Campus Recycling

Kalamazoo College utilizes single-stream (mixed) recycling through Republic Services. It takes effort from everyone on campus to ensure our recycling is completed properly.

Find what you need:

  • What is single-stream (mixed) recycling and why is it important? – Learn what single-stream recycling is and why recycling properly is important
  • What CAN and CANNOT be recycled? – Learn what can be recycled through our single-stream recycling program at K.
  • Recycle Bins at K – Ready to recycle? Learn how to identify recycle bins on campus.
  • Point of Contact – Reach out to Facilities Management or the Environmental Stewardship Center with questions.

What is Single-Stream Recycling?

About Single-Stream Recycling

Single-stream recycling (also known as mixed recycling) is a system where all recyclable materials are placed in one bin and collected together. The materials are sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and processed into new products.

The Importance of Recycling Properly

Did you know there are cameras on the recycling trucks? These allow the driver to monitor and ensure everything that is being recycled can actually be recycled.

What happens if non-recyclable items are added to a recycle bin?

When non-recyclable items are added to a recycle bin, the load is rejected. When our recycle dumpsters are emptied into a recycling truck the cameras monitor and look for items that are non-recyclable (e.g. EPS foam, pizza boxes, plastic bags). Those items still go into the truck, but not only is the dumpster rejected, the ENTIRE truck-load (even the correctly recycled items) are rejected. Facilities Management receives reports on the rejections and we are working on tracking these better for improved campus education.

What CAN and CANNOT be recycled?

Examples of acceptable and not acceptable items for single-stream recycling are listed below.

Acceptable Recycling Items

pile of paper and folders

Paper

You CAN recycle:

  • printer paper
  • newspaper
  • magazines
  • greeting cards
  • paper gift bags

You CANNOT recycle:

  • glitter
  • felt
  • strings
  • ribbons
  • laminated paper

Important Details:

  • staples are okay
  • small amounts of tape are also okay
pile of cardboard

Cardboard

You CAN recycle:

  • delivery boxes and other corrugated cardboard
  • cereal boxes and other non-corrugated cardboard

You CANNOT recycle:

  • pizza boxes (pizza greases renders cardboard unrecyclable)

Important Details:

  • must be broken down to take up less space
brown paper bag with shredded paper inside

Shredded Paper

You CAN recycle:

  • Shredded paper in a paper bag

You CANNOT recycle:

  • loose shredded paper
  • shredded paper in a plastic bag

Important Details:

  • plastic bags get caught in sorting machines and cannot be used
aluminum cans

Metal

You CAN recycle:

Aluminum food packaging such as:

  • cans
  • foils
  • trays

You CANNOT recycle:

Scrap metal like:

  • steel
  • iron

Scrap metal can be recycled through Facilities Management

Important Details:

  • paper or plastic labels do not need to be removed
glass bottles in a variety of colors

Glass

You CAN recycle:

  • bottles
  • jars

You CANNOT recycle:

  • broken items
  • broken pieces of glass
  • shards of glass

Important Details:

  • any color of glass is accepted
plastic bottles and containers

Plastics

You CAN recycle:

Hard plastic containers such as:

  • water bottles
  • milk jugs
  • detergent containers
  • yogurt containers

You CANNOT recycle:

Stretchy or transparent plastic films like:

  • grocery bags
  • bread bags
  • ziplock bags
  • plastic food wrap

Important Details:

  • Labels can be left on
  • Must be clean when added to the single stream bins
  • NO plastic bags

CANNOT be recycled through single-stream

EPS Foam

EPS foam (commonly known as Styrofoam™) is not recyclable through single-stream.

How to recycle: In Spring 2025 we will collect EPS foam at the beginning of Community Reflection on Fridays,10:30-11:30am at Stetson Chapel. Drop off your EPS Foam on your way to Community Reflection! We will collect and transport to the City of Kalamazoo EPS Foam Recycling events.

EPS Foam Recycling

E-Waste

Electronic waste (printer cartridges, computers, printers, phones, calculators, electric motors, keyboards, mice and wires) are not recyclable through single-stream.

How to recycle: These items can be dropped off at the Help Desk in the Library.

Help Desk Hours

Food Residue & Wrappers

Napkins, food wrappers (granola bar, chips, etc). items with food residue, food and tissues are not recyclable. These should be put in the trash. To-go containers from Dining Services can be composted through industrial composting.

Composting

Batteries

Batteries (AA, AAA, etc) are not recyclable through single-stream.

How to recycle: Batteries can be dropped off in the battery container around the corner from the Mail Center in the Hicks Student Center.

tube containing batteries

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are not recyclable through single-stream recycling. The thin plastic gets tangled in the sorting machines at recycling facilities.

How to recycle: Plastic bags can be recycled at many grocery store retailers.

blue plastic bag

Universal Waste

Universal Waste (lamps, aerosol cans, mercury-containing equipment) is not recyclable through single-stream. These items are considered hazardous and need to disposed of properly.

How to recycle/dispose: Drop off at Facilities Management during weekdays 7am-3:30pm.

light bulb

Fun Fact! Did you know lamp is the correct term for the bulb or tube portion of a lighting device?

Recycle Bins at K
(single-stream)

Office & Dorm Room Bins

Offices, classrooms and residential hall rooms should have a small, blue recycling bin. These are single-stream bins that can be emptied into the larger hallway bins or parking lot dumpster bins.

Building Bins

Building bins are located in various buildings across campus. These single-stream bins are emptied weekly by Facilities Management.

Parking Lot Dumpsters

Dumpster recycling bins are located in the Trowbridge parking lot, between Harmon and Hoben Halls, the Severn parking lot, behind Hicks Student Center and in Facilities Management parking lot. These are single-stream and are emptied weekly by Republic Services.

Older-Style Sorting Bins

Do you still have sorted recycle bins in your building?

We are currently taking inventory of recycle bins across campus and replacing with only single stream bins.

Points of Contact

Facilities Management

269.337.7308

Contact Facilities if:

  • a new (or replacement) office bin is needed
  • hallway bin is full and needs to be emptied
  • you have scrap metal to recycle

Environmental Stewardship Center (ESC)

EnvironmentalStewardship@kzoo.edu

Contact the ESC if you have questions about:

  • how to recycle something that is not on the lists above
  • website edits
  • getting involved with recycling on campus!