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Frequently Asked Questions about Recycling on Penn’s Campus

1. How do I know what can be recycled and what is trash? Here is what you can place in the recycling bins you can find across campus:
   
   1. Paper: you can recycle all clean paper (printed paper, newspapers, telephone directories and magazines).
   2. Glass Bottles, Metal Cans, and Plastic Containers marked #1 and #2: these items are collected together – or commingled. You can place aluminum and other cans, glass, and plastic containers with #1 and #2 on the bottom into a single recycle bin.
   3. Cardboard: boxes should be flattened and placed separately (this saves lots of space) near your other trash, or wherever designated in your building. It will be picked up and baled.
      Everything else should be placed into TRASH cans:
   4. iv. Food Waste: paper contaminated with food, napkins, used cups, bathroom waste – is trash.
   5. v. Plastic Containers marked #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and Plastic Containers without a number: Penn does not recycle these types of plastic, so they should be placed in the trash (this includes plastic bags, Solo cups and Styrofoam).
2. I want to start (or improve) recycling in my residence or in my office. What should I do? For students in campus residences:
   1. Contact your RA, GA, SA or House Dean to find out how your building handles waste and recycling. They can help you with the logistics and make suggestions. Talk with your floor mates and suite mates about what you currently do to recycle and what you can do better. If you see a problem or have further questions, you can send an email to sustainability@upenn.edu.
      For staff in campus offices:
   2. Contact your department head and your building administrator to find out how your building handles waste and recycling. They can help you with the logistics and also with how to order or obtain the right recycling containers for your school or center. Remember, you can really make a difference by recycling! It takes each of us! If you see a problem or have further questions, you can send an email to sustainability@upenn.edu.
   3. How do I find out who my building administrator is?
      You can check with your department to identify your building administrator, or you can use the Contacts section (link to new contacts section) of the Facilities and Real Estate Services website, search by Building to find your Area Manager and Building Administrator.
3. If I see a building on campus without recycling containers, is there anyone I can contact to encourage them to start recycling? Thanks for noticing! Again, contact the building administrator or send a note to sustainability@upenn.edu. We’ll follow up from there.
4. I see Penn Housekeeping employees putting trash and recycling bags into the same container so why should I bother recycling? Trash is collected in clear bags and recyclables are collected in blue bags. In order to work more efficiently, Penn Housekeeping employees remove both waste and recyclables from floors and offices to a central point for each building. Housekeepers may use the same cart to transport the bags, but the clear trash bags and blue recycling bags are separated and placed in the correct dumpsters when they arrive at each building’s loading dock.
5. Why do the same trucks pick up trash and recycling? Facilities and Real Estate Services uses the same two trucks to pick up trash and recycling. This is an efficient and sustainable use of resources. Our staff typically pick up waste in the morning and recyclables in the afternoon.
6. Where does the recycling go? Penn’s recyclables go to nearby Blue Mountain Recycling at 2904 Ellsworth Street in Philadelphia. For more information, visit: www.bluemountainrecycling.com.
7. What recycling containers should my School or Center use? And who pays for them? Each School and Center determines what waste and recycling containers work best in their buildings and is responsible for purchasing them. Contact your Building Administrator for more information.
8. How do I recycle batteries? The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS) will pick up most types of batteries for disposal with the exception of alkaline batteries. See www.ehrs.upenn.edu/resources/waste/battery_disposal.html for more information. To request a pickup of used batteries you may submit an online waste pickup request form at www.ehrs.upenn.edu/chemwaste/.
   College Houses provide white buckets for CFL and battery recycling at each College House Information Center Desk. Ask an info desk employee for help if you’re having trouble finding the buckets.
9. Does Penn recycle computers? Yes, Penn does! For more information on recycling computers (and erasing hard drives), see www.upenn.edu/computing/provider/recycle.html.
10. Is there somewhere on campus where I can get reusable bags or reusable mugs? Yes! Penn Dining offers both reusable bags and mugs at cost and you can find them at any Penn Dining location, including 1920 Commons, Houston Market, or Savory on Spruce. The Penn Bookstore also offers both reusable bags and mugs. Remember, plastic bags are not recyclable.
11. What is RecycleMania? RecycleMania is an annual national collegiate recycling competition sponsored by the National Recycling Coalition. This year’s event runs from January 18 through March 28, 2009.
    The goal is to encourage efforts to reduce the amount of waste created and draw attention to a variety of strategies to minimize waste. Over 400 colleges and universities will compete nationwide for trophies for largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, and the highest recycling rate. See www.recyclemaniacs.org.
12. Why is Penn participating in RecycleMania? In 2007, President Gutmann signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. With President Gutmann’s signature, Penn committed to develop a comprehensive sustainability plan by 2009. (See Penn’s sustainability website at www.upenn.edu/greencampuspartnership for more information.) Joining RecycleMania provides another opportunity for Penn to reduce its carbon footprint, and it is the right thing to do for the University and the planet!
13. Can I bring my own container to Penn Dining takeout? Absolutely! In addition, 1920 Commons, Hill House, Kings Court English House and Steinhardt Hall, we offer takeout in compostable containers. At Houston Market, we also offer your food in compostable containers.
    

Sustainability starts with you.

Make a personal commitment to recycling and reducing
your waste, and encourage others to do the same.
Together we can create a more sustainable Penn!