Recycling, Compost & Waste

The Odegaard Undergraduate Library recently revamped its restroom and public area waste diversion practices in order to help support sustainability on campus.

Volunteers needed to give away free compost bins during student move-in! 

Looking to make a difference in UW campus sustainability? Volunteer with UW Recycling to give away free compost bins to incoming students at the UW campus apartments. UW Recycling will be tabling outside of Mercer Court, Stevens Court, and Cedar apartments during student move-in. We need volunteers to help educate new and returning apartment residents about recycling and composting at UW and offer residents a free compost bin for their apartment.

Do good for the environment, earn money for your RSO, and get into football games for free!

UW Recycling and Intercollegiate Athletics are looking for a reliable and environmentally aware student organization to provide recycling outreach to tailgaters prior to each home football game. The shift is 3-5 hours, depending on game start time, and a minimum of 6 volunteers per game is required. You will be walking throughout the parking lots to distribute recycling bags to tailgaters, promote recycling, and answer questions.

As a result of UW Recycling’s annual waste diversion event known as SCRAM (Students Cleanup, Recycle and Moveout), the University of Washington’s Seattle campus donated a grand total of 28.7 tons of reusable items to local charities and non-profit organizations, a 60% increase from 17.9 tons in 2014.

Polystyrene foam (a.k.a Styrofoam) is a petroleum-based plastic. It’s typically tossed in the trash once it serves its purpose of insulating beverages and food or cushioning fragile items, but because Styrofoam does not decompose, a multitude of issues arise once it’s released into the environment. Examples include air and marine pollution, the release of toxic chemicals and the destruction of wildlife that ingests the plastic. So, how do you address a problem like polystyrene foam?

Don’t know what to do with your old or damaged clothes? Don't throw them away - many thrift stores, dropboxes and other locations in the area will take them and reuse or recycle them, reducing waste in the landfill.

It doesn't matter if the clothes are ripped, stained, or otherwise damaged - find the nearest donation location instead of putting them in the trash.

Graduation is just around the corner, which means it’s time for UW Recycling to gear up for two annual waste diversion events: Students Cleanup, Recycle and Moveout (SCRAM) and Husky Neighborhood Cleanup. Both programs capture unwanted items from thousands of students as they move out of residence halls and the north campus community that is home to Greek Row.

The University of Washington’s Seattle campus earned a spot on the list of top 20 schools in RecycleMania, a national collegiate waste diversion tournament. For the first time in the University’s three years of participation, UW finished 17th overall with a recycling rate of nearly 63%. Additionally, the University surpassed other Pac-12 schools by 20% in total waste diversion, which includes both recycling and composting.

With the City of Seattle’s new compost ordinance in effect, UW Recycling is, more than ever, a pivotal waste diversion resource on campus.

The Washington State Recycling Association has scholarships available for student who would like to attend the organization's annual conference and trade show. This year the conference is in Spokane on May 17-20. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 23 at 5 p.m.