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Campus Recycling

GW's Recycling Rate October 2009: 20%


Thanks to student efforts, all rooms in each residence hall have individual green bins to collect bottles and cans for recycling. 

Students are encouraged to use a paper bag or cardboard box to collect mixed paper for recycling. When it's full, carry the bin to your floor's recycling center and empty the recycling into the appropriate container. 

Download a PDF of recyclable items here or read below.

You may place the following items into recycling bins throughout campus as long as they are empty and clean:

Bottles and Cans - Plastic, Glass, Aluminum, Steel, Tin

Please empty and rinse containers before recycling.


 YES  NO
 Plastic beverage containers (#1-7)
  •  Plastic cups (#5 and #6)
  •  water bottles
    • coffee cup lids
    •  milk jugs
    •  Solo cups
    •  soda bottles
    •  clam shell food containers
     Aluminum cans
    •  plastic fruit containers
    •  soda cans
    •  plastic plates
    •  energy drinks
    •  shaving cream cans
     Glass bottles
    •  aerosol spray cans
    •  all colors
    •  plastic silverware
     Tin cans
    •  drinking straws
    •  tomato sauce cans
    •  aluminum foil
    •  soup cans
    •  yogurt cups
     Take-away beverage containers
    •  pudding cups
    •  Clear plastic cups (#1)
    •  butter tubs
    •  Clear plastic dome lid
    •  plastic bags
    •  Clear, flat, plastic lid
     
     Empty cleaning supply bottles
     
    •  spray bottles
     
    •  concentrated liquid bottles
     
    •  laundry detergent bottles
     

    *These numbers denote certain types of plastic.  Please see the chart below for recycling symbols that you will find on the bottom of most plastic containers.




    Mixed Paper

    Please ensure that paper is clean and dry.


     YES  NO
    •  newspapers
    • wet paper
    •  printer paper
    •  paper cups
    •  colored paper
    •  milk or juice cartons (paper)      
    •  magazines
     
    •  sticky-notes
     
    •  notebooks (metal binding is OK)
     
    •  envelopes (plastic window is OK)
     
    •  folders
     
    •  glossy paper
     
    •  cereal boxes
     
    •  granola bar boxes
     
    •  cardboard (unfold and place neatly near the paper recycling bins)
     
    •  paper cup sleeve
     
    •  paper egg cartons
     
    •  paper towel and toilet paper rolls
     

    Other Recyclables

    The following items are recyclable but should NOT be placed in the recycling bins on campus. Please contact Risk Management (risk@gwu.edu or 202-994-3265) to recycle these items:

    • Batteries;
    • Electronic materials (e.g., old computers, TVs);
    • Light bulbs containing mercury (e.g. fluorescent light bulbs); and
    • Toner cartridges.

    For more information about trash and recycling efforts for staff and faculty please visit the Facilities web site or e-mail recycle@gwu.edu



    Contact Information

    Planning and Environmental Management
    2025 F Street, NW #215
    Washington, DC 20052

    E-Mail | recycle@gwu.edu                           Web site | http://facilities.gwu.edu/

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