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Waste Reduction & Recycling

Updates

Princeton is committed to reducing its total waste stream while increasing the percentage of recycling across all categories including "household" items, demolition and construction debris, and food waste. To learn about the University's progress toward our waste reduction goals, visit our 2011 Report on Sustainability.   

Recycling at Princeton

These Recycling Guidelines were prepared by members of Greening Princeton and recently updated by the Eco-Reps and the Office of Sustainability to help the Princeton community recycle more effectively. What can be recycled depends on many factors, including where you live and  waste handler agreements with sorting facilities.

Item

What to Recycle

Where to Recycle
Mixed Paper and Cardboard
  • Office paper and mail (glossy paper, plastic envelope windows, metal staples and clips are okay)
  • Cardboard and paperboard (break down/flatten boxes)
  • Newspaper
  • Magazines
  • Posters
  • Paper bags
  • Books (both hard cover and paperback)

Not recyclable: Paper contaminated with food; napkins, paper towels and tissues; plastic- or wax-coated paper, cardboard and cartons; metal-lined shelf-stable "aseptic" containers (e.g. milk, soup)

  To Be Announced...
Plastic
  • Plastic containers with recycling codes #1-7* (empty and rinse out containers; lids are okay, but should be attached to the container)
  • Grocery and resealable (e.g. Ziploc bags); Recycling bins are available in laundry rooms and at the entrances to the U-Store on University Place

* What is a plastic recycling code? A number, usually in a triangle on the bottom of the container: 

  

 Glass
  •  Glass bottles and jars (empty and rinse out containers; colors are okay)
  
Metal
  •  Aluminum (e.g. soda cans) and steel/tin cans and lids (empty and rinse out containers)
  • Aerosol cans (e.g. empty food and household cleaning products)
  

 Electronics and Batteries

                   

                        

                         

                              

   

  • Cell phones and peripherals: A recycling bin is available on the 100 level of Frist. Phones are donated or recycled in an EPA certified domestic facility. 
  • Rechargeable batteries: A recycling bin is available on the 100 level of Frist.
  • Ink and toner cartridges: Recycling bins are available in most computer clusters. All University departments can request a toner cartridge recycling container from Office Max.  For more information, please contact Office Max customer service representative, David Thomas 

Not recyclable: Alkaline batteries (note that using rechargeable batteries is a greener choice!)

  

Reduce waste by opting for products with less packaging. Reuse items again and again. Recycle acceptable materials in campus recycling bins and compete each year in "Recyclemania" - a college and university recycling competition. Donate unwanted, reusable materials (e.g. school supplies, books, clothing, food, toiletries) to worthy causes at collection sites on campus at the end of each academic year.


Supplemental Information

Pens

The Office of Finance & Treasury has initiated a new recycling option partnering with TerraCycle®. Waste is sent to Terracycle and then waste is upcycled or recycled into various products. The following types of waste can be collected : Pens, pen caps, mechanical pencils, markers, marker caps, highlighters, highlighter caps, permanent markers, permanent markers caps. If your department would like to participate in this program please contact Judy Schedneck (jschedne@) for a container that can be picked up at 106 Alexander St. and further instructions.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) Recycling

The Office of Sustainability is working with Building Services to set up a program to provide CFL recycling pick-up points right here on campus. Stay tuned for more information at the program develops. In the meantime, two options are available to recycle your used CFL bulbs:

1) take to the service counter of any Home Depot and recycled for free
2) order a kit from Waste Management Associates which allows you to mail your bulbs to a recycling facility

Batteries

For certain 9 volt battery types, including alkaline, carbon-zinc and mercury, recycling kits are available from Waste Management Associates.

For more information on recycling at Princeton, call Building Services at 258-3490 or Facilities Customer Service at 258-8000.