Recycling FAQs
The recycling business is very dynamic, and changes occur often. Whether it be in the items we can recycle, or the way we need to handle them, things can change very rapidly. These FAQs will tell you everything you need to know about recycling at Missouri State, so that you can recycle with confidence!
FAQs
Who empties the recycling bins?
What should NOT be placed in commingled bins?
What are proper recycling procedures?
Batteries and toner cartridge recycling tips.
How do I get rid of CDs, DVDs, tapes, and hard drives?
Can I bring recycling from home?
If I have items to recycle at home, where can I take them in Springfield?
What is the definition of sustainability?
What can I do to be more sustainable?
Who do I contact if I have a recycling-related question?
Why is Recycling Important?
Recycling conserves resources and energy.
Did you know?
Recycling one aluminum can saves the amount of energy needed to power a TV for three hours
Recycling a stack of newspaper just 3 feet high saves one entire tree
The average person generates 4.5 pounds of waste per day or 1,643 pounds per year!
Americans send 2.5 million plastic bottles to the landfill every hour
Sources:
https://recycleacrossamerica.org/recycling-facts
https://www.epa.gov/recycle
What is commingled recycling?
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.
Who empties the recycling bins?
Custodial Services empty the various recycling bins across campus.
Custodial Services handles the large, rolling paper bins located in the buildings. If you need an extra pick up or a temporary rolling paper bin for an office cleanout, please submit a work order or visit the Administrative Service Request portal.
Student Recycling Coordinators in Custodial Services pick up cans and plastic bottles from the academic buildings and outdoor recycling containers. They also service the cardboard carts located in a select few buildings
Bins are monitored on a weekly basis. Please be patient if your bin is overflowing; most bins across campus are serviced by just a few student workers.
If you have issues or concerns regarding the recycling bins in your building, please email Eric Lyon EWLyon@missouristate.edu
Where can I recycle?
We have placed recycling containers in all of the academic buildings 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.
Here are some examples of recycling bins you might see across campus:
What can I recycle on campus?
In the paper bins:
- Opened mail & greeting cards
- White or pastel office paper
- File folders and shredded paper
- Magazines, brochures & catalogs
- Newspapers & inserts (NO BAGS)
- Phone books, paper/hard-back books
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)
Corrugated Cardboard (including clean, oil-free 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, 3rd, and 4th Floor Recycling Rooms
- Kings Street Annex 2nd Floor
There is also a cardboard recycling dumpster located north of the Stores and Maintenance building behind Temple Hall.
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
What are proper recycling procedures?
When recycling on campus, it is important to follow these procedures:
- Flatten all cardboard boxes
- Empty liquids from drink containers prior to placing in recycle bin
- Do not flatten containers/cans
- No need to remove staples, rubber bands, paper clips, stamps, tape, spiral binding from paper
Batteries and Toner cartridge recycling tips.
You can get your used printer/toner cartridges, spent batteries and even e-waste picked up and recycled through the Academic Recycling program. Just complete a Recycling Pick-Up Request form- let us know where your recyclables are located, what kind of recyclables and the amount you have, then sit back and wait for your items to be picked up. It’s that simple!
For toner cartridges- we recommend placing your used cartridge into the box that your new cartridge came in. This minimizes toner spills, and protects the cartridge from damage during transport to the recycler. If undamaged, some cartridges can be refilled/remanufactured and returned to use.
Spent batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V) should be stored in a box (either cardboard or plastic) labeled 'Universal Waste- Batteries'. Spent 9V batteries should be stored with a piece of tape across the contacts to minimize the chance of the terminals coming in contact with other battery contacts. When full, request a pickup as indicated above.
How do I get rid of CDs, DVDs, tapes, and hard drives?
Discs that contain sensitive data, such as student records or personal information, must be disposed of in accordance with our Information Security policies. Please review the current University policies. Other discs may be recycled, though the cost of recycling (currently $2 per pound) will be paid by the department submitting the materials for recycling.
What is cardboard?
Most of the time, what we call "cardboard" is pretty easy to identify- it is that ‘paper sandwich’ material that consists of flat cardboard on the top and bottom, with a wavy "corrugated" or fluted strip running through the center. This material is largely referred to in the recycling industry as Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC). OCC is most commonly seen as boxes used for packaging and shipping items. It can be any color, but brown is most common.
Our current recycling vendor also classifies Paperboard (flat, pressed, stiff paper used in cereal boxes, for example) as cardboard, and wants this material placed in the bins used for cardboard collection. This can be confusing, as not all recycling programs classify paperboard this way.
So just to clarify: paperboard should be recycled along with cardboard. Please do not place paperboard into the paper recycling bins.
All Cardboard must be broken down to be recycled.
What is e-waste?
Electronic waste, or e-waste, consists of electronic devices such as televisions, computers, computer monitors, printers, cell phones, desk phones, copiers, VCRs, stereo equipment…well, you get the idea. Essentially anything that contains a circuit board or other electronic controllers is considered e-waste. Functional but no-longer-wanted electronic devices should go through the surplus property process through Property Control. Non-functional e-waste can be recycled through the Recycling Submittal Form; be aware that anything that stores data (computers, printers, copiers) must have all memory devices properly purged prior to disposal. Contact the Computer Services Help Desk at 417-836-5891 for assistance.
Can I bring recycling from home?
We do not currently have the capability or resources to handle the volume of material associated with home generation. We certainly encourage you to appropriately recycle materials from those items that are brought to and consumed 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. They are located at 731 N. Franklin, 3020 S. Lone Pine, and adjacent to the Yard Waste Recycling Center. More information is available at the website: https://www.springfieldmo.gov/recycling
What is the definition of sustainability?
Sustainability encompasses such a wide variety of subjects that it can be difficult to get your arms around a strict definition. Even the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) does not ascribe to a single definition. The classically-referenced United Nations Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commission for additional information). Then there is the three-e model for decision making, which argues that a decision is sustainable when it takes an appropriately balanced view of ecological, economic and equity concerns (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development for more on this). A simple working definition is probably some combination of these two ideas.
What can I do to be more sustainable?
Start small. Recycle. Switch off lights when you leave the room. Take shorter showers. Carpool. Little changes add up if enough people make them.
Who do I contact if I have a recycling-related question?
Contact the Eric Lyon in Custodial Services at:
417-836-5265
EWLyon@missouristate.edu