Recycling

Evergreen's recycling program is a cooperative project designed to make the process of collecting recyclable materials on our campuses as easy as disposing items in the trash.

Each workstation has been supplied with recycling and garbage containers.

Staff and faculty are responsible for removing trash and recyclable items to the recycling centers located in main corridor areas on each floor of college buildings. Recycle stations are also located in a variety of locations within the student housing.

Where to Recycle

Each recycle station consists of containers for mixed paper, glass and plastic, landfill and aluminum cans. Containers for corrugated cardboard are located on the loading docks of most buildings. There are two recycle stations in the College Activities Building near the food vendors as well.

Garbage in = Garbage Out

  • Putting trash or items that cannot be recycled in the recycle containers often results in the entire container being treated as garbage.

  • Garbage costs more to dispose of than disposing recyclable materials and has a negative effect on our environment.

  • The rate we pay to dispose of recyclables depends on how "clean" or uncontaminated they are.

Be a Good Steward

  • Do not place food or garbage in any of the recycle containers.
  • Do not put any container that still contains food or drink residue in the recycle containers. If you don't want to rinse them, place them in the garbage.
  • Make sure that the top of any plastic container you want to recycle is smaller than the base. If it isn't, it is not recyclable.
  • Separate out your recyclables. If you place a sack containing aluminum cans, bottles and paper in the co-mingle container, it will be removed and thrown in the garbage.
  • Check your recycle guide for information on which items can be recycled and how to recycle.

Paper Recycling

Recyclable paper is collected from the blue mixed paper containers at recycle stations and from the dumpsters labeled mixed paper in student housing areas.

Guidelines for paper recycling:

  • Remove all tape and clips
  • No soiled paper (napkins, tissue, pizza boxes, latte cups, candy bar wrappers, etc.).
  • Staples are okay
  • Remove metal or plastic strip from hanging files
  • No rubber bands, large metal fasteners or string
  • Remove paper from 3-ring or spiral binders
  • Binders go in glass and plastic bins

Sensitive Documents

The recycling program does not offer shredding service. There is a large paper shredder in the basement of Evans Hall in the recycling cage. Because shredding paper greatly increases its volume, use of the shredder is restricted to sensitive or confidential documents. If you need to access the shredder, call Business Services at (360) 867-6317 or (360) 867-6347 to open the cage for you.

Books

Hardback or paper books that are no longer needed or wanted can be donated to the Books for Prisoners Program. Deposit books in the bin outside of the Greener Bookstore in the College Activities Building.

Glass and Plastic

Non-paper recyclable items are placed in the red container at campus recycle stations or in the glass and plastic container in the exterior areas of student housing.

Non-paper recyclable items include:

  • Tin and steel cans
  • Aluminum cans belong in the gray aluminum can container
  • Aluminum foil/trays (must