{"id":76,"date":"2025-12-08T23:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainability\/?page_id=76"},"modified":"2025-12-19T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:00:00","slug":"waste","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/home\/initiatives\/waste\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"modal-ready\"><div  class=\"purdue-home-cta-banner purdue-home-teritary-hero \">\n            <div class=\"image\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/12\/Image-43-e17514092572341.jpg\"\/>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"section has-image-background has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large \">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <h1 class=\"second-level-page-heading purdue-home-teritary-hero__header\">Materials and Waste<\/h1>\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-teritary-hero__content\">\n                \n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Learn about a number of sustainable waste management practices that are in use across campus at the links provided below.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"section \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                <div class=\"tagged-header-container tagged-header-container--content-block tagged-header-container-narrow tagged-header-container-gold\">\n            <h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">Recycling and Landfill<\/h2>\n        <\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div  class=\"purdue-home-link-cards \">\n\n<div class=\"section has-none-background has-no-sidepadding\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-link-cards__cards\">\n            <div class=\"columns is-multiline\">\n                                <div class=\"column is-12-desktop is-full-tablet\">\n                <a class=\"purdue-home-cta-card has-content-bottom \" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/initiatives\/waste\/recycling\/\" target=_self><figure class=\"image is-16by9\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-11-07-105822.png\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-bottom\"><p class=\"purdue-home-cta-grid__card-title\">Recycling Guide<\/p><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n                            <\/div><\/div>\n        \n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"section \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                <div class=\"tagged-header-container tagged-header-container--content-block tagged-header-container-narrow tagged-header-container-gold\">\n            <h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">University Waste Resources<\/h2>\n        <\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder has-no-topborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-8674bb74-f148-4c4c-b1c5-d36c1a2fa8a5\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-8674bb74-f148-4c4c-b1c5-d36c1a2fa8a5\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Hazardous Materials Management<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-8674bb74-f148-4c4c-b1c5-d36c1a2fa8a5\">\n                    \n\n<p>The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department offers pick up, transport, processing and disposal services for chemicals, storage containers and other hazardous materials. Further information and request forms can be found on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/ehps\/rem\/environmental-programs\/waste\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EHS website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-6d4256b0-a3a9-4c3e-a21b-0274828b1b32\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-6d4256b0-a3a9-4c3e-a21b-0274828b1b32\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Battery Disposal &amp; E-Waste<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-6d4256b0-a3a9-4c3e-a21b-0274828b1b32\">\n                    \n\n<p>The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)&nbsp;department&nbsp;provides a disposal service&nbsp;for rechargeable, lithium ion and other types of batteries.&nbsp;More&nbsp;information and forms can be found&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/ehps\/rem\/environmental-programs\/waste\/batteries.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EHS website<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-bff011ae-a41d-446b-a4b4-d60d3a43ef33\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-bff011ae-a41d-446b-a4b4-d60d3a43ef33\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Reuse &amp; The Surplus Store<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-bff011ae-a41d-446b-a4b4-d60d3a43ef33\">\n                    \n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/surplus\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University Surplus Store<\/a>&nbsp;diverts&nbsp;university assets, including electronics,&nbsp;from the landfill through reuse, refurbishment, resale&nbsp;and recycling.&nbsp;Shop the surplus store from noon-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Departments interested in listing excess assets should contact 765-496-2222 or visit the Property Accounting Page for&nbsp;more&nbsp;information.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left \">\n    <ul class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/treasurer\/finance\/controller\/accounting-services\/property-accounting\/property-accounting-summary\/\" target=\"_blank\">Property Accounting<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-5a1eb644-375e-4e90-90a7-67d90f376525\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-5a1eb644-375e-4e90-90a7-67d90f376525\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Confidential Document Shredding and Mixed Paper Container Requests<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-5a1eb644-375e-4e90-90a7-67d90f376525\">\n                    \n\n<p>All collected paper and cardboard are sent to a paper manufacturer and recycler supporting a circular economy. More&nbsp;information on how to request recycling containers, trash containers or confidential carts for campus buildings&nbsp;is available&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/grounds\/#refuse-recycling-collection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grounds&nbsp;website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-34e8d44f-a8ac-496b-85c4-78188d5c9b0f\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-34e8d44f-a8ac-496b-85c4-78188d5c9b0f\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Food Waste to Energy<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-34e8d44f-a8ac-496b-85c4-78188d5c9b0f\">\n                    \n\n<p>Since 2009, Purdue University has partnered with the City of West Lafayette to transform campus food waste into renewable energy. The program primarily collects food scraps from food generating locations on campus, including the Purdue Dining &amp; Culinary\u2019s residential dining locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Collected food waste is hauled internally by Purdue Grounds Refuse &amp; Recycling to the West Lafayette Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), where it is processed through anaerobic digestion. This is a natural, oxygen-free process in which microorganisms break down organic matter. As the material decomposes, it releases biogas, a renewable mixture primarily composed of methane (CH\u2084) and carbon dioxide (CO\u2082).