Recycling

♻ The recycling program began as a student-run initiative in 2000. Just three years later, recycling workers extended their service to create a university-wide recycling program; recycling is now part of General Support Services.

 

Who can recycle on campus?

Everyone! There are public bins for mixed paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles distributed throughout campus—keep an eye out for the blue bins with the recycling symbol ♻.

Departments are asked to place all recycling in the centrally located building bins.  Due to limited resources, we are currently unable to pick up from individual suites/break rooms. Find out more about departmental services, including recycling batteries and computer items, on the intranet:

  Faculty & Staff Resources

 

What can I recycle? DOs and DON'Ts

Mixed Paper & Cardboard

Includes:

  • White or color sheet paper
  • Glossy paper
  • Junk mail
  • Window envelopes
  • Paper board (e.g., cereal boxes)
  • Gift wrap
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Flattened cardboard (place next to the recycling bin)
  • Staples are okay

Examples of recycleable mixed paper and cardboard

DOES NOT Include:

  • Milk or juice cartons or boxes
  • Hardcover books
  • Binder clips
  • Any metal/plastic bindings

Do not include milk or juice jugs

Cans 

Includes:

  • Tin cans & aluminum cans
  • Disposable bakeware (muffin tins, lasagna trays)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Foil yogurt tops

*Be sure to rinse off any food left on items.

Examples of recycleable cans and metals

DOES NOT Include:

  • Scrap metal of any kind

Plastic

Includes:

  • #1 PETE bottles or jugs with a neck
  • #2 HDPE bottles or jugs with a neck

PETE #1 and HDPE #2 Plastics Examples

DOES NOT Include:

  • Bottle caps
  • #3 through #7 plastics
  • Tubs (e.g., yogurt)
  • Cups
  • Take-out containers
  • Bottles that held chemicals
  • Plastic bags
  • Stretch film

Examples of plastics can not recycle including sandwich bags, shopping bags, and plastics #3-7.

Schedule

We are working hard to hire our Fall 2022 student crew! Right now we are short-staffed and unable to complete the daily regular routes. We'll be checking high volume locations as other GSS team staff are able. Please help us out by emailing Recycling if you see a full bin or accumulation of cardboard. We hope to have the regular scheduled routes reinstated soon!

Pick up dates and times, and any changes will be announced here as well as in the Green & Gold. The Recycling crew will do its best to announce schedule changes at least one week in advance. 

Please remember that while we do have our schedule for which buildings are serviced on certain days, specific times cannot be guaranteed. It is advised that all materials be ready and accessible at 8:00 am on the scheduled day to ensure pick-up.


  • Schedule

    MONDAY

    • Professional Studies Building
    • Wendy Williamson-Auditorium
    • Gordon Hartlieb Hall
    • Auto/Diesel Technologies
    • Lucy Cuddy Hall
    • Rasmuson Hall-Mixed
    • Allied Health Sciences

    TUESDAY

    • Beatrice McDonald Hall
    • Sally Monserud Hall
    • Eugene Short Hall
    • Seawolf Sports Center
    • Student Union
    • Ansep building
    • Enrollment Services Center

    WEDNESDAY

    • Engineering & Industry Building
    • Health Sciences Building
    • Engineering & Computation Building
    • Natural Sciences Building
    • Social Sciences Building
    • Spine 1 and 2
    • Ecosystem Biomedical Health Laboratory

    THURSDAY

    • Bragaw Buildings
      • Bragaw Office 1
      • Bragaw Office 2
      • Bragaw Office 3 - Mixed
    • Aviation Technologies Building
    • Gambell Professional Building
    • Rasmuson Hall – Paper (ASD Voc Program Students)

    FRIDAY

    • University Lake Building
    • University Lake Annex
    • Alaska Airlines Center
    • MAC Student Housing
    • Edward Lee Gorsuch Commons
    • Residential Life Office
    • North Hall Student Housing
    • West Hall Student Housing
    • East Hall Student Housing
    • Fine Arts Building
    • Ansep Academy Building
    • Conoco Philips Integrated Science Building
    • Administrative & Humanities Building
    • Consortium Library

     

     

 

  

"Can I Recycle..." FAQs 

  • Food containers?
    While you can recycle plastic soda and water bottles (please rinse them out), you cannot recycle food containers. Avoid placing food containers in recycle bins as it will contaminate the entire bin and it will all need to be thrown out.  
  • Coffee cups?
    Unfortunately, no. Coffee cups come with a lining which inhibits it from being a recyclable material.
  • Used paper plates, cups, napkins, and towels?

    While it is true that these materials are generally made from paper, most of these items (once used) have food residue on them. For example, if pizza boxes have cheese or grease on the cardboard, they cannot be recycled.

  • Batteries?
    Personal batteries such as AA can be taken to Total Reclaim. Batteries purchased for and consumed by UAA can be recycled at UAA—see the Faculty & Staff Resources Recycling page for more information.

    In addition to the mixed paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, and glass (see the public-facing webpage for more details), UAA departments can also recycle batteries and computer and circuit boards.

    Includes:

    • 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

    Instructions

    Tape all anodes. Then batteries should be placed in a bag, labeled as “Recycle” and tape to or place directly next to the paper or mixed recycling bins.

  • Glass?
    Yes! For beverages or food items bought or consumed on campus, place the glass container in either bins designated for can or plastic recycling. The UAA Recycle Crew will sort it out for you. 
  • Books?
    Yes; however, here are a few rules to keep in mind. Paperback books may be recycled and it's okay to keep both the front and back covers in tact. Hardcover books must have the front and back covers removed before recycling. Books that are bound must have the bindings removed before recycling. 

Contact

907-786-1129
UAA Recycling
907-786-1129
uaa.recycling@alaska.edu 

Employment Opportunities

The UAA Recycling team is operated by student employees. Interested in supporting UAA in its green endeavors while also earning some green? Check to see if there are some open positions on UA Careers.