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Recycling and Composting

Campus community members are encouraged to “know before they throw” and learn how to properly recycle and compost on campus. 

Contamination occurs when material that doesn’t belong in a recycling or compost bin makes its way there. This degrades the value of the recycling or compost stream and may result in rejection by haulers and processing facilities.  

 

ESF has a robust set of zero-waste goals and is making tremendous progress in achieving them.

 

See the Progress

 

Proper Campus Recycling and Composting

There is signage posted near bins throughout campus and near the Trailhead Café to help you understand what belongs in the trash, recycling, or compost bins.

Here is some additional guidance:

Compost

  • Vegetables
  • Pasta & bread
  • Fruit
  • Meat & fish
  • Tea bags & coffee grounds
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Most take out items from Trailhead Café

Single-use compostable items beyond this list are compostable only if they are BPI certified. If you don’t know if an item is BPI certified, please place it in the trash.

Recycle

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Cardboard
  • Cans
  • Glass jars & bottles
  • Plastic bottles & jugs
  • Milk & juice cartons
  • Stackable plastic dairy tubs

Trash

  • Styrofoam
  • Wrappers
  • Chip & snack bags
  • Plastic and coated (shiny) paper
  • plates & cups
  • Plastics
  • Wrap paper
  • Fry containers
  • Items not able to be composted or recycled (including most plastics)

 

 

 


Look for signage posted near material sorting centers for guidance

For more, check out the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) website


Know Before You Throw signage.

 

 


 

Composting Off Campus

OCRRA offers two industrial compost sites where residents and businesses can drop off compostable material. Oakie’s Green Team also manages a Compost Cab program that enables students living off campus to compost.

 

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Specialized Recycling

Not everything belongs in the standard recycling bin. For these exceptions, there are special processes in place to ensure proper recycling.

 

 

Item Campus Process Recycler
Electronics See Recycling College Electronics guidance below E-Waste+
Light bulbs Facilities and operations staff gather lightbulbs as they are replaced and coordinate with EHSS for recycling Complete Recycling Solutions
Metal Operations staff place metal in specialized dumpster for pickup by recycler Metallico
Shredded paper Building occupants place shredded paper in plastic bags and place next to corridor recycling bin. Custodial staff picks up. Operations staff hauls to recycling facility. Bodow Recycling
Ink/toner Building occupants place in labelled bins located in each building. Grounds staff collects for recycling. Emaginit
Tires Garage compiles tires from all campuses and recycler picks up from Syracuse campus. HTI Recycling
Hardcover books Building occupants submit Work Order to alert operations staff that they have hardcover books ready for recycling. Recycler picks up from Syracuse campus. Hanna Paper
Batteries Building occupants place batteries in labelled bins located in each building. Operations staff sorts batteries prior to recycling. Inmetco Battery
Pallets Operations staff collects pallets and self hauls to recycling facility. OCRRA

 


 

Recycling College-Owned Electronics

methods to recycle college owned electronics

In the bin

  • Keyboards
  • Mice
  • Cables/Cords
  • Toner/Ink Cartridges

Items without Asset Tags
Submit a work order

  • TVs
  • Printers
  • Monitors
  • Microwaves
  • Scanners
  • Fax Machines

Items with Asset Tags
Bring to 317 Baker for Recycling or Reuse

  • Laptop
  • Tablets
  • Computers
  • Monitors
  • Printers
  • Desk Phones
  • Cell Phones
  • Data Storage Device