Want the latest about recycling on campus?
Contact Phil Piedmont at ppiedmon@facilities.rochester.edu or (585) 690-9119.
What to Recycle
Discover how we can divert waste from landfills through our various campus recycling programs.
What is recycling contamination?
Recycling contamination occurs when non-recyclable materials, such as Styrofoam or plastic bags, are put in the recycling bin. Recyclable items that are not empty and clean of food and liquid waste also create contamination. The contents of recycle bins that are too contaminated have to be put in the trash.
Another way to contaminate recycling is by wishcycling. Wishcycling means putting items into the recycle bin when you are not sure if they鈥檙e actually recyclable. While wishcyclers have good intentions鈥攖hey hope and wish the item can be recycled鈥攖hey can often contribute to the recycling contamination problem.
Remember: When in doubt, throw it out.
Download and print guidance on recycling and avoiding contamination by visiting the Sustainability Toolkit.
What can I recycle?
Refer to the drop-downs below to see what specifically is recyclable. You can also review for helpful infographics, brochures, images, and FAQs about recyclable materials.
standard recycling: Containers
- Bottles: beverage, soap, squeeze bottles, and spray bottles (reattach caps, pumps, and lids)
- Jugs: milk, laundry detergent, etc. (reattach caps)
- Jars: peanut butter, mayonnaise, sauce, etc. (reattach lids)
- Tubs: dairy products like sour cream, margarine, yogurt, etc. (reattach lids)
- NO plastic bags, colored plastic party cups, compostable plastics, foam egg cartons or cups, single-use plastics (coffee pods, straws, utensils, clamshell containers), or prescription bottles
Download posters on and to post in your area.
础肠肠别辫迟补产濒别听clean听metal items include:
- Metal food and beverage cans (lids are accepted)
- License plates (defaced)
- Metal pots,听pans, and aluminum foil
- Empty aerosol cans (with caps), but no pesticides or spray paints
Download posters on and to post in your area.
础肠肠别辫迟补产濒别听clean听glass:
- Glass food and beverage bottles, jugs, and jars: reattach and recycle lids and caps.
No drinking glasses, window glass, Pyrex, light bulbs, etc.
Download posters on and to post in your area.
Cups and cartons should be placed in the bins labeled ‘Containers’ around the University.
- To-go plastic beverage cups (clear and white): fountain soda, iced coffee, other takeaway drinks (empty all contents, reattach lids for recycling, place straws/stir sticks in trash)
- Paper beverage cups (hot and cold): Empty all contents, reattach lids, and leave paper sleeve on hot cups for recycling. Discard straws/stir sticks in trash.
- Gable top (milk and juice) cartons and drink/soup boxes: remove and throw away plastic straws; reattach caps for recycling
NO colored plastic party cups, compostable cups, or foam cups.
Download posters on and to post in your area.
STANDARD RECYCLING: PAPER AND CARDBOARD
You can recycle most clean paper products, including:
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, etc.
- Office paper, files, school papers, etc. (shredded paper in brown paper bags only)
- Junk mail, advertisements, and brochures
- All envelopes, including window envelopes*
- Phone directories and softcover books
*Window envelopes:听Help the Medical Center reduce paper! Every week, Clinical Laboratories sends out hundreds of white windowed envelopes containing lab results. Although the envelopes can be recycled along with many other varieties of paper, they are also perfect for reuse since nothing is typed or written on them. Return envelopes to: Clinical Laboratories, Attn: Steven Bowers, Box 278846.
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- Corrugated cardboard: flattened, 2-by-4 feet maximum听(do not bundle or tie together)
- Paper boxes鈥攃ereal, cracker, soda, tissue, shoe, gift, toy, etc. (flatten box and recycle applicable plastic liners at grocery store with other plastic bags)
- Pizza boxes and paper egg cartons (discard all contents and flatten)
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Special recycling programs
Inkjet, laser, and toner cartridges as well as drums and fusers can be recycled by mail or by drop off to several areas around the University. Rebates from this recycling program support the planting of new trees on campus!
Package the recyclables in any box or envelope and mail to University Mail Services, PO Box 270001.
River Campus
- Wilson Commons – Campus Information Center
- Campus Mail Center counter
- Any ResLife Office
Medical Center
- Med Center Post Office (G5142)
- Saunders Research Building Vending Machine Area (1.104)
Download posters on and at the .
The University recycles rechargeable batteries and lithium-ion batteries in accordance with Monroe County Environmental Services and . Contact the University鈥檚 at (585) 275-2056 if your area is interested in arranging a battery collection location.
Alkaline batteries are not accepted and can be disposed of in the regular trash.
Batteries can be dropped off at the following locations:
River Campus
- Rush Rhees Library/Gleason Library, near the elevators
- Carlson Library, 1st floor by the printer
Medical Center
- Biological Supply Center, G-8633, Monday鈥揊riday, 8 a.m.鈥�4 p.m.
- Parking Office at Strong Memorial Hospital Garage, G-0612A, Monday鈥揊riday, 6 a.m.鈥�11 p.m.; weekends, 9 a.m.鈥�1 p.m.
- School of Medicine and Dentistry Environmental Services Office, G-6305, Monday鈥揊riday, 8 a.m.鈥�4 p.m.
has information about pick-up/drop-off options and what鈥檚 eligible for recycling.
- Students can bring electronics that store data (e.g., laptops, tablets, USB drives, hard drives, etc.) to the University Tech Store in Rush Rhees Library. All other electronics devices can be labeled 鈥淩ECYCLE鈥� and brought to the Sage Art Center loading docks t be recycled.
The Sustainability Office hosts an annual E-Cycle Day each fall for members of the University community to recycle personal electronics.
Contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at (585) 273-4567 to schedule a service request for University document shredding.
The Sustainability Office hosts the annual Shred Fest in the summer for safe and secure destruction and recycling of personal paper documents.
Plastic bags should never be placed in a regular recycling bin. Instead, they must be collected through a specialized collection program. Acceptable bags include:
- Grocery shopping bags (e.g., produce bags, bread bags, cereal box liners, or stretch/shrink wrap)
- Zip-type bags (please remove the slide mechanism)
- Mail packages (bubble wrap or plastic envelopes)
Plastic bags can be dropped off in the special bin in .
Contact the at (585) 275-2056 to:
- Recycle these materials
- Dispose of hazardous waste
Bring empty pipette tip boxes to the at:
601 Elmwood Avenue Box 637 Room G8633
The Supply Center is open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except from noon to 1:00 PM. For questions, please contact Michael Hughson at michael_hughson@urmc.rochester.edu.
Keys can be recycled and in certain cases repurposed. Please bring or send no-longer-needed keys to the URMC Lock/Sign Shop, Box 623. Clearly label the package with ‘recycle/repurpose.’ Questions? Contact Jason Vautier at jvautier@facilities.rochester.edu.
The 91原创’s shoe reuse and recycling program is designed to bring usable shoes first and foremost to those in need.
Donation bins can be found in the main locker rooms of the Goergen Athletic Center. All types of shoes are accepted.
From April 2009 to July 2024, the University participated in program. Through this program, 5,416 pairs of sneakers, equating to nearly six tons, were collected and recycled.
Visit the Reuse Programs page for more details on the current shoe collection program.