Frequently Asked Questions:

Recycling at UConn

How does recycling work in the Residence Halls? 

There are recycling & trash stations located in every residence hall on campus. Depending upon the layout of the individual building, these may be located on every floor or just the ground floor.

The Red Bin = GLASS, METAL & PLASTIC, including:

Bottles, cans, and plastic containers # 1-7.

Aluminum, tin, or bimetal cans

Milk and juice cartons

The Yellow Bin = MIXED PAPER, including:

Copy paper (white & colored)

Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and other envelopes

Ceral boxes, soda/beer cartons

Telephones books and other soft cover books

Shredded paper

Corrugated cardboard should be broken down, flattened, and placed next to the yellow bins.

Small electronic equipment such as old cell phones and chargers, rechargeable batteries, and empty ink cartridges can be recycled by visiting any Complex Office and placing these in designated collection boxes.

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How does recycling work in Academic/Other buildings on campus?

You can find a complete overview of this program here!

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Are there any outdoor recycling bins?

We have several outdoor recycling bins for bottles & cans located around campus. You can find one outside the Library (newsstand entrance), the Student Union, and the fieldhouse entrance to the SRF.

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I saw custodial staff putting trash and recycling together. What's with that?

Custodial staff have been trained not to fish recyclables out of the trash and vice versa. This is to protect them from being injured by any sharp or other hazardous items that may be lurking in the bins. Therefore, if there is too much trash mixed in with the recyclables, it will all be tossed out as garbage. Even more reason to make sure that you use the bins properly!

If you are consistently seeing this happen, however, and feel that it's not due to excessive co-mingling of trash and recyclables, please give the Office of Environmental Policy a call at 486-5773.

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  What is "e-waste" and where can I recycle it?

E-waste is waste produced by old or broken electronic devices and their associated materials. E-waste items should not be disposed of in the trash due to their high concentrations of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. There are 3 large collection bins for E-waste located in the Library, Co-op and Student Union. Each Residence Area's Complex Office also has a collection bin for E-waste.

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Recycling is good but what can I do to reduce the amount of waste I produce?

Reducing the amount of waste you produce is easier than you think. Some easy ways to reduce waste at UConn include using a reusable mug or water bottle instead of purchasing beverages in plastic or paper containers that will be disposed of after use. Try to use items with less packaging when purchasing something. You can reduce food waste by taking smaller portions of food and filling up your plate again later if you really want more. Reducing is all about making conscious decisions about your consumption. You can do it with a little hard work and practice!

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