Recycling Procedures at UW Seattle Campus

Some recycling procedures may not apply to University medical centers, leased buildings, and Housing and Food Services facilities.

Included on this page is information about:

Paper

• In most offices and labs, recyclable paper is collected in polypropylene bags called "bagits."
• In hallways and other public areas, paper is collected in a Mixed Paper Public Area Bin.
• Offices performing paper cleanouts use large, wheeled toters.
  
  

Bagits and bagit stations

Establishing a bagit station for paper recycling

• Acquire bagit stands and bagits:
  • If the new station is in a student/public area, UW Recycling pays for the bagit frames and bagits.
  • If the new station is in a faculty/staff area, departments purchase the bagit frames, which are available inexpensively through UW Recycling. UW Recycling pays for the bagits.
  • If the new station is in Athletics, Housing and Food Services, Student and Union, or other self-sustaining facility, the department pays for bagit frames and initial bagits.
  • For new buildings, all containers are paid for out of the capital improvements budget.
    
• To purchase bagit frames from UW Recycling, send an email to recycle@u.washington.edu. Include the following information in your email: type and number of stands (single or double) needed, budget number if applicable, and delivery location.
• When the bagit stands are in place, contact Custodial Services at custserv@u.washington.edu or 206-685-1500 to begin service.
• Place bagits on their stands in shared offices, labs, copy rooms, etc. Bagits must not be located in hallways according to Environmental Health and Safety policy and Seattle Fire Department regulations.

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Guidelines for filling bagits

• Remove all clips.
• Remove paper from binders. Binders that are no longer needed by a department should be surplused. See www.uwsurplus.com for more information.
• Staples and small amounts of tape are okay.
• No soiled paper (napkins, tissue, pizza boxes, latte cups, etc.). Food-soiled paper and paper towels from kitchen use can be composted.
• Do not overfill bagits.
  • They should be no more than 3/4 full or weigh no more than 35 pounds.
  • If you have a concentrated stack of paper, magazines or catalogs, box up the material and send a request to UW Recycling for pickup of the boxes. For large amounts of paper or an office cleanout/move, request cleanout bins.
• Bagits are not permitted in individual offices.
  
• Put recyclable paper in any bagit. UW Recycling no longer requires sorting of paper into different colored bagits.

Need bagits?

• Find additional information and access the appropriate online service request form on the Request Additional Bagits page.
• For large paper cleanouts, request a temporary paper cleanout bin. Do not use bagits.

Metal bins for paper recycling in public areas

• Green metal bins are for all mixed paper.
  • Use this bin for all recyclable paper, including white, newspaper, and mixed paper.
• These metal bins for paper recycling are usually located with a red bin for waste and a gray bin for plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, milk cartons, and dairy tubs.
• Posters with guidelines for filling public area bins are available from UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811.

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Obtaining containers for paper recycling

• Bagits frames
  • Bagit frames can be purchased through UW Recycling.
  • Send an email to recycle@u.washington.edu. Include the following information in your email: type and number of stands (single or double) needed, budget number if applicable, and delivery location.
  • Bagits are not permitted in individual offices.
• Deskside containers
  • Request a free Personal Recycle Bin by filling out the online request form.
  • Please note that deskside containers are self-serve. They are not serviced by Custodial staff.
• Contact UW Recycling (recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811) for consultation regarding purchase of recycling containers.

Paper cleanout or file purge

• For small cleanouts or file purges, use your bagits.
• Up to 5 extra bagits can be placed beside your bagit station and custodial staff will remove them.
• Please do not fill bagits more than 3/4 full (maximum 35 pounds).

• For large paper cleanouts or purges, request a temporary paper cleanout bin.
• To order, fill out the online request form.
  • Allow up to five days for delivery.
  • If you have questions, contact UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu.
• The location of the bin must not obstruct egress or present a fire hazard.
• Monitor the bin and do not overfill it. Cleanouts should be completed as quickly as possible (no longer than 1 week). Extensions to the one-week loanout are made on a case-by-case basis and should be requested before the bin is scheduled to be removed.
• To schedule a pick up or exchange when the bin is 3/4 full:
  • Fill out the online request form.
  • Specify whether you want the bin exchanged because you have more paper to recycle, or removed if the clean out is completed.
  • Expect two to five days to have the bins picked up or exchanged.
• NOTE: PAPER CLEANOUT BINS ARE FOR PAPER ONLY, NOT GARBAGE OR SURPLUS.

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Not sure whether paper is recyclable?

• First, see the guidelines.
• Ream wrappers (paper used to wrap a ream of paper) can be recycled as long as it is not coated with plastic.
  • To test for plastic coating, rip the paper. Plastic film is usually visible along the rip if the paper is plastic coated.
• If you are still not sure whether a paper is recyclable, you can send a sample with your name and phone number to Box 355210 or email UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu.

