Home > Yale is transitioning to single stream recycling
Yale is transitioning to single stream recycling
Single stream recycling allows you to deposit cans, bottles and other glass, hard plastics and metals in the same bin with mixed paper. Separation will now occur via special machinery at an off-site recycling center.
This system makes recycling at Yale easier for all. Here is a simple breakdown of the “Do’s and Do Not’s” of single stream recycling:
Any hard plastics
All standard paper including books, office paper, newspaper, and magazines
Clean food containers including milk cartons, cereal boxes, and to-go containers
Any metals including cans, tops, and aluminum foil and trays
Light bulbs and window glass
Packing materials such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts
Cardboard boxes should be broken down and placed next to recycling bins.
Plastic shopping bags are recyclable, but cannot be processed with the single-stream materials. You can take these to local retailers like Target and Stop-and-Shop.
CFL light bulbs, projector lamps, and lithium batteries (i.e. those used in cameras) can be recycled through Yale Environmental Health and Safety. Between pickups keep compact fluorescent bulbs in a small box to avoid breakage
Alkaline batteries can be disposed of in the normal trash or collected by EHS. However, other batteries such as lead acid, lithium, rechargeable and button batteries are considered universal waste and each dead battery MUST be stored separately in a plastic bag or taped with electrical tape on each end.
Recycling in labs
Pipette tip boxes
Aluminum foils & trays
All glass, plastic or metal containers that are triple rinsed and defaced that once contained liquid chemicals can be recycled. (Exceptions include any acid, base or acutely hazardous chemical container. Plastic safety coated glass bottles cannot currently be recycled.)
Items with biological, radiological or chemical materials
Block foam (e.g. "styrofoam")
Rubber-coated chemical bottles
Plastic safety-coated glass bottles
Any acid, base or acutely hazardous chemical contain
Please note thatdesk-side recycling bins continue to be used for mixed paper only. Please deposit recyclable and non-recyclable food and beverage items in the appropriate single stream and trash containers in hallways and other locations away from your desk.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your building’s Facilities Superintendent.
For additional information on recycling at Yale, please see www.yale.edu/recycle. Additional general information on recycling and single stream recycling may be found here: