What You Can Recycle at Northwestern
Blue bins are provided for recycling paper, cardboard, cans, plastic, and glass. Other items such as electronics are collected separately for proper recycling. Items that can be recycled at 桃色视频include:
- Metal, glass and plastic
- Paper and cardboard
- Batteries
- Computer and electronics (E-waste)
- Copier cartridges
- Ink cartridges (ink jet and laser printers)
- Light bulbs (CFLs and other fluorescents)
- Plastic bags
- Refrigerators and coolant
- Scrap metal and construction and demolition materials
Recycling bins
Recycling bins are provided for recycling paper, cardboard, cans, glass, and plastic. Please do not use them for garbage. Refer to the information below for what can be recycled in these bins, or download a summary here. If you need recycling bins, bin labels, or a dumpster, email sustainNU@northwestern.edu. For a trash can, contact your department office. The following items can be placed in campus recycling bins.
Metal, glass and plastic
Aluminum and steel cans
Aluminum foil and trays
Glass bottles and jars
Plastic containers #1 - #5 (e.g. bottles, jugs, yogurt cups/tubs, 6-pack rings)
Paper and cardboard
Office paper
Brochures and flyers
Magazines and catalogs
Junk mail
Newspaper
Envelopes
Paperback books
Paper bags
Paperboard (e.g. cereal boxes)
Cardboard
Drink boxes, milk or juice cartons
Landfill (not recyclable)
The following items cannot be recycled and should be placed in trash cans, not recycling bins.
Paper towels, napkins, tissues
Paper cups
Greasy or dirty cardboard or paper
Food wrappers
Plastic bags and film
#6 plastic (Styrofoam)
#7 plastic
Any plastic not marked with a number
Ceramics
Drinking glasses
Laminated paper/stickers
Green hanging file folders
Other recycling
Refer to the resources below for proper recycling of other items such as electronics, light bulbs, and scrap metal.
Batteries
Research Safety (RS) handles all battery waste, including lead-acid (automotive), mercury, lithium containing, alkaline (ordinary household), and rechargeable batteries. Batteries can be taken to the Research Safety office in Chicago (345 E Superior St., Suite 1522) or Evanston (Hogan, Suite 5170).
Computer and electronics (e-waste)
- Computers, printers, and anything with a plug can be recycled through the eCycling program.
- Lab equipment is included in e-waste collections. Before you recycle or donate your lab equipment, follow the Office of Research Safety's guidance and submit a to hazardous-waste@northwestern.edu.
Copier cartridges
All Copier Management Program Vendors offer programs to return used toner cartridges free of charge. Visit the Copier Management Program website for more information about how to contact your vendor about cartridge recycling.
Ink cartridges (ink jet and laser printers)
- Staff: Laser and ink jet cartridges can be recycled on the Evanston and Chicago campuses through Northwestern's preferred vendor, Guy Brown. Cartridge recycling boxes are available for $0.01 each through the Guy Brown PunchOut catalog (search for "FREE Ink & Toner Cartridge Recycling Box With Prepaid Return Shipping Label"). Each box holds 12-15 laser and ink cartridges and comes prepared with a shipping label. Fill up the cartridge recycling box, tape it up, and bring it to the nearest mailroom for shipment. For questions contact sustainNU .
- Students: Please contact contact sustainNU for options.
Light bulbs (CFLs and other fluorescents)
- Staff: Light bulbs are replaced by custodians and electricians who collect them for proper handling. If you have a spent lamp, please contact Facilities Management.
- Students: Place light bulbs in a sealed bag and give them to Housekeeping staff for proper disposal.
Plastic bags
- Bags can be taken to most grocery stores for recycling.
- Avoid single-use plastics by bringing a reusable bag with you. Learn more about the and the .
Refrigerators and coolant
Freon or coolant must be removed from any item before disposal. Contact Facilities Management Customer Service to arrange for coolant removal service. Refrigerators and freezers can then be recycled through scrap metal or electronic waste collections.
Scrap metal and construction and demolition materials
Facilities Management maintains a central scrap metal recycling dumpster to collect metals including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and others. This includes unusable bookcases, shelves, bikes, desks, and racks. If you have a significant quantity, a metal recycling dumpster may be delivered to your location. Items must be safe to dispose and any coolant or other hazardous materials must be removed before recycling. Wood, drywall, pallets, concrete, glass, and other demolition type waste can be recycled in designated dumpster loads.
Contact sustainNU at sustainNU@northwestern.edu for assistance with recycling scrap metal or construction and demolition materials.
For more information
Contact sustainNU at sustainNU@northwestern.edu for more information.