Recycling
About Our Program
The recycling program began as a student run initiative in 2000. By 2003, recycling workers extended their service to create a university-wide recycling program, Recycling is now part of General Support Services.
| Recycling Material Weights (lbs) | ||||||||
| Paper | Cardboard | Plastic | Aluminum | Steel | Film | Glass | Combined | |
| FY14 | 262,812 | 30,945 | 3,200 | 1,129 | 554 | 910 | 1,389 | 301,029 |
| FY15 | 136,246 | 14,825 | 3,626 | 1,315 | 580 | 1,455 | 2,116 | 160,163 |
| FY16 | 184,888 | 24,500 | 3,324 | 1,190 | 412 | 883 | 2,240 | 217,436 |
| 3 Year Totals | 583,946 | 70,270 | 10,150 | 3,723 | 1,546 | 3,249 | 5,745 | 678,628 |
Our Recycling Efforts Continue to Grow
In fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 -- June 30, 2016), the recycling crew picked up over 92 tons of mixed paper, 12 tons of cardboard, 3,324 pounds of plastics, 1,190 pounds of aluminum, 2,240 pounds of glass, and 412 pounds of metals. This resulted in thousands of dollars in savings for the university.
We’re happy to share how much we have grown in our efforts, preventing huge amounts of waste from being discarded as trash. There are currently more than 285 recycle bins housed across campus.
Congratulations and thank you to all of our recyclers on campus!
please call 786-1129
or Email uaa.recycling@alaska.edu
- Recycling Policies & Procedures
Recycling Policy
Pick up dates and times, and any changes will be announced on this recycling home page. We will attempt to announce any changes to the schedule at least one week in advance and will request that the Green & Gold post these changes as well.
If we missed your pick up or if you need an extra pick up due to higher than usual levels of materials (ex: because of an office move, cleaning, etc.), please send an email to the Recycling Crew Director at uaa.recycle@alaska.edu.
The recycling crew consists of students who have class schedules; therefore, notice as far in advance as possible will help us work an extra pick up into the recycling schedule. We will try to be as flexible as possible and hope that with advance notice we will be able to coordinate your pick up needs. However, we cannot schedule extra pick-ups because your office was locked on the pick up date and the crew was unable to access recycling bins.
We very much appreciate departments who call or email in advance and warn us that they have large amounts of material to be recycled.
It is our policy to provide departments with medium to large-sized bins at central collection locations. Departments are required to provide bins for individual offices.
Recycling do’s and dont's are posted on the recycling page and departments are requested to appropriately process their recycling. If your batch of recycling includes a lot of trash, bottles and cans that are not emptied, or a lot of bottles with caps left on, the batch will be placed in the trash. It only takes a few seconds and we all need to take responsibility for appropriately processing what we use.What can I recycle?
Staff & Faculty
Departments have pick ups for mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum & steel cans, batteries, and plastic bottles. Departments are asked to provide their own receptacles for cans & bottles and in individual offices.
Students/Campus Visitors
Public bins for mixed paper, cardboard, cans & plastic bottles are distributed throughout campus for your use.
How do I recycle it?
Mixed Paper & Cardboard
- Mixed paper includes white or color paper, glossy paper, junk mail, window envelopes, paper board (e.g. cereal boxes), gift wrap, paper egg cartons.
- Staples are ok
- DO NOT include milk or juice cartons/boxes, hardcover books, binder clips, or metal/plastic bindings
- Please flatten cardboard and place it next to your recycling bin for pick up
Cans
- Empty aluminum and steel food or beverage cans are accepted
- Please rinse off any food left on cans
- DO NOT include scrap metal of any kind
Plastic
- We accept #1 PETE & #2 HDPE bottles or jugs with a neck, plastic bags & stretch wrap.
- DO NOT include bottle caps, other numbered plastics, tubs (yogurt), cups, take out containers, or bottles which held chemicals.
Batterys
- Alkaline (e.g. found in remote controllers, stereos, cameras, and CD players),
- Lithium (e.g. found in digital cameras and computer motherboards),
- Lithium-ion (also known as “rechargeable”; e.g. found in laptops, cell phones),
- Nickel metal hydride (e.g. found in cordless phones, power tools, and digital cameras),
- Nickel cadmium/“wet cell” (e.g. found in aircraft, and solar applications),
- Nickel cadmium/“dry cell” (e.g. found in remote controllers, telephones, and portable radios),
- Lantern-type 6-volt batteries.
All anodes must be taped. Batteries should be placed in a bag, labeled as “Recycle” and taped to or placed directly next to, the paper or mixed Recycling bins in your department.
Federal regulations now classify electronic circuit board containing equipment and computer monitors and television sets (Cathode Ray Tube, flat Light Emitting Diode or plasma) as regulated universal waste and landfills can no longer accept those items for disposal. UAA departments within the Municipality of Anchorage are required to deliver to or request pick-up of the items from Surplus Property (786-1959).
Custodial Services will no longer pick the items up as trash. Surplus Property will arrange to recycle the items through licensed vendors and recyclers in accordance with the new regulations.
Community campuses should research local options and develop plans to assure proper recycling of electronic circuit boards and computer monitors and televisions. If you have any questions please go to http://ehsrms.uaa.alaska.edu/computerrecycling.htm