Recycling
The University recycles about 40 percent of on-campus waste. With your help, we can increase this number.
On Campus
The University recycles glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and plastic through the campus-wide single-stream recycling system. As of January 2, 2011, the House System has joined the rest of the campus in moving to this system. This means that students, staff, and faculty no longer need to separate materials for recycling anywhere on campus: all clean recyclable items can be dropped into any recycling bin on campus or in the dorms. Please see our FAQs for a full explanation of this system.
Need a recycling bin for your office or classroom? Call Facilities Services at 773-834-1414 (4-1414 from a campus phone line) or submit a Service Request.
Also, look for Recyclemania, an annual recycling competition at Bartlett Dining Hall in the spring. The Resource Center composts food waste in all of the dining halls.
We’ll help you recycle your computer, too. IT Service's Computer Recycling Program will take your computers, monitors, keyboards, modems, and more—whether they work or not.
Wondering what else you can recycle, both on campus and off? Check out our new Recycling Directory.
Off Campus
If you live off campus, your recycling method will depend on where you live. If you live in a one- to four-unit building in certain Chicago wards (including the Fifth, which includes Hyde Park), you’ll use the city’s new blue cart system. If you live in Chicago in a building with more than four apartments, your recyclables will be handled by waste services contracted by your landlord or management company. If you live in a residential university apartment, Residential Services has recently enabled recycling for a wide array of materials. An explanation of their single-stream recycling program is available in the Green Campus FAQs.
If you have any questions about recycling at your building, please contact your management company or landlord. Outside the city, check the website of the municipality in which you live for more information.
