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Ìý ÌýWhat can I recycle?

You can recycle metal, plastics, paper cartons, glass, paper, books, newspapers, magazines, and cardboard. Find out more specifics by reading theÌýAcceptable Materials for Recycling page.

Keep in mind that it is important not to cross-contaminate! You can't recycle plastic bags, paper cups (due to coating on the inside), wrappers and packets, and frozen food boxes. Find out more specifics by reading theÌýUnacceptable Materials for Recycling page.

Ìý ÌýWhere can I recycle on campus?

Find out specific on-campus locations and how to recycle at theÌýWhere to Recycle page.Ìý

Ìý ÌýHow do I properly recycle this special material?

There are spaces on campus you can recycle cell phones, disks, batteries, pallets, CFLs, toner cartridges, office supplies, and lab materials. Find out more by reading theÌýSpecial Materials Recycle Options page.

ÌýÌýCan we recycle items from our office clean out?

For large amounts of recyclables from office purges and special collections, please call Facilities Management atÌý303-492-5321Ìýin advance to arrange for delivery of additional containers.

ÌýÌýWhat can I compost?

You can compost food waste, compostable plastics, compostable paper and wood, paper towels, and napkins. To tell if plastic is compostable, look for the labeling "#7 PLA" on the bottom of the container!

Find out more by reading theÌýAccepted Compost Materials on Campus page.

ÌýÌýWhere can I compost on campus?

Composting collections continue to expand at CU Boulder. Many buildings currently have compost locations including the dining halls, the UMC, Folsom, Koelbel, Education, Wolf Law, Henderson Museum, Theater and Dance, Ramaley, and more. Find out more specific locations by reading theÌýOn Campus Composting page.Ìý

Ìý ÌýHow can I get composting in my campus building?

It is a goal of the campus recycling program to add composting bins to restrooms in all the buildings on campus.Ìý We are eager to expand our program to include compost and offer landfill alternatives for items such as paper towels and compostable serving ware and food waste.

We estimate that this will happen slowly over the course of multiple years, with the goal of adding five buildings each year. There is no new funding to cover the costs of compost bags and collection so we have to phase in these costs.

In addition to securing continuous funding, some of the program challenges that we are working out are:

• contamination:Ìý unlike other recycling streams, there is low tolerance for contamination, and compost/compostables are not handled/sorted like the traditional materials such as cans/bottles.Ìý If there is contamination, it compromises the entire load of materials and will be disposed of as trash.
• product compliance:Ìý oftentimes, not all components of a coffee cup are compostable, like some of the lids & straws for example.Ìý There are mixed messages out there on what is and isn¹t compostable.
• service:Ìý due to the food component, it is necessary to empty compost bins daily
• space:Ìý compost carts or dumpsters need to be at the dock as the central collection point (large collection trucks service compost)
• cost effective:Ìý we must use our existing budget and resources for this new collection program

ÌýThank you for your interest to compost, and for your patience! Building by building we’re moving toward our Zero Waste Campus goal.

Ìý ÌýCan I get these documents shredded?

CU Recycling collects materials for confidential shredding, up to 6 boxes at a time. If you're interested in signing up for this service, fill out theÌý. For more information about the Shredding Service, as well as details on pick up arrangements, read theÌýRecycling Shredding Service page.

Ìý ÌýWho do I talk to about a missed collection in my building?

If there has been a missed collection in your building, please call Facilities Management atÌý303-492-5321.