Investigating Consumer Behaviour Alignment and Effective Recycling Strategies in the University", the campaigns provided a unique opportunity for both the local public community and university students to actively engage with sustainable recycling practices.
Through an interactive recycling game, participants explored:
- The role of colour-sorted waste separation in improving recycling efficiency
- The economic and environmental impacts of domestic waste management
- How everyday recycling behaviours contribute to carbon footprint reduction
- Strategies for fostering responsible consumption among younger generations
The initiative highlighted how simple behavioural changes can generate measurable environmental benefits and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Student Engagement and Impact
Student volunteers played a central role in delivering the campaigns. Participation provided a valuable opportunity to:
- Work on a live sustainability challenge
- Build key employability skills (teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, communication)
- Gain insight into careers in sustainability and the waste sector
Engagement in the project also contributed towards the Liverpool Advantage Sustainability Award. The Liverpool Advantage scheme recognises co- and extra-curricular achievements completed during studies at the University of Liverpool, supporting students’ professional development and sustainability leadership.
0.32Overall, the SmartSort campaigns demonstrate the impact of interdisciplinary collaboration, research-informed public engagement, and student-led sustainability action in advancing responsible consumption and effective waste management practices.