UIC commitment to becoming a zero waste university
Introduction
UIC is proud of its commitment to becoming a zero waste university. To reach this goal, each member of the campus community must work to reduce waste and increase recycling in all campus buildings.
We ask for your help by encouraging your students, faculty and staff to take an active role in the university’s recycling efforts:
- Employees should take the contents of their desk and any other disposable materials to their office’s centrally located collection area and/or collection bins.
- Recyclable materials should be separated from trash, and each should be placed in the correct collection bin.
Things that can be recycled:
Glass, metal and plastic (clean, dry and empty):
- Bottles
- Cans
- Tubs
- Jugs
- Jars
Paper:
- Printed paper
- Paper mailers and envelopes
- Magazines
- Newspaper
- Paperboard
Learn more about what can be recycled.
These cannot be recycled and will go to a landfill:
- Soiled food containers
- Paper cups
- Hot coffee and other hot beverage cups
- Lids and straws
- Plastic wrappers and bags
- Food wrappers
- Plastic utensils
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Napkins
- Rubber gloves
Recyclable items must be empty, clean and dry before you place them in a bin. One non-recyclable item can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables, so this step is crucial. A good rule of thumb is “when in doubt, throw it out.”
Cardboard boxes should be flattened and placed behind the hallway bins after removing Styrofoam and plastic packaging. This should be done by anyone who receives deliveries, including in labs and clinics.
Special recycling collections
Plastic bags, delivery wrap, writing utensils, batteries, ink and toner cartridges should not be placed in recycling bins. There are specially marked bins in several buildings where these items can be recycled. Find locations for these specific materials on the recycling materials webpage.
If you have large quantities of paper to recycle, you can request delivery of a temporary paper recycling tote by submitting a non-billable work order in FMWeb.
Office supplies made of plastic and metal should never be placed in office recycling bins. Consider donating these items to the Great Stuff Exchange, which offers such items for reuse. Furniture cannot be recycled, but departments can schedule UIC Transportation’s Moving Service to transport usable furniture to the warehouse for reuse by other units. Property disposal paperwork must be completed before pick up.
Please do not dispose of metal furniture or large metal pieces on building docks. If disposing of metal, contact UIC Transportation’s Moving Service about procedures for pickup and delivery to the warehouse for either reuse or recycling.
If you have questions or need more information about what you can do to help UIC reach its zero waste goals, please email recycling@uic.edu.
We appreciate your continued cooperation and value both your support of the university’s recycling program and your commitment to helping UIC meet its sustainability goals.