Water Dispensers
To encourage the use of public water and reduce waste production, 23 water dispensing stations for drinking water have been installed at 19 locations: 4 at Rizzi (main campus), 1 at "E. Feruglio" classrooms, 1 at the Scientific and Technological Library, 1 at ex Basket, 1 at ex Cotonificio, 1 at the "A. Servadei" Agricultural Company, 1 at Padiglione Tullio, 1 at Kolbe, 1 at ex Seminario, 1 at Tomadini (main building), 1 at Tomadini Grandi classrooms, 2 at Palazzo Antonini – Maseri (rectorate), 1 at Palazzo Antonini - Cernazai, 1 at Palazzo Garzolini di Toppo – Wassermann, 1 at Palazzo Florio, 1 at the Santa Lucia Library, 1 at ex Maria Bambina, 1 at Via Margreth, and 1 at the Polyfunctional Center in Pordenone. The installation of dispensers at the Gorizia and Gemona locations is planned for a later stage. The stations are located near vending machines or close to refreshment areas and dispense natural ambient temperature water as well as chilled still and sparkling water. Each machine undergoes an innovative surface treatment with silver ion-based nanotechnologies to prevent the formation of deposits, biofilms, or bacterial colonies inside the pipes. Stainless steel Uniud-branded water bottles are available for purchase in the vending machines.
University Gardens
The initiative started in 2018 at the "Antonio Servadei" Agricultural Company of the University of Udine and involves making around twenty agricultural plots available to university staff and students. Born with the aim of promoting the use of leisure time in activities that favor health, social aggregation, and environmental sustainability, while enhancing an environmental and productive heritage near Udine, such as that of the university agricultural company, the project now aims to involve other similar initiatives in the city with the idea of offering common training and in-depth proposals in the field of urban agriculture. For information and registrations.
River Contracts in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Waste and Circular Economy
Waste Management
The University of Udine laid the foundation for its path towards sustainability almost twenty years ago when it started, in collaboration with NET SpA, the separate collection of the main recoverable fractions of urban waste produced at the university campuses in Udine. Good practices in the recovery of urban waste have been added to the already established procedures for the management of special waste produced by teaching and research activities in the laboratory. Waste collection is managed by the University Environmental Protection Service. Internal collection and disposal procedures have been defined by balancing the needs of each university location with the operational methods of the public service for the collection of urban waste. Unsure where to dispose of something? Read the instructions!
Zero Waste and Sustainable Tourism Project
The research project "Zero Waste and Sustainable Tourism," conducted by the University of Udine in collaboration with the Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Training, and Society and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region's Waste Management and Polluted Sites Discipline Service, aims to raise awareness and educate students, citizens, tourism operators, and tourists about waste reduction, proper waste management, and prevention. The initiative, which commenced in November 2021, is scheduled to conclude in May 2025.
Reuse Portal
The Reuse Portal is a system through which the University donates goods and equipment to other public entities, schools, and non-profit organizations. This project arises from the fact that often goods and equipment that are no longer needed by the university remain unused, such as computers, furniture, books, etc., with the risk that after years they are discarded even if still usable, causing a waste of public resources. The web portal allows the publication of objects being phased out, viewing a catalog of available objects, accreditation by authorized structures to acquire objects, and a transparent and rule-based procedure for queuing and assigning objects.
Reuse of Advertising Materials
Among other items, bags and pouches made in collaboration with the cooperative of inmates in Venice, Rio Terà dei Pensieri, are also for sale at the University store - Snaitshop. Advertising material no longer used by the university has been worked on by inmates from the Santa Maria Maggione Prison, resulting in three types of bags and an iPad holder. For information.
Sustainable Vending Machines
47 sustainable vending machines have been installed in various locations at the University of Udine by the Friulian group Illiria. The Hybrid cups available in the dispensers are made of innovative 100% recyclable material obtained by replacing polystyrene with a mixture of natural origin mineral salts, contributing to a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions in the environment. At the Scientific Polo of Rizzi, the new vending machines also allow the use of your own coffee cup, thanks to a recognition photocell system. Learn more.
Mobility
The University has developed various activities in recent years to promote sustainable mobility, particularly in the urban area of Udine. These initiatives are still not fully organized but represent a first step in reducing environmental impacts related to travel. It started in 2017 with a questionnaire addressed to the entire academic community. An area still to be addressed. These activities are largely followed by the Geomatics Laboratory.
Bus Schedule on Google Maps
Given the excellent relationships that the University of Udine has with the company responsible for public transport in the Province of Udine, the University has undertaken two projects. The first allowed all urban and suburban public transport schedules to be available on Google Maps. The second saw the placement of a QR code on the signs at all stops in the province (about 6,000). It provides real-time information about the lines passing at that stop and their schedules.
Carpooling
A mobility survey was conducted for the entire academic community to analyze travel to and from university campuses. Many shared routes emerged from the responses, so it was decided to launch the University carpooling service. Students, faculty, and technical/administrative staff can share rides and related trips through an APP that provides information on origins, destinations, and schedules of routes. Using the service can achieve economic savings of up to 30% for individual users, drastically reducing emissions and fuel costs.
