Recycling
The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) promotes comprehensive waste reduction practices and provides effective solid waste services including recycling, composting and trash disposal. The costs for recycling services are typically covered under general building maintenance or special waste handling fees. In addition to regularly scheduled building recycling service and pickup, additional services may be requested:
- Confidential paper pickup
- Emptying of full recycling bins
- Addition or removal of permanent indoor recycling sites
- Request temporary carts
- Emptying of a full trash or cardboard dumpster outside your building
- Delivering and servicing a rolloff for your building’s project needs
To request new or additional recycling service or to schedule a recycling pickup, please call OWRR at 919-962-1442 or email recycling@facilities.unc.edu.
Desk-side bins are emptied by office staff into central collection sites locations inside campus buildings. Desk-side recycling bins may be ordered from Staples ($9.79, Item Number: 758215).
Specialized Recycling
When non-recyclable items get into recycling bins, it makes recycling much more expensive and hazardous for the workers who sort the recyclables at the Material Recovery Facility. To prevent contamination of recycling, DO NOT put these items in recycling bins:
- Bagged recyclables (keep recyclables loose)
- Tanglers: cords, hoses, wires, or other items that will tangle in the machinery
- Small or shredded paper and packaging
- Cups, lids or straws
- Styrofoam
- Paper towels or napkins (compost instead)
- Household or car batteries
- Scrap metal
- Pumps or tubes
- Plastic wraps, pillows or bags
- Textiles
- Household glass, mirrors or ceramics
- Aerosol cans
- Food waste
- Hazardous or medical waste
- Receipts
