the UW Sustainability blog
We've all had those moments, holding an item over the recycling bin and hesitating because we're just not sure where it goes. Should it go in recycling? Compost? Landfill?
UW Recycling is here with answers. Here are five quick tips to help you recycle properly on campus.
Recyclables should be…
Plastics are…
Do you have questions about proper recycling or composting? Are you unsure about what goes in which bin when you're throwing stuff away? UW Recycling wants to provide answers. Here are 10 of the most common recycling myths that pop up on campus, along with definitive answers!
Myth #1: All cardboard and paper is recyclable
Since we need to avoid food or grease in the recycling, pizza boxes and food-soiled paper like napkins should be composted.
This guest post is by Gabrielle Coeuille. Gabrielle is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in International Studies with a focus on Environmental Studies at the Jackson School. She hopes to explore international waste management systems after graduation.
This summer I had the opportunity to intern with the Waste Management Recycle Corps – an award-winning program that puts college students through an intensive hands-on job training and then deploys them to lead recycling education and outreach in communities across Puget Sound.
For many workplaces across the University of Washington, summer can be a time to tidy up offices and get rid of unused equipment, or even move spaces. Cleaning up or moving out of an office is not an easy task. Not sure where to start? UW Recycling has some general guidelines to follow to get rid of your unwanted items.
So much of the material we handle on a daily basis is made of plastic. Let’s delve into some common questions about the puzzling predicament of perplexing plastic packaging products! You can also learn more at the Sustainability Film Series at the UW Tower Auditorium on Thursday, July 11.
This Spring, UW Recycling staff guest-taught students in the Nutritional Sciences 302 Food Systems class - led by faculty member Yona Sipos - regarding the composting process and how to sort compostable materials on campus. The students were then given an assignment to think about ways the University of Washington could reduce food waste.
We've included a selection of the student thoughts below:
Students who are getting ready to move out of residence halls or U District housing often have extra items as they pack up. UW Recycling makes it easy to keep those items out of the trash and ensure they go to someone who needs them.
Join UW Recycling for the upcoming 2019 Trash-In held on Red Square Friday, April 19, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. During this time, volunteers (a healthy mix of students, staff, and faculty) can sign up for shifts lasting one hour to sort waste collected from buildings on campus.
UW Recycling has an opening for a part-time student Waste Diversion Assistant. This position could begin as early as January 2, 2019. This is a great opportunity for a qualified, dedicated student interested in environmental issues (primarily recycling and composting education and general sustainability topics).
Students living in the north campus neighborhood who are moving at the end of the summer (or who just have unwanted items to get rid of) can keep their stuff off the streets during the Husky Neighborhood Cleanup on August 30 and Sept. 24-25. All students can stop by the cleanup station on 17th Ave NE & NE 47th St. on these days and drop off unwanted items for free.