RecycleMania

Students can make a big impact on the amount of waste generated on campus by making small changes during the day. Here are some of the ways that you can help reduce waste and increase recycling during February and March:

Get Caught Green Handed:

Students across campus caught reducing, reusing and recycling will earn rewards! All it takes to win is to do your part to reduce waste and recycle:

• Use a reusable water bottle at the hydration stations instead of buying bottled water!
• Bring your own mug for coffee - did you know you get a discount for using your own cup at Starbucks?
• Bring your lunch in reusable containers instead of getting take out (and you'll save money)!
• Shopping at the Bookstore? Don't forget that reusable bag!
• Did you get a soda, iced coffee, cup of fruit, or newspaper? Make sure you recycle all of your plastic, metal, and paper when you're done!

Upcycling Event:

Wednesday, February 14th at 2:00-4:00 p.m. in Blair-Shannon

Students will learn how to upcycle commonly thrown away items into something new, such as chalkboards, coasters, pencil holders, and more…

RA's Can Win Experience Funds for Their Floor:

Create a bulletin board to raise awareness about recycling and win money! Submit your entry through Snapchat by 8 am on February 21 (see event flyer for instructions). 1st Prize: $50 experience funds; 2nd Prize: $25 experience funds.

Residence Hall Competition:

FEBRUARY 5 - MARCH 5. Join the friendly competition and see which Residence Hall can collect the most recyclables! All residents invited to participate! The floor with the most recyclables collected will win a pizza party for the entire floor!

Raise Awareness about RecycleMania

Help us win RecycleMania by spreading the word about the competition and encouraging others on campus to reduce, reuse and recycle. Let your friends know that RecycleMania is happening and how they can get involved, ask your professors if you can make an announcement in class or encourage them to become Low Impact Certified.

Post your commitment on social media

Take a picture of one thing you commit to do to reduce waste during RecycleMania. Post your picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win! Make sure you tag your post with #RecycleMania #MSUSustain and @MSUSustain

You can make a big impact on the amount of waste generated on campus by making small changes during the day. Here are some of the ways that you can help reduce waste and increase recycling during February and March:

Raise Awareness about RecycleMania

Help us win RecycleMania by spreading the word about the competition and encouraging faculty, staff and students to reduce, reuse and recycle on campus. Send an email to your coworkers or students letting them know about RecycleMania, encourage others to become low impact certified by sharing this poster, make a sign for the recycling bins in your building, or educate your fellow Bears on how they can reduce waste.

Take the Online Training: Three R’s on Campus and at Home

In this free online training, you will learn everything you need to know to reduce, reuse and recycle with confidence. Find out why waste minimization is so important, what you can do on campus and at home, and the perks of the three R's. Any MSU employee who enrolls and completes the training by March 1st will be entered to win $100 in Boomer Meals (MSU email required)! Sign-up here!

Become Low Impact Certified

Wondering what small daily actions you can take to reduce waste on campus? We've created a checklist just for you! Print out the Low Impact Certified Poster and place a check next to all the practices you pledge to carry out. There is no minimum, but try to set as many realistic goals as possible! Hang this poster on your office door or window to demonstrate your commitments and encourage others to do the same! Please only print the checklist page to save paper, ink and energy!

Host an Office Clean Out Event

Host an Office Clean Out Event for your office or department! If you have sensitive documents, schedule a shred event during RecycleMania – this paper is recycled! Contact Custodial Services to request a pick-up of any large quantities of paper.

Submit a Recycling Pick-Up Request

Did you know that we pick up certain items and recycle them for you, such as batteries, toner cartridges and even e-waste? Simply tell us where your recyclables are located, what kind of recyclables and the amount you have, and how to contact you if we have any questions. Fill out a recycling pick-up request and share this form with others on campus!

Create a Green Team for your Office or Department

Green Teams gives MSU employees an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of their office or department and the campus as a whole. Sign-up here!

Post your commitment on social media

Take a picture of one thing you commit to do to reduce waste during RecycleMania. Post your picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to be entered to win! Make sure you tag your post with #RecycleMania #MSUSustain and @MSUSustain

We use commingled recycling bins on campus, which means you can put all recyclable materials in the same bin. Read more below to find out what is considered recyclable on campus.

In the comingled bins:

• #1-7 plastics
• Aluminum cans (don’t crush/flatten)
• Clean, balled aluminum foil/pie pans
• Loose metal jar lids/steel bottle caps
• Paper milk/ juice cartons (no foil pouches, do not flatten)
• Empty aerosol cans (no caps)

You'll notice that there are some bins across campus designated specifically for paper only.

In the paper bins you can recycle:

• Opened mail & greeting cards
• White or pastel office paper
• File folders and shredded paper
• Magazines, brochures & catalogs
• Newspapers & inserts (NO BAGS)
• Phonebooks, paper/hard-back books

What about cardboard?

Corrugated Cardboard (including pizza boxes) and paperboard boxes and paper bags can be recycled in the following locations. Cardboard should not be placed in the comingled bins because it is very bulky.

• Karls Hall Service Elevator
• Siceluff 1st Floor Vending
• Professional Building 1st Floor
• Professional Building 4th Floor
• Cheek Hall Rm 150
• Hill Hall 4th Floor Hallway
• Kemper Hall Main Lobby
• Temple Hall Rm 403
• Glass Hall 2nd Floor Hallway
• Kings Street Annex 2nd Floor

There is also a cardboard recycling dumpster located north of the Stores and Maintenance building behind Temple.

Submit a work order to Custodial Services for pick-ups of large quantities, such as office clean outs, to avoid overfilling bins.

What should NOT be placed in comingled bins?

• Glass or ceramic of any kind**
• Cardboard**
• Plastic lids and caps
• Plastic bags (recyclable at select supermarkets)
• Scrap metal (dangerous!)
• Plastic 6-pack holders
• Foam packing materials
• Needles or syringes
• Plastic microwave trays
• Frozen food, ice cream containers
• Hazardous/bio-hazardous waste
• Plastics other than those listed
• Tissues, paper towels, napkins
• Waxed paper or waxed cardboard
• Styrofoam® or paper containers
• Containers that have not been rinsed or cleaned of food

**Glass and cardboard CAN be recycled in the residence halls and other specific locations on campus. Always check first.

We have recycling containers in all of the academic buildings, residence halls, as well as 20 outdoor recycling containers for use between buildings and at the shuttle stops.

However, recycling bins across campus come in different shapes, sizes and colors. In addition, some bins are labeled differently than others. For instance, a bin labeled “cans and bottles” it is actually a comingled bin.

To simplify things, just remember:

Paper goes in the paper bin, all other recyclables in the commingled bin, and all waste in the trash bin.

Don’t forgot to look for recycling bins outside. These bins are commingled.

Recycling bins across campus

Here are some examples of recycling bins you might see across campus:

When recycling on campus, it is important to follow these procedures:

• Flatten all cardboard boxes

• Empty and rinse all containers

• Do not flatten containers/cans

• Remove caps from plastic bottles and throw them away

• No need to remove staples, rubber bands, paper clips, stamps, tape, spiral binding from paper

We do not currently have the capability or resources to handle the volume of material associated with home generation. We certainly encourage you to recycle items that you bring to and consume on campus, such as drink containers.

If I have items to recycle at home, where can I take them in Springfield?

The City of Springfield operates several centers where you can recycle a wide variety of materials. The closest one to campus is located at 731 N. Franklin. More information is available on the City of Springfield recycling website.