What Can I Recycle at Emory?

Unfortunately, contamination of a bin with incorrectly sorted materials or with rubbish often renders the entire container of recyclables useless. Please adhere to these guidelines, and when in doubt, dispose of questionable materials in the trash, or contact our office for advice.

Aluminum Cans

Virtually all metal beverage containers are made of aluminum, though some specialty drinks come in tin containers. Aluminum is not attracted to a magnet. Empty and dry cans, and remove them from bags or boxes.

Please, no aluminum that has been in contact with food.

Colored Paper or Mixed Paper
 
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Office paper that has been dyed to become any non-fluorescent color and manilla folders are included. If a colored paper bin is not available, place colored paper into mixed paper

Please, no blueprints, NCR paper or carbonless copy paper, copier paper ream wrap, or plastic.

Corrugated Cardboard

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Moving boxes, shipping boxes, and furniture boxes are typically made of corregated cardboard. Remove all packing materials and fold if possible.

Please, no waxed cardboard, cardboard soiled by food, or paperboard (ie. cereal boxes, beverage boxes, etc.) Paperboard can be placed in mixed paper bins instead.

Clear, Green and Brown Glass

Sort glass by color, removing labels is not necessary. Rinsing beverage containers is also not necessary though they must be empty and dry. Food jars must be empty of all food residue and rinsed.

Please, no light bulbs, auto (safety) glass, or bottle caps.

Ink Jet Cartridges
Cell Phones & Pagers

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These can be recycled by mailing used cartridges in pre-paid envelopes available at the Emory computer store, the DUC, post office, dorm common areas, and office locations. Place items in packing materials to protect them in the mail, and please place only one item in each envelope.

Magazines

Includes all glossy or shiny printed paper, as well as paperback books. Please remove magazines from plastic mailing wrap. Magazines can be placed in Newspaper bins.

Also, while magazines may be stored and dropped off in paper grocery bags, please remove magazines from plastic bags. If a bin is not available, place magazines into mixed paper.

Mixed Paper

This is a low quality grade of paper, which can include all listed papers, including white paper, colored paper, newspaper, magazines, and phone books. Other acceptable materials include cardstock-based materials such as file folders, paper bags, and paperboard. However, it cannot include any materials other than paper products, such as plastic.

Also, no copier paper ream wrap, blueprints, NCR paper or carbonless copy paper, or envelopes with windows or made of plastic.

 

Newspaper

Includes all newsprint, including the Emory Wheel, though the Emory Report may be recycled with white paper. Glossy inserts are okay. Newspapers may be dropped off in paper grocery bags. Newpaper can also be recycling in Magazine carts.

Please, remove newspapers from plastic delivery bags or storage bags.

Phonebooks

Includes the campus directory. Phonebooks can be placed in Mixed Paper bins.

Please, no hard-bound books.

Plastic #1 and #2

Only plastic of type #1 and #2 are recyclable. This typically includes soda bottles and milk bottles. Check for compliance by finding the chasing arrows symbol on the container and verifying the number as 1 or 2. Plastic must be rinsed and clean. Please remove and discard lids, as they are of a different type of plastic. We are unable to accept plastic bags of any type, though grocerybags, along with foam egg cartons, can be recycled at Publix foodstores.

Please, no plastics of type #3 through #7. No food contamination; plastic vendors stress that plastic must be clean.

Tin Cans

Tin and bi-metal food cans are recyclable. Please rinse, though labels may remain on containers.

Please, no hazardous material containers. Please do not confuse tin cans with aluminum cans; tin cans are attracted to magnets.

White Paper

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White paper is a very high grade paper. This includes copier paper, letterhead, and notebook paper, even if slightly off white. Paper with some colored print is okay, excessively inked paper should be deposited into mixed paper. Staples are okay. The Emory Report is printed on white paper. Business envelopes without windows (or with windows removed) are acceptable.

Please, no colored paper, cardstock products (such as file folders) copier paper ream wrap or carbonless copy paper. Unfortunately, paper that has been crosscut in a shredder (producing confetti-like pieces) cannot be baled, and is thus rendered unrecyclable. However, paper that has been shredded into ribbons is fine.

 

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Jason Cook - WebMaster
phypjsc@fmd.emory.edu