Waste Disposal Guide

Recycling

Bagged Recyclables are not accepted. If you collect your recyclables in a bag, empty them directly into the dumpster and reuse the bag!

Examples of recyclable metal items on a blue background. Items include aluminum cans, tin cans, aluminum foil, and a tin to-go lid.

Metals

Aluminum, tin, and steel cans are accepted
Empty food and liquids from aluminum cans and foil
When food is thick, rinse thoroughly before recycling
Remove metal lids from glass jars

Examples of recyclable plastics on a blue background. Items include laundry detergent bottle, toiletry bottle, black to-go container, plastic water bottle, milk jug, various plastic cups, and a plastic sandwich box.

Plastics 1, 2, and 5

Recyclable plastics are often also identifiable by shape; bottles, jugs, and tubs are most often made of 1, 2, or 5.
Empty all liquids and screw plastic caps back on
Make sure all food is removed
Keep plastic lids on plastic cups

Glass

Empty all liquids
Remove metal lids and recycle them loose

Paper

Paper, newspaper, paper bags, envelopes with plastic film, and magazines

Paper Food Containers

Empty liquids
Dispose of plastic lids, caps, and straws from paper cups in the trash, as they are too small to be recycled on their own

Paperboard and Cardboard

Cardboard boxes, including shipping boxes, cereal boxes, and empty pizza boxes with a small amount of grease are accepted
Remove all inside/outside packaging (plastic wrap, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts, etc.)

Trash

Plastic Bags

Plastic #4: LDPE
Bags can get caught in recycling sorting equipment and cause problems with the machine
Avoid plastic bags, choose reusable
These items can be recycled at many grocery stores, including Meijer, Walmart, and Target.

Items labeled as compostable including cutlery, plates, bowls, and cups as well as plant based plastic cups and bamboo plates.

Compostable and Plant-Based Materials

Certified Compostable and Biodegradable materials are currently not able to be composted through our hauler due to complex contamination.
Items labeled “Compostable”
Plastic #7: PLA (bioplastic)
BPI Certified
Plant materials (i.e., bamboo)

Candy wrappers, plastic wrap, chip bags, sauce packets and k-cups.

Wrappers and Packets

Plastic #4: LDPE
Wrappers and packets cannot be easily separated by sorting equipment and don’t have an end market to turn into a new product.
Often, this type of packaging is made up of multiple materials, which prevents it from being recyclable.

Toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, metallic wrapping paper, wax paper, pastry bags, wooden stir stick, wooden chopsticks, and receipt paper.

Napkins, Wood, and Non-Recyclable Papers

Soft papers like paper towels, napkins, toilet paper (even unused), and tissues.
Wood
Wax-coated papers
Receipts and other thermal papers are BPA-coated and cannot be recycled
Most wrapping papers, as many contain foil, glitter, or plastic coating

Styrofoam

Plastic #6PS (Polystyrene) cannot be recycled and should be avoided
Styrofoam serving ware, including cups, plates, and to-go containers, must be thrown in the trash.
Packing peanuts

Ceramics and Non-recyclable Glass

Ceramics cannot be recycled and must be donated or go to the trash
Ceramics contaminate the glass recycling process
mirrors and glass panes also contaminate the recycling process
When mixed with regular glass during recycling, ceramics cause impurities, which cause the glass to break

Food Composting

Examples of food items including peanut butter and jelly, pepperoni pizza, Swiss cheese, hamburger, apple core, tea bag.

All Food Scraps

Our compost hauler accepts ALL food scraps, including produce, processed foods like potato chips, meats, dairy, coffee grounds, and tea bags.

Frequently Asked Questions

When most people see the triangle, they identify it as the recycling symbol; however, not all items that are marked with this symbol are recyclable. These symbols are part of the Resin Identification Code System that identifies the type of plastic resin used for the item.

#1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE): recyclable material used in soft drink bottles, water bottles, juice bottles, and some plastic cups.

#2 High-density polyethylene (HDPE): recyclable material used in milk jugs, cleaning solution containers, laundry detergent bottles, and toiletry bottles.

#3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): non-recyclable material used in plumbing pipes, credit cards, some shoe soles, and many toys.

#4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): non-recyclable used in plastic grocery bags, bread bags, plastic wrap, sandwich bags, and frozen food bags.

#5 Polypropylene (PP): recyclable material used in certain clear plastic cups, black to-go containers, Tupperware, and yogurt containers.

#6 Polystyrene (PS): non-recyclable material used in styrofoam cups, plates, to-go clamshells, and packing peanuts, as well as solo cups, and plastic cutlery.

#7 Other: refers to all other plastics, including acrylic, polycarbonate, and plant-based plastic (PLA). These are not recyclable.

Bagging recyclables—especially in plastic bags or film wrap—can cause major issues at recycling facilities. The thin plastics used in the bags often get tangled in the sorting machinery, leading to jams and even temporary shutdowns. Our facility has equipment to open clear bags, but this step slows down and can hinder the recycling process. To support more efficient recycling, Butler University is working toward going bagless in certain areas on campus, making it easier for our recycling facility to sort materials properly. By keeping recyclables loose and unbagged in your individual spaces (dorms and offices), you are helping the system run more smoothly.

Butler University continues to implement strategies to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. Trash and recycling pickups will only be made from designated common spaces and receptacles in each building. Those with individual workspace bins will be responsible for disposing of their trash in designated waste disposal rooms across campus. All classroom and corridor trash collections will continue at the current schedule and cadence.

INTERNAL RESOURCES

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