Materials Accepted at USU Recycling
Learn more about how USU handles recycling for the following materials: mixed paper, white paper, shredded paper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, plastic bottles, plastics #3-7, plastic bags, glass bottles, rigid white styrofoam, scrap metal, wooden pallets, batteries.
Items we DO NOT accept: Motor Oil, E-Waste.
| Materials/Description | instructions | Location | Not Acceptable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Paper: colored paper, newspaper, envelopes with or without windows, books, phone books, paper bags, magazines, cardstock, folders, sticky notes egg/pop cartons etc. (Staples, tape ok) | Place in “Mixed Paper” or “Paper” bins, boxes, or cages | Every Classroom and dorm room on campus; offices, hallways, outside cages and drop-off areas | Waxed Cups, waxy orange juice/milk containers, laminated paper, paper towels, tissues, messy, wet, or greasy paper, rubber bands, plastic bags |
| White Paper: white office/copy paper, writing paper, envelopes with or without windows, notebook paper (Staples and tape ok) | Place in “White Paper” bins where possible, where not available, “Mixed Paper” or “Paper” bins | Specifically designated bins for white paper are in many hallways and offices, see also list for mixed paper | Tissues, tissue paper, waxy paper, laminated paper, messy, wet, or greasy paper, plastic bags |
| Shredded Paper: white or colored paper | Please place in plastic or paper bags to avoid mess and put with mixed or white paper or in the cardboard section of outside cages or central areas | Specifically designated bins are rare; Shredded paper should be enclosed in plastic bags and placed with cardboard | Wet paper. (Shredded Paper is the only time we encourage individuals to use plastic bags- the bags aren’t recyclable here, but do prevent messes) |
| Corrugated Cardboard: Paper with corrugation- if in doubt, rip it and look for ridges (hint, it is not always just brown) (Tape ok) |
ALWAYS flatten. Take to central location and put in cage or on pallet or stack against the wall as applicable. (If filled with white, rigid styrofoam, ok to leave unbroken) | Usually in central locations inside-can be simply a pallet or a stack against the wall- or a cage outside; also all drop-off or outside cages. | Trash of any kind. Really greasy or waxy boxes. Packing peanuts. (Generally, clean pizza boxes are ok) |
| Aluminum Cans: Beverage and cat food containers | On campus: Place in “Beverage Containers” bins; In cages by dorms: place in “Co-mingled Containers” section; Drop-off areas: Place in “Aluminum Cans” box; crushing them is nice | In many hallways and areas with multiple offices, all drop off areas and dorm cages; If you are in a building without a bin and would like one, please contact us. | Aluminum foil, aluminum trays, airplanes etc- they can be recycled as “Scrap Metal” but not with aluminum cans |
| Tin/Steel Cans: Food and certain types of beverage containers (like Slim Fast cans) | Rinse major food items from them to reduce odor, but washing and removing labels is not necessary- try to save water too. See above “Aluminum Cans” | Place them with aluminum cans as above, everywhere except the drop-off area at the Recycling Center (they have their own spot there) | Anything not shaped like a can- these items can be recycled in “Scrap Metal” at the Recycling Center Drop-off Area |
| Plastic Bottles: Only #1 PETE and #2 HDPE (Pop Bottles, Milk Jugs, Detergent bottles etc). They can be colored or clear- check the bottom of the container for the number inside the recycling symbol | Remove and discard lids (they are often a different material and cause problems with balers) but no need to rinse or remove labels; On campus: Place with “Beverage Containers;” In cages by dorms: Place with “Co-Mingled Containers;” in Drop-off areas: with their respective plastic type | All the places listed where aluminum cans are accepted- sometimes separate, but often mixed with other types of beverage containers | Containers with liquid in them or metal attached to them. |
| Misc Plastics: 3- 7 We no longer accept |
Please dispose of these plastic at home or elsewhere do not leave them at our drop off area | No where on campus | No 3-7 or film plastic taken at USU |
| Plastic Bags: Do not collect, take to local grocery. | |||
| Glass Bottles: There are two categories for glass bottle collection at USU. One is brown bottles and the rest are under the other. | Just rinse major food items out but no need to remove labels. | Specifically designated spots are located in the trailer in Aggie Village and the Recycling Center Drop-off Area. Please do not leave glass with plastic and aluminum can drop off bins | Lids, full bottles, messy materials left in the bottles. |
| Rigid, White Styrofoam: The hard, white styrofoam for packaging and for insulating | Usually place with cardboard or paper or in specially designated spots. | Specifically designated spot: Recycling Center Drop-off. Other special spots exist, but usually just place it with cardboard or paper. | Packing peanuts and squishy foam, plastic bags, tape |
| Scrap Metal: Basically any type of metal that isn’t an aluminum or tin/steel can | Place only in bins specifically designated as “Scrap Metal,” not with other cans | Recycling Center Drop-off area is the only spot for “Scrap Metal” | Drums, refrigerators, or items containing freon |
| Wooden Pallets: Pallets for shipping made from wood, whether whole or broken | Place directley east of Drop off arera next to fence. Large quantities call 797-1973 | Recycling Center Drop-off area, place them near the fence on the east side. | Pallets not made from wood. We DO take broken pallets though. |
| Batteries: From USU only! we do not accept these from the public only AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and other small batteries | Place only in bins specifically designated for “Battery Recycling” or at the Drop-off area | Recycling Center Drop-off area | Car Batteries: Contact USU Environmental Health and Safety or Logan City Environmental Department |
| Motor Oil: We only recycle motor oil from Motor Pool vehicles. DO NOT leave motor oil at drop-off areas. | Contact local auto parts stores, Logan City Environmental Division, or call 1-800-458-0145 | N/A | |
| E-Waste: Computers and electronics We DO NOT accept any E-Waste. | USU Departments may contact Surplus Sales at 797-2083 or | If unaccpetable by Surplus Contact: Environmental Health and Safety: http://ehs.usu.edu. |