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Paper

Recycling Guidelines

  • Place recyclable paper products in the Mixed Paper Bins.
  • Keep paper dry.
  • Paper should be no smaller than a credit card.
  • Paper clips and staples are okay.
  • Please remove rubber bands and binder clips.
Request Temporary Carts.

Types of Mixed Paper

  • Printer and office paper
  • Cartons
  • Junk mail
  • Newspaper
  • Magazines and journals
  • Softcover books
  • Blueprints
  • Carbonless (NCR) forms
  • Post-it notes
  • Manila folders
  • Envelopes (plastic windows are okay)
  • Paperboard boxes (cereal and food boxes)

Recyclable paper products

What is Confidential Paper Recycling?

Confidential paper recycling allows University departments to recycle confidential documents in a secure manner. Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) employees pick up boxed confidential paper from your office.

Confidential information includes:

  • Social Security numbers
  • Personnel and payroll records
  • Academic records
  • Medical information

Confidential Paper does NOT include:

  • Tests
  • Booklets
  • Magazines
  • Junk Mail

Paper that has already been shredded can be collected as part of a regular indoor recycling collection service. Shredded paper must be bagged separately using CLEAR plastic bags. Bags of shredded paper can be placed next to a mixed paper recycling bin in your building.

How To Prepare Documents for Pick Up

  1. Place confidential paper in boxes and label as “Confidential Recycling.” Ensure that boxes are securely taped or otherwise sealed to maintain confidentiality. Boxes must be no larger than 24″ long x 10″ high x 12″ deep. OWRR does not provide boxes. Please note that the following items are considered contamination and must be removed from paper:
    • Metal hanging folders
    • Binder clips
    • Carbon paper
    • Photographs
    • Rubber bands
    • Transparencies
  2. Request a confidential paper pickup using the online confidential paper pickup request.
  3. Keep all confidential materials secure until scheduled pickup.
  4. There is a charge of $10 per box for pickup and destruction of confidential paper. Confidential paper is collected on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
    • Boxes that are larger than 24″ long, 10″ high and 12″ deep will be charged as 2 boxes ($20).
  5. For pickup requests that are more than 20 boxes, please be aware that we will need to schedule pickups to occur over multiple days.

For non-paper confidential materials, please see the “Confidential Document Resources” tab.

Disclaimer: This is a list of local companies that offer confidential document destruction and recycling services. The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling does not recommend one company over another and cannot vouch for the quality of their services.

Please contact University Surplus for the following items:

  • X-rays
  • Transparencies
  • Medical slides

For further confidential services, please contact the companies listed below: