Recycling at St. Lawrence University
Recycling reduces the need to extract raw materials, saves space in our landfills and generates revenue. Recycling is the right thing to do, it's easy and it's the law.
Paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, metal, rechargeable batteries, printer cartridges/toner, CFLs (swirly light bulbs), aerosol cans, electronic equipment
Please make sure all liquids are emptied from containers before placing in the recycling bin.Which bin does it go in?
We do not have the same bins in every space across campus. As a general rule we have two systems:
1. Three bin system in academic and administrative spaces
- Green Bin-paper
- Blue Bin-mixed containers (plastic, glass, metal)
- Black Bin-trash
2. Two bin system in student residences
All recycling can be placed in the same bin.
- Blue Bin/Wheelie-all recyclable material
- Black Bin/Wheelie-all trash
In our most heavily used areas the outdooor trash cans now serve for trash and recycling. An insert in the bin and a special top allows for trash to be kept separate from plastic, glass and metal containers.
The rest of the story...
Recycling and trash are collected in 90 gallon wheelies (1) in the recycling room of each building. Wheelies are taken (2) to a large sorting center, at the south end of campus (3), where they can be dumped onto a conveyer belt (4) and further sorted (5) (containers separated by plastic, glass, metal, etc.). Recyclables are retained and trash is sent up the conveyor belt into a trailer (6) where it is compacted and stored before being taken to the landfill.
All students and employees are asked to separate trash from recyclables; one person at our sorting facility is not able to sort an entire University's worth of recycling from trash. Employees are reminded that trash and recycling facilities at St. Lawrence are for University use only, bringing your personal trash to work is a misuse of University resources.