What is this new program?

Now it’s even simpler and more effective than ever.  Two recycling containers do it all—one for mixed office paper, and one for everything else.  (That includes: glass bottles & jars, plastics, aluminum cans, and food cans).

Note: We are no longer limited to recycling only plastics #1 and #2. Now all types of plastic can be recycled! Please rinse the container before recycling.

What are the benefits of WCU’s Recycling Program?

Recycling has many benefits. By reducing and recycling we lessen our impact on the Earth. We all want to do what we can to protect the environment.

Besides the environmental benefit of reducing the amount of garbage we send to the landfill, we also save WCU money. The cost is exhorbitant to bury otherwise valuable resources.

How does the new program work?

The recycling container for glass bottles & jars, plastics, aluminum cans, and food cans will be readily available on just about every floor of every campus building. Mixed office paper should be separated at your desk and placed in the small blue container provided for you. There will also be paper recycling containers in copy rooms and computer labs. All you do is drop your items in the respective containers--and we do the rest. It's that simple!

What does this mean for me?

WCU’s Recycling Program asks people to rethink the way they consume and dispose of materials. The best way to do that is to have the generator of the material be directly responsible for its disposal. By taking responsibility for the waste material you generate, it's hoped that you will ask yourself some important questions:

By paying attention to what is produced on a daily basis, we will see a decrease in total solid waste and an increase in the amount of recyclables collected.

What kind of paper is included in "Mixed" Paper?

Almost anything that's clean and dry, including:

How do we recycle cardboard boxes or large amounts of files & paper?

Cardboard boxes should be flattened and left next to your blue paper recycling container so that the custodians can pick them up. Plastic wrapping and styrofoam should first be removed from the boxes and discarded as trash. To recycle bulk files and papers or hardcover books, submit a Work Request to Moving Services (special containers may be provided to simplify the clean-out process).

What about confidential papers that need to be shredded?

Once your paper is shredded in your office, you may leave it to be picked up as Mixed Office Paper. If your office generates a large amount of confidential paper you may request, via Work Request to Moving Services, that a special, lockable Toter be placed in your office to accumulate the confidential paper. This paper requires special handling, and the Recycling Coordinator will arrange for this paper to be destroyed by a certified shredding service.

How do we handle bulk paper and hardcover books?

If you anticipate a large amount of paper to be generated during an office cleanout, please submit a Work Request to Moving Services to request a special container to be left in your office for your convenience. Similarly, hardcover books may be boxed up and picked up by the Recycling Staff upon special request.

What about the recycling of other materials, such as glass, plastic, and cans?

Recycling of glass bottles and jars, plastics, aluminum cans, and food cans has been ongoing and will continue as usual. The only change is that all of these items are now combined and sent to the Allied Waste (BFI) Recycling Center. Since it all goes together, there is no need to have separate containers for these items. Therefore, you will now find only one container in the hallway of your building in which to deposit all these items. The container has been re-labeled to indicate that it is now used for the collection of aluminum cans as well as glass, plastic, and food cans.

What if we need more small, blue recycling containers for deskside use in our department?

If you need more deskside containers, please submit a Work Request to Moving Services (Support Services).