Shredding confidential documents

Option 1: Self-serve
Put shredded paper in clear plastic bags, tie off the bags, and place next to a bagit station for collection by Custodial Services. Note: UW Recycling does not shred the paper it receives in bagits or cleanout toters or bins.

Option 2: Records Management Services
On request, Records Management Services can provide shredding services for confidential records that have reached the end of their retention period.

For a current list of services provided by Records Management, please visit their website.

Option 3: Off-site shredding by our contracted vendor
American Data Guard (ADG) provides off-site shredding at a University-contracted rate to all UW departments. Off-site services are conducted by using high-volume shred equipment at their commercial facility in Seattle. ADG will provide customers with 64-gal locked bins, if requested. One 64-gallon bin is the equivalent of 6-7 boxes or 200 pounds of paper.

Contact ADG at 206.285.5955 (option 2) for a price quote. Volume discounts available.

Option 4: On-site shredding by our contracted vendor
American Data Guard (ADG) provides on-site shredding at a University-contracted rate to all UW departments. On-site service uses large-volume, mobile shred vehicles. ADG will come to your site with 64-gallon locked bins and their mobile shred vehicle. The customer will load material into the bins and then the bins will be dumped into the mobile shred unit and shredded on-site.

Contact ADG at 206.285.5955 (option 2) for a price quote. Volume discounts available.

Non-Paper Material Shred Services
American Data Guard (ADG) provides off-site shredding of non-paper material, such as computer tapes, disks, microfiche, and prescription pill bottles, at a University-contracted rate to all UW departments. Off-site services are conducted using high-volume shred equipment at their commercial facility in Seattle. ADG will provide customers with 64-gal locked bins, if requested.

Contact ADG at 206.285.5955 (option 2) for a price quote.

UWMC Confidential Paper Recycling Program
Paper recycled at the UWMC is collected in locked public area recycling bins. For more information regarding UWMC's confidential paper recycling program, contact Environmental Services at 206.598.6182.

Books

Phonebooks

Dex Phonebooks

Every year during summer quarter, Dex phonebooks are ordered and delivered to the University and outdated ones are collected for recycling. Qwest supplies telecommunications services to the University, so only the Dex Phonebooks are distributed on campus.

Efficient distribution and collection of the phonebooks requires collaboration of Phonebook Coordinators and UW Recycling. If you have questions about ordering or recycling, please contact the Phonebook Coordinator for your building.

Old phonebook recycling

Phonebook Coordinators notify UW Recycling when the stacks or containers of old phonebooks are ready to be picked up for recycling.

• Request pickup by using one of the online phonebook pickup request forms so we have complete information to process your request.
• Be sure to tell us which building you are making the request for.
• If you have a stack of phonebooks, we must know how many books (more or fewer than 20). Different service groups collect them depending on the number.

After the main collection period, place old phonebooks next to your bagit station and email Custodial Services at custserv@u.washington.edu to request pickup. Do not place phonebooks in bagits.

Off-campus departments

Building management is responsible for ordering and recycling phonebooks for University Departments located in off-campus buildings. Speak with your building coordinator about your requirements. Directories can be ordered throughout the year by calling Dex at 1800 422 8793.

University of Washington Phonebooks

Individual copies of outdated UW faculty/staff phonebooks can be placed in a bagit. When recycling several phonebooks, remember there is a weight limit of 35 lbs per bagit. Please do not overload bagits.

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Hardbound books

There are a number of ways to recycle hardbound books.

Submit an online request form for pickup of boxes of books.

Include the hardbound books in a scheduled pickup of surplus materials.

Drop off hardbound books in gaylords (large, cardboard boxes) at the following locations:

Allen Library loading dock

G-Wing loading dock, Health Sciences Center (just inside the center doors)

K-Wing loading dock, Health Sciences Center

Recycling Center, 4535 Union Bay Place

Softbound books

A small number of manuals, journals, and other softbound books can be recycled as mixed paper in green bagits.

Please observe the 35 lbs per bagit weight limit.

Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard

Corrugated cardboard has smooth outer layers and a wavy inner layer as illustrated below:

Corrugated cardboard boxes must be flattened and free of contaminants.

6 or fewer flattened boxes:

• Place them next to your bagit station and your regular custodian will remove them.
  

7 or more flattened boxes:

• Place them in your building's "cardboard only" dumpster at your loading dock.
• Submit an online service request for pickup by UW Recycling. Note: there is a charge for this service.

Non-corrugated chipboard or pressboard

Recycle non-corrugated chipboard or pressboard in a bagit.

