Recyclable Materials Guide

A quick guide to what's recyclable and which bin to use

Mixed containers throughout campus:
place in RED bins

Acceptable in Red Bins:

Generally: food and beverage containers (glass, metal or plastic)
Glass bottles or jars (maximum 1 gallon volume)
Aluminum foil & trays(clean)
Tin/Steel cans
Plastic bottles, jars, tubs & trays (2 gallon maximum)
Juice & drink boxes
Milk/juice cartons

Unacceptable:

No plate, mirror, auto or safety glass
No light bulbs/tubes
No ceramics
No broken glass
No styrofoam
No plastic films/bags
No aerosol cans
No motor oil or chemical containers

Prep Notes:

Neck rings okay
Labels okay
Lightly rinse
Remove lids from plastic containers and dispose

All recyclable paper in Residence Halls:
place in BLUE bins

Acceptable in Blue Bins:

Newspaper
Magazines/Catalogs
Paperback/phone books (remove covers)
Junk mail - including plastic windows
Notebook & copy paper (all colors)
Computer paper
Brown paper bags
File folders
Brown clasp envelopes
Paperboard (dry goods, tissue, gift, shoe boxes. Remove plastic/foil liners)
Corrugated boxes (flatten and place next to blue bin)

Unacceptable:

Tyvek or composite postal packaging
Pizza boxes
Egg cartons
12-24 pack beverage cartons (plastic coated)
Tissues or toweling
Paper cups or plates
Frozen food boxes
Foil or plastic box liners
Waxed cardboard
Carbon paper or blueprints

Prep Notes:

Staples/paper clips okay (no larger fasteners/clips)
Small quantity of packing tape okay
Remove all plastic or metal spirals or binders
Flatten all boxes
Remove plastic/foil box liners
Contents of file drawers must meet above criteria - don't just dump file contents in blue bin

Mixed Office Paper:
place in BLUE or GREEN bins

Acceptable in Blue/Green Bins:

Photocopies (all colors)
Stationery/letterhead
Computer printout
File folders (all colors)
Carbonless forms(NCR)
Notebook paper
Post-it notes
Tab, index and business cards
Envelopes (plastic windows okay)
Newspaper
Magazines/Catalogs
Paperback/phone books (remove covers)
Brown paper bags
Brown clasp envelopes
Corrugated boxes (flatten and place next to blue bin)

Unacceptable:

Soft cover/phone books
Paperboard (dry goods, tissue, gift, shoe boxes. Remove plastic/foil liners)
Carbon paper
Thermal fax paper
Blueprints
Mylar/"overhead" sheets
Postal packaging
Tyvek or composite postal packaging
Pizza boxes
Tissues or toweling
Paper cups or plates

Prep Notes:

Staples/paper clips okay (no larger fasteners/clips/metal hangers)
Remove all plastic or metal spirals or binders
Flatten all boxes
Remove plastic/foil box liners
Contents of file drawers must meet above criteria - don't just dump file contents in green bin. For office clean out details see The Department Recycling Coordinator (DRC) page.

Residence Halls

Within the dormitories there are two separate recycling categories: mixed paper to BLUE bins (corrugated cardboard set to the side) and mixed containers to RED bins Housing Services' maintainers are responsible for providing, maintaining and emptying these central bins. Housing Services also provides every dormitory resident with a recycling bin(s) and instructions for their room. Students are responsible for properly sorting their recyclables and emptying these into the central collection bins normally located on each dorm floor. The two-bin (blue and red) separation system is also employed in campus classrooms and in public areas such as dining commons and Campus Center/Student Union.

Academic & Administrative Offices

Since 2002, offices, labs and other areas occupied by academic and administrative departments converted over to a two category recycling program: (1) mixed office paper is placed in GREEN or BLUE bins (corrugated cardboard set to the side) and (2) mixed containers are placed in RED bins. Physical Plant's Custodial Services is responsible for providing, maintaining and emptying all indoor trash receptacles. Recycling bins of all colors and sizes are provided by OWM. Custodial Services is responsible for emptying only the larger collection point bins (#2957 or 3541 on bottom). Staff and faculty members must empty their desk side bins (#2956) and saddle baskets into the central collection point bins.

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