As Syracuse University students, we felt it would be beneficial to explain how to properly recycle here in Syracuse. We know that recycling is a common practice but we also know that many students don't really know how to do it properly. So, this post will be dedicated to getting you onto the right recycling track by teaching you the basics and giving you informational resources to use. Please keep in mind that these are only the recycling standards for Syracuse (Onondaga Country), as these standards can vary depending on your location.
For dorms students: These items go into the blue bins you're given.
For apartment students: These items go into whatever bin you are using to recycle
Recyclable items in our county (as SU students) are:
1. Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and softcover books
2. Cardboard, pizza, pasta and cereal boxes (flatten them)
3. Paper, mail, and envelopes
4. #1 and #2 plastic BOTTLES - now, bottles are exaggerated here because while there are #1 and #2 food containers, only the #1 and #2 bottles are recyclable. If you can't read the numbers located on the bottom of the bottle that indicate its number, don't fret. Most bottles are #1 and #2- so if it's a plastic BOTTLE, please recycle it :)
5. Cans and Jars (empty and rinse out food residue to prevent bad odors in your home)
6. Plastic Tubs ONLY #5 (empty and rinse)
For dorms students: These items go into the blue bins you're given.
For apartment students: These items go into whatever bin you are using to recycle
Recyclable items in our county (as SU students) are:
1. Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and softcover books
2. Cardboard, pizza, pasta and cereal boxes (flatten them)
3. Paper, mail, and envelopes
4. #1 and #2 plastic BOTTLES - now, bottles are exaggerated here because while there are #1 and #2 food containers, only the #1 and #2 bottles are recyclable. If you can't read the numbers located on the bottom of the bottle that indicate its number, don't fret. Most bottles are #1 and #2- so if it's a plastic BOTTLE, please recycle it :)
5. Cans and Jars (empty and rinse out food residue to prevent bad odors in your home)
6. Plastic Tubs ONLY #5 (empty and rinse)
TRASH ITEMS:
Trash this Paper:
- Corrugated cardboard with wax, plastic, or Styrofoam
- Frozen food boxes
- Paper plates & cups
- Paper towels, tissue, toilet paper
- Egg cartons (paper or Styrofoam)
- Non paper envelopes (Tyvek)
- Hardcover books (think about donating them first though)
- Metallic paper (including cards or envelopes with silver/gold trimming)
Trash this Plastic:
- Plastic food trays (frozen food trays, candy trays, cake, cookie containers)
- Styrofoam (coffee cups, packaging materials, trays)
- Hard plastics (Tableware, toys, hangers)
- Motor oil bottles (or any bottle that contained hazardous material)
- If you cannot get to a grocery store to recycle your plastic bags they should be thrown out :/ but please try to remember them when you go food shopping! :)
Trash this Glass:
- Dishes & drinking glasses
- Ceramics (plates & mugs)
- Window & auto glass
- Mirrors
- Pottery & clay pots
- Incandescent light bulbs (Fluorescent bulbs should be recycled by businesses and residents)
Trash this Metal:
- Chains
- Latex paint cans (dry out paint and remove lids- to dispose of oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes conact OCRRA)
- Scrap metal (take to a scrap dealer)
For more information about proper recycling habits in the Syracuse area go to OCRRA.org. They have tons of useful information about waste for those who are interested in implementing proper recycling habits into their daily lives. The OCRRA website has a small brochure about what to recycle that you can stick onto your fridge. I highly recommend getting this, as I use it all the time to double check items I have forgotten about. I hope this post has been beneficial in teaching you what to recycle/what to trash, thanks so much for reading!
- Megan
Resources:
http://ocrra.org/resource-pages/resource-page-category/recycling-rules
SU Sustainability Management