Waste Diversion

We line recycling bins on campus with blue plastic bags. This ensures that bins stay clean and that custodial staff can easily transport recyclables outside to dumpsters. Unfortunately, blue bags are now considered a contaminant and cannot be placed in recycling dumpsters. At the materials recovery facility where our recyclables are sorted, these bags can get tangled up in machinery and cause damage. If you are taking recyclables to a dumpster, please empty recyclables out of blue bags into the recycling dumpster and place the empty blue bag into the landfill dumpster.

-Plastics 1-7, including disposable cups, shampoo bottles, water bottles, takeout containers, peanutbutter jars, and yogurt containers, among many other items.

-Clean cardboard

-Cartons

-Mixed paper including notebook paper, printer paper, newspaper, envelopes, magazines, and sticky notes

-Glass bottles and jars

-Aluminum

-Tin and aluminum cans

Items should be emptied of food or liquid before being recycled. Please pour excess liquids into a compost or landfill bin before placing items into a recycling receptacle. Soft plastic (like plastic wrap), straws, plastic utensils, and plastic-lined paper cups (ex: a paper cup from Starbucks) cannot be recycled.

-Food

-Liquids

-Plastic wrap

-Plastic wrappers

-Plastic grocery bags

-Greasy pizza boxes

-Styrofoam

-Straws

-Plastic utensils

-Paper or Styrofoam coffee cups

-Electronics (save these for the University’s annual e-waste collection)

When any of the above items are put in a recycling bin, they contaminate that batch of recycling. After a certain amount of contamination, that whole bin’s worth of material must be sent to the landfill. Reduce contamination by rinsing and emptying all plastic or glass bottles, jars, and containers before recycling them.

- Municipal solid waste is transported to Old Dominion Landfill located to the east of the city of Richmond in Henrico, 14 miles away.
- Single stream recycling is transported to the County Waste Material Recycling Facility in Chester, 18 miles from campus.
- Cardboard is taken to Weyerhaeuser in Richmond, 10 miles away.
- Metal goes to Sims Metal Management 11 miles away in Richmond.
- Yard Waste is taken to Gillies Creek Recycling in Richmond, 14 miles away.
- Wood waste goes to SB Cox 10 miles away in Richmond.

Look for one of the six Trex bins around campus to recycle plastic bags, bubble wrap, produce bags, plastic shipping envelopes, and product overwrap. For every 500 pounds we recycle, we will receive a free bench from Trex. You can find bins in these locations:

-Tyler Haynes Commons, 2nd Floor
-Jepson Hall, Ground Floor Entrance
-International Center, 3rd Floor
-Dining Hall Lobby
-Post Office Lobby
-North Court, Academic First Floor
-Robins School of Business, Rotunda entrance

Styrofoam cannot be recycled in bins on campus. Many Publix stores, however, have bins for Styrofoam recycling. If you are a Publix customer, you can call a store near you and see if a Styrofoam recycling bin is available at a particular location.

The foil on top of Keurig pods is recyclable, but the pods themselves are not. There is a program for recycling them that involves ordering a collection bin. This is a good option for offices.

To learn more about composting, visit Rethink Waste’s website: https://rethinkwaste.richmond.edu/compost/index.html

To find a map with composting locations, visit: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1m3kuAyYS_xvrjQo7__hn3uRgVBoRSwY&ll=37.576765028941594%2C-77.54035591971281&z=16 

Batteries and electronics often contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment, so it’s not a good idea to put these in a landfill bin. The University hosts an annual e-waste disposal event where you can bring batteries, electronics, hard drives, and more.

Batteries and small electronics can be recycled in special bins in the lobby of Boatwright Library, Well-Being Center, and on the second floor of Tyler Haynes Commons.

Electronics, like laptops, purchased by the University should be returned to Information Services.

-Donate office supplies at the Spider Exchange.

-Donate clothing, school supplies, small electronics, and more through Donation Stations in every residence hall’s lounge or laundry room.

-Drop off items at Goodwill bins at Marsh Hall, North Court, or Lora Robins.

-Contact Facilities to donate office furniture.

-Donate items from your residence hall or apartment to the Big Yard Sale each May.

-Take a reusable bag with you for shopping

-Have a reusable water bottle or coffee cup on hand

-Skip the tray in the dining hall to reduce food waste

-Avoid printing when possible

-Carry a reusable cutlery set to avoid plastic spoons and forks

-Skip the straw when ordering a drink

-Shop for things second-hand before searching for a new item

-When eating out, bring a reusable container instead of using a disposable take-home box

-Become a Sustainability Advocate

-Take a sustainability related course

-Intern with the Office for Sustainability

-Join a student organization

-Attend or volunteer at Office for Sustainability events

-Join a Faculty Learning Community

-Attend or volunteer at Office for Sustainability events

-Become a Green Office

-Attend or volunteer at Office for Sustainability events