What Can I Recycle On Campus?
All Types of Plastic
As of February 2009, you can now recycle all types of plastic, numbers 1-7 (see descriptions below). This means you can recycle microwavable lunch trays, yogurt containers, and all other rigid plastic items. However, before you recycle, please rinse off plastic food containers. Beverage bottles do not have to be rinsed but please remove the cap before recycling the bottle and cap. Plastic bags/wrap/film will not be recycled. Please deposit used plastic grocery bags at your local grocery store.
Types of Plastic that Can Be Recycled On Campus:
- #1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays, water bottles, etc.
- #2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene): milk bottles, detergent bottles, etc.
- #3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes
- #4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): squeezable bottles
- #5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws, and food containers (such as yogurt, ketchup bottles, and sour cream/butter/hummus tubs)
- #6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, plastic tableware, and Dining Services (Goodies to Go) food trays, etc.
- #7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers, and Tupperware
All of Your Paper
We recycle paper of any color and type (newspaper, magazines, file folders, copy paper, junk mail, cardboard, etc.) If you use the simple rule, "if it tears, recycle it" you will be safe! You cannot recycle used paper towels, napkins and tissues. Pizza boxes are recyclable as long as the leftovers are thrown away first. It doesn\'t matter if there is a little bit of grease or melted cheese on the cardboard.
All Glass Bottles and Cans
Coke cans, tuna cans, frappuccino bottles... throw them all into the appropriate recycling containers.
Electronics
All electronic equipment at the University is considered surplus equipment and is collected by Terrapin Trader. Functional equipment may be sold to the general public and that which cannot be sold or does not work is sent to a qualified vendor where it is deconstructed into individual components which are recycled. To contact Terripin Trader, visit www.purchase.umd.edu/ttrader/.
Used Toner and Ink Cartridges
All used toner and ink cartridges from University fax machines and printers are accepted by General Stores, part of Procurement and Supply. You may either have your item picked up when you receive a delivery from General Stores (the delivery people will just take it) or you may send the item or deliver it to: General Stores Building 383 (on Paint Branch Parkway across from the Maryland Fire Rescue Institute) Campus Zip 6711. If you have any questions about, call General Stores at 405-5854
Food Waste is Composted in Dining Halls
Food left on your plate will be composted if you eat in the dining halls. If you must use take-out containers (made of biodegradable bagasse), you can dispose of them in the compost bins located in dining hall dining rooms.