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The WRRF captures this biogas and uses it to generate electricity and heat that power the facility\u2019s operations, creating a closed-loop system that reduces landfill disposal, lowers greenhouse-gas emissions and supports local renewable-energy production. The remaining digested material, or biosolids, are further treated for beneficial reuse in agricultural or soil-improvement applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This collaboration demonstrates how Purdue and the City of West Lafayette are working together to advance circular waste management and community energy resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left \">\n    <ul class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westlafayette.in.gov\/services\/waste-and-removal\/food-waste\" target=\"_blank\">Learn More from West Lafayette<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-home-video-embed \">\n        <div class=\"section has-none-background has-padding-top-small has-padding-bottom-small has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container is-16by9\">\n                        <div class=\"tagged-header-container\">\n                <h2 class=\"tagged-header purdue-home-video-embed__header\">See how the process works<\/h2>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal purdue-home-cta-card--video\">\n    <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/5rffwhFiGPA\/maxresdefault.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/div>\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n        <span class=\"cta-link purdue-home-cta-card__link\">Watch Video<\/span>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"cta-icon cta-icon--play\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-content\/themes\/purdue-home-theme\/imgs\/play_icon_gold.svg\" alt=\"\">                                       \n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"iframe-container is-sr-only\">\n        <div class=\"youtube-video\" id=\"5rffwhFiGPA\" data-title=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5rffwhFiGPA?rel=0&#038;autoplay=1&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;mute=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-a71889b4-b8a9-49b3-a085-98455a390eca\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-a71889b4-b8a9-49b3-a085-98455a390eca\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Yard Waste Composting<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-a71889b4-b8a9-49b3-a085-98455a390eca\">\n                    \n\n<p>Purdue University\u2019s Yard Waste Compost Program diverts thousands of pounds of organic material from landfill disposal each year by turning landscape waste into a valuable soil amendment. Managed through the Grounds department within Administrative Operations, the program supports a closed-loop approach to landscape management across campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each season, Purdue\u2019s grounds crews collect leaves, grass clippings, brush and other vegetative debris from routine maintenance activities and storm cleanup. This material is transported to the university\u2019s compost site, where it undergoes a controlled aerobic decomposition process. Through the action of naturally occurring microorganisms, the yard waste breaks down over several months into nutrient-rich compost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Temperature, moisture and oxygen levels are carefully monitored to ensure effective decomposition and to minimize odor or greenhouse gas release. Once cured, the finished compost is screened and reused across campus landscapes \u2014 improving soil structure, water retention, and plant health, while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and topsoil imports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By reusing these organic resources on campus, Purdue reduces hauling and landfill costs, cuts carbon emissions and demonstrates a model for sustainable land management within higher education<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"section \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                <div class=\"tagged-header-container tagged-header-container--content-block tagged-header-container-narrow tagged-header-container-gold\">\n            <h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">Personal and Household Waste Resources<\/h2>\n        <\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder has-no-topborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-0bdd5c5e-7722-4c03-b0ca-20346da7fc0e\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-0bdd5c5e-7722-4c03-b0ca-20346da7fc0e\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Off-Campus Recycling<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-0bdd5c5e-7722-4c03-b0ca-20346da7fc0e\">\n                    \n\n<p>Recycling and waste collection rules are specific to where you live. Information for the Greater Lafayette area can be found below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left \">\n    <ul class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westlafayette.in.gov\/services\/waste-and-removal\/recycling\" target=\"_blank\">West Lafayette<\/a><\/li>\n                    <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lafayette.in.gov\/288\/Recycling\" target=\"_blank\">Lafayette<\/a><\/li>\n                    <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tippecanoe.in.gov\/1166\/Whats-Recyclable-and-Where\" target=\"_blank\">Tippecanoe County<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Purdue Grounds department offers mixed recycling drop-off locations for all students, staff, and faculty who do not currently have a home recycling service. The dumpsters marked with a recycling sticker at the following locations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Telecommunications building at Second and University streets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parking lot at Fourth and Russell streets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parking lot across from the Armory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water tower parking lot<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-904d5b7f-3c10-43bc-af84-f52e24250a62\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-904d5b7f-3c10-43bc-af84-f52e24250a62\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Off-Campus Food Waste<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-904d5b7f-3c10-43bc-af84-f52e24250a62\">\n                    \n\n<p>The City of West Lafayette offers&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westlafayette.in.gov\/services\/waste-and-removal\/food-waste\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collection site for&nbsp;food waste<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;offers&nbsp;countertop food waste bins to residents&nbsp;Monday \u2013 Friday.&nbsp;Unpackaged food gets&nbsp;composted,&nbsp;broken down and converted into energy for the facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-12b8c9cb-f7ba-4c23-bf61-1a4e34876563\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-12b8c9cb-f7ba-4c23-bf61-1a4e34876563\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Textile Donations and Reuse<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-12b8c9cb-f7ba-4c23-bf61-1a4e34876563\">\n                    \n\n<p>Clothing and other textiles cannot be processed in recycling streams.&nbsp;Gently used&nbsp;items can be donated to local charities, thrift or resale shops.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":65,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-76","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1587,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/76\/revisions\/1587"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/sustainable-ops\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}