Do your part for RecycleMania (and all year long)

RecycleMania, now underway, is an eight-week competition among colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada. The competition encourages schools to divert as much waste as possible from landfills by properly recycling. UNC Charlotte’s Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling in Facilities Management uses this competition as an opportunity to educate the campus community on recycling practices.

This is the second consecutive year the University has participated in this competition. Two goals have been set for this year, based on last year’s results. One is to improve upon last year’s 10th place ranking of 299 schools in the amount of plastic bottles and aluminum cans recycled per capita. The second is to increase overall recycling from 25 percent to 28 percent. This means the campus community needs to recycle an additional 13,000 pounds of waste!

As an employee, you are also encouraged to do your part to help the University achieve its goal. Check out the graphic below for a few examples on things you can and cannot recycle on campus. Please note that not all items can be recycled in the same location or in the same way.

Recycle: post-it notes. electronics*, textbooks, cardboard, bottles and cans, newspapers, batteries** and file folders. Not no recycle: paper plates and plasticware, plastic bags***, to-go cups, lids and straws, chip bags, styrofoam and food wrappers.

*Electronics must be University-issued and are recycled through Surplus. Personal electronics are not recyclable on campus.
**Batteries can be recycled in designated bins located in various break rooms.
***Plastic bags can be recycled at the Weird Recycling Center or local grocery stores, but are otherwise not accepted.

Beyond RecyleMania, staff members are encouraged to do their part year-round in recycling. Separate bins for paper and bottles and cans are present around most trash cans throughout campus. Additionally, there are unique recycling options available:

  • The Weird Recycling Center, located on the first floor of the Student Union, accepts plastic grocery bags; cables and cords; batteries; eyeglasses; CDs; printer cartridges; and other unique items.

  • The packing center, located in Prospector near Mail and Package Services, accepts flattened cardboard, packing peanuts and plastic packaging.

  • Orbis Grille, located in PORTAL, has a customer-facing composting station. Most items purchased at this facility can be composted, making it a sustainable dining choice.

  • Various office areas also have recycling options for compostable waste; batteries; gently-used binders and notebooks; CDs and other technotrash; block styrofoam; toner and ink cartridges; bottles and cans; and paper. If your office area is in need of any of these options, please call 7-0607 to inquire.

To request additional recycling resources or for questions on how to recycle, contact the recycling team online or by calling 7-0607.

Story and graphic: Tenille Dellinger
Artwork: Lou Ann Lamb