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.
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
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.

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
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