Styrofoam packaging

UW Recycling operates a packaging materials reclamation program.

If you have questions about whether your packaging material is recyclable, contact UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811.

"Peanuts" from Health Sciences Center

Large volumes: Offices or labs in the Health Sciences Center that generate large volumes of packaging "peanuts" can establish a collection system by contacting UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206.685-2811.

• The collection system consists of a PVC pipe frame and a supply of large clear plastic bags labeled with the department name and room number.
• Bags should only be used for collection of packaging "peanuts."
  • Please avoid contamination.
• Close full bags securely with tape and take them to:
  • AA-wing loading dock
  • K-wing loading dock
  • G-wing loading dock (in the small room through the double doors at the back of the dock).
    
• When your bag supply is almost depleted, fill out the online request form to request additional bags.
  

Small volumes: Other departments in Health Sciences should put their "peanuts" in clear bags and close the bag securely with tape. Label the bags with your department name, building, and room number. Place your bags on one of the following loading docks:

• AA-wing loading dock
• K-wing loading dock
• G-wing loading dock (in the small room through the double doors at the back of the dock)

"Peanuts" from other campus buildings

UW Recycling collects "peanuts" from the loading docks of all campus buildings.

"Peanuts" must be in clear plastic bags, with no contamination. Label the bags with your department name, building, and room number.

Close the bag securely with tape and place at your loading dock.

Offices not in the Health Sciences Center that generate large volumes of "peanuts" should contact UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811. A "peanut" collection system may be possible for such locations.

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Polystyrene or Styrofoam blocks

Polystyrene or Styrofoam blocks are not recyclable and should be placed in your waste container. For large quantities, please contact UW Solid Waste at waste@u.washington.edu or 206-616-0836 to make special arrangements.

Beverage containers: steel (tin), glass, plastic, aluminum and cartons (milk and juice)

Use the grey metal Public Area Bins or classroom/conference room bins in University-owned buildings to recycle:

• plastic bottles, jugs, and dairy tubs (remove lids and place in trash)
• glass bottles and jars (all colors - remove lids and place in trash)
• steel (tin) cans (remove lids and place in trash; rinse can)
• aluminum cans (do not crush)
• milk and juice cartons
• aseptic food packages

The same materials can be recycled in large plastic toters at campus community drop sites:

• Southwest side of Sieg Hall
• East side of Kane Hall

Recycling plastics on campus

The number inside the recycling arrows on many plastic items generally identifies the type of resin used in making the product. However, some items with the same number inside the arrows cannot be recycled together because they are manufactured using a different heating and molding process. At the University of Washington, recycle only plastic bottles, jugs, and dairy tubs.

To avoid confusion and contamination, ignore the numbers and remember: Put only plastic bottles, jugs, and dairy tubs in the recycling container. If it isn't a bottle, jug, or dairy tub, it goes in the garbage.

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Recycling beverage containers at special events

UW Recycling provides collection containers for recycling (cans/bottles, mixed paper, and/or compost) and garbage for special events. Bins are available for indoor events and toters are available for outdoor events.

Submit an online service request form 2-4 weeks before the event.

Batteries

UW recycles all types of batteries. Batteries cannot be placed in the trash because they contain corrosive acids and toxic metals. Businesses, including UW, are also required to recycle alkaline batteries, even though households can place them in the trash.

If you have fewer than five pounds of batteries, take them to the nearest eMedia bin.

To request a special collection of more than five pounds of batteries, including large research and heavy equipment batteries, fill out and mail or fax to Environmental Health & Safety a One-Time Battery Collection Request (PDF).

If you frequently need to dispose of batteries (for example in a laboratory, shop, or clinic) Environmental Health & Safety will set you up with your own battery recycling bin. If you would like one, please fill in and send the online Battery Bin Request to EH&S. They will deliver a bin. Then, when your bin is nearly full, fill in and send the online Battery Bin Collection Request to EH&S.

Cartridges for printers and copiers

All types of cartridges are recyclable. This includes:

• Toner cartridges
• Laser printer cartridges
• Ink-jet printer cartridges
• Bubble-jet printer cartridges
• Copier cartridges

Other printer/copier components are also recyclable through UW Recycling. This includes:

• Fuser drums
• Imaging units
• Transfer rollers

Certain printer/copier components are not recyclable and should be thrown away as garbage. This includes:

• Waste toner collection containers
• Fuser oil units

To find out how to recycle your printer and copier cartridges, please read all of the information below and contact UW Recycling if you have any questions.
UW Recycling is collecting all printer and copier cartridges, as well as certain printer/copier components, from campus buildings for recycling. Office Depot provides recycling of only printer and copier cartridges for off-campus buildings and leased facilities. All empty cartridges are property of the University and must be recycled through UW Recycling or Office Depot. Some cartridges come from the manufacturer with a return shipping label; do not return the cartridge to the manufacturer.

UW Recycling works with a cartridge recycling vendor that refills them for resale, returns them to the original manufacturer for refilling or, when refilling is not possible, recycles the materials. UW Stores no longer provides collection services.

UW Recycling will also collect new/unused cartridges that are no longer needed by departments. Include them as part of your UW Recycling pickup request. You can also include them as part of a Surplus pickup.

Campus Buildings, except for Magnuson Health Sciences Center
Staff located on campus should recycle cartridges through UW Recycling.

• When you install a new cartridge, put the old cartridge into the box, and then seal the box.
• To reduce truck traffic on campus, please accumulate as many cartridges as possible before filling out our online request form for pickup.

Magnuson Health Sciences Center, including William H. Foege Building
Staff located in the Magnuson Health Sciences Center, including the Foege Building, should recycle cartridges at designated loading docks.

• When you install a new cartridge, put the old cartridge into the box, and then seal the box.
• Bring the box to either the K-Wing loading dock or the AA-Wing loading dock and place the box in the cartridge recycling container, an open-top metal cage that is labeled Cartridge Recycling.

Off-Campus and Leased Facilities
Staff located off-campus and at leased facilities should recycle cartridges through Office Depot.

• Order free Office Depot cartridge collection boxes; the boxes come with pre-paid shipping labels. You can order boxes online through UW eProcurement (#816656 for inkjet boxes and #824712 for laser toner boxes) or by calling 877-237-8858. Please note delivery is 7-10 business days.
• After you install a new cartridge, put the old cartridge into the box, and then seal the box. Place the sealed box into your Office Depot collection box.
• When your collection box is full, seal it, attach the pre-paid shipping label, and return to Office Depot through UPS.

New/Unused Cartridges

Chemicals, solvents, and hazardous wastes

Chemicals, solvents and hazardous wastes are recycled or disposed of through through UW EH&S. See the EH&S waste webpage for more information.

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Sharps or laboratory glass

Procedures for safe disposal of sharps and laboratory glass and plasticware are available on the Environmental Health and Safety website.

Never put sharps or lab glass in recycling or waste bins.

Film, x-rays, and microfiche originals

Film (including X-rays) and microfiche originals contain lithographic silver which is a hazardous waste. Do not put any materials which contain silver into the garbage. These materials can be recycled and the silver reclaimed.

For more information, see the EH&S silver recycling webpage.

Fluorescent lighting

Do not remove fluorescent lighting tubes or bulbs yourself. Submit a work request through Maintenance & Alterations. The lamps will be removed and sent to an approved recycling facility. Do not put fluorescent tubes or bulbs in recycling or waste containers. For information about broken bulbs, see the EH&S fluorescent lamp recycling webpage.

Vehicle batteries, oil, tires, and antifreeze

Vehicle batteries, oil, tires and antifreeze from the University's fleet are recycled through Fleet Services.

For hazardous materials from other campus vehicles, see the EH&S oil recycling webpage and battery recycling webpage.

Landscape or yard waste

Most campus yard waste is collected by Grounds Maintenance and taken to Corp Yard 2 for collection and composting by a contracted vendor.

Food waste

Food waste is collected at numerous locations on campus. Click here for more information.

Coffee grounds

Chances are your favorite coffee stand on campus recycles used coffee grounds. For a list of locations, contact UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811.

Magnetic media (videotape, computer tape, computer disks) and transparencies (overheads)

UW Recycling has an eMedia (magnetic media) recycling program. Click here for more information.

UW Recycling has a transparency recycling program. Put transparencies in a large campus mail envelope or a box. Ensure that there is no contamination (paper, etc.). Send campus mail envelopes to UW Recycling, Box 355210. Request pickup of boxes by filling out the online request form.

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Metal scraps (ferrous and nonferrous)

Metal scraps (ferrous and nonferrous) are recycled through the Surplus Property program.

For more information, see the Surplus Property website.

Furniture, computers, equipment, and machinery

The Surplus Property Program receives a wide variety of excess property that is made available to campus departments, state agencies, nonprofit groups, and the public.

Some items are auctioned to the general public every six weeks. There is also a public store with pre-priced items.

For more information, see the Surplus Property website.

Wood waste and pallets

Place clean wood waste (no paint, oil, Styrofoam, or shrink-wrap) on your building's loading dock or next to the waste dumpster.

Contact UW Recycling at recycle@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2811 to schedule collection. Recycle staff will remove it from most locations at no charge.

To remove wood waste from inside buildings, contact Moving and Storage at 206-685-2797 or moving@u.washington.edu.

• There is a charge for interior collection service.