Recycling

The What

Food waste and containers with food debris are not accepted in campus recycling bins. Plastic, metal and glass containers must be empty and clean of food debris before being recycled. Paper containers must be empty, clean and dry before being recycled.

The Why

Paper products need to be free of contamination to be recycled. Food waste can spread when products are all thrown together in a mixed recycling stream. Other perfectly good recyclables (like paper) and those contaminated materials will all end up in the landfill.

What Can You Do?

• If a takeout bag, pizza box, to-go clamshell or other single-use food container contains food debris or has food/greasy residue on it, throw it in the landfill bin.
• When possible, opt to use reusable containers for food instead of single-use containers.
• Buy only what you need and eat what you buy to avoid throwing away food.
• For off-campus living, the City of West Lafayette offers a collection site for food waste and offers countertop food waste bins to residents Monday through Friday.

The What

All single-use cups and lids (paper and plastic) for hot and cold liquids are not accepted in campus recycling bins. The one current exception is the single-use aluminum cups used at some Athletics events. These belong in the recycling bin! Additionally, cardboard sleeves for hot beverage cups are recyclable.

The Why

Most single-use plastic cups and lids are manufactured using techniques and additives that make it difficult for them to be recycled into a clean and usable material.

Most single-use paper beverage and coffee cups contain a coating for insulation and waterproofing, which makes them difficult to be recycled alongside other paper products.

The university’s recycling is processed by third-party Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The recycling capabilities of each MRF determines what materials they can accept in the recycling stream. Beyond the MRF’s capabilities, local, regional and global material markets determine the demand for certain recyclable materials and what the MRFs will accept for processing. Currently, the MRFs processing the university’s recycling materials do not accept cups and lids.

What Can You Do?

Bring your own reusable bottles, cups and mugs where allowed.

The What

Single-use paper products, such as napkins, towels and tissues, are not accepted in campus recycling bins.

The Why

There are two main reasons why napkins, towels and tissues are not accepted in campus mixed recycling bins. First, the products are primarily made of wood pulp that is composed of small fibers. In order for wood pulp products to be recycled, they must have fibers long enough to be turned into new products. The short fibers in napkins, towels and tissues are not easy to recycle. Additionally, every time paper products are recycled the fibers get shorter.

The second reason has to do with the recycling process for paper, which requires the material to be free of contaminants. These paper products are commonly used to collect contaminants such as food, grease and bodily fluids.

What Can You Do?

When possible, use reusable products, such as handkerchiefs and cloth towels, in place of single-use paper materials.