Recycling
We offer pre- and post-consumer recycling in Chase, Lenoir, and Beach Cafe, but you can find recycling bins in every building on campus! Below are some guidelines for recycling at Carolina, and tips for how to help us reduce contamination in our waste streams.
Recycling at Carolina
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away and turning them into new products.
Recycling keeps materials out of landfills, prevents pollution, and decreases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while conserving natural resources and energy. Recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours!
Accepted materials can vary by county/recycling facility, so it’s important to check local guidelines as they may be different from what you can recycle at home.
At UNC-Chapel Hill, recycling is collected in a dual-stream fashion, meaning bottles and cans are collected separately from mixed paper. You’ll find separate bins around campus for these two streams.
Bottles & Cans:
- Rigid plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars (remove pumps/spray nozzles)
- Metal cans
- Glass bottles and jars (remove lids)
- Note: Items should be emptied and rinsed to remove food residue.
Mixed Paper:
- Office paper
- Cartons
- Paperboard (cereal & food boxes)
- Junk mail & envelopes
- Note: paper should be dry, and no smaller than a credit card.
Cardboard is collected separately in blue cardboard dumpsters outside. Cardboard should be emptied and flattened.
Specialized recycling is offered on campus for items like batteries, electronics, plastic film, and more.
Important Note: the “chasing arrows” symbol does not mean a product is recyclable – it tells you what kind of plastic resin it’s made from.
It’s important to prevent contamination in our waste streams, which happens when materials are not properly sorted. Here are some items to keep out of the recycling bins:
- Food waste
- Cups, lids, and straws
- To-go containers (plastic, compostable, & Styrofoam)
- Crinkle plastics & food wrappers
- Plastic bags and bagged recycling
- Napkins, tissues, and paper towels
There are recycling bins in every building at UNC-Chapel Hill! We have front-of-house recycling bins in Chase, Lenoir, and Beach Cafe. You can also find them in the residence hall waste disposal sites. Make sure to sort your waste properly to reduce contamination, and rinse items to remove food residue. Visit https://facilities.unc.edu/services/recycling/ for specialized recycling locations!
