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Changes to recycling program won't affect on-campus procedures

You may have noticed some changes in the way recycling is handled on campus. Fear not: we’re here to tell you what these changes are, what they mean for you, and how Appalachian is staying committed to our Zero Waste goals.

In January, App State transitioned to Republic Services for recycling. The change allows better access to recycling markets. Our recyclables are transported from Boone to a recycling facility in Conover, NC and sorted and processed before being sent to market.

“The recycling procedure will remain the same for the campus community with continued efforts to become more consistent through color coded signs and containers,” explains Jen Maxwell, Sustainability Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability. “Regular communication between the Zero Waste Leadership Team and Republic Services, along with visits to the recycling facility, allows the University to ensure we manage our materials and waste stream sustainably.”

From a user standpoint, nothing changes with this new service. All materials previously accepted for recycling are still accepted - plastic, paper, metal, glass, and cartons.

These items are accepted in any BLUE recycling bin on campus:

Plastic:

• Bottles
• Takeout Containers and Clamshells
• Plastic Cups
• Tubs

Paper:

• Office paper
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Paperboard

Metal:

• Aluminum cans
• Steel cans
• Pans (with no food residue)

Glass (all colors):

• Bottles
• Jars

Cartons

Special Items can be recycled in select locations on campus:

• Plastic grocery bags / plastic packaging: accepted at the student union and the Office of Sustainability in East Hall
• Corrugated cardboard: should be placed in the BLUE dumpsters throughout campus
• Techno-trash (electronics, tapes, etc): accepted in the student union and Media Services Office in Anne Belk Hall

Other Reminders:

• Waste CAN NOT be brought from home onto campus. The Town of Boone and Watauga County have comprehensive waste and recycling services:
• http://www.townofboone.net/departments/public-works/sanitation-recycling/
• http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/Sanitation/home.aspx
• Please DO NOT bag your recycling or add plastic film to the mixed recycling. Please empty recyclables loose into the recycling containers. Bags and plastic film cause issues for the sorting process, tear up sorting equipment, and become contamination in the mixed recycling.
• Office Purges: Planning to clean-out at the end of the semester, over the summer, or when you retire? Request a bin on wheels to make your clean out easier. Submit a work order with Facilities Operations with your prefered bin drop-off and pick up dates. Advance notice is required since your office is not on our regular route. This service is free.
• https://facilitiesoperations.appstate.edu/node/297
• Confidential shredding is a service Facilities Operations provides for a minimal charge to your department, but you will need to submit a work request.
• https://facilitiesoperations.appstate.edu/node/297

Want to know more about the overall Zero Waste commitment at Appalachian? Check this out!

Interested in compost at App State? Learn about the history of campus composting and current practices here.

A campuswide Zero Waste Meeting will be held Friday, March 13 at 3:00pm in the conference room of the Office of Sustainability in East Hall.

Zero Waste Online Training: Be on the lookout for an online zero waste training through App State’s Office of Human Resources and ASULearn.

For more information, contact Jen Maxwell at maxwelljb@appstate.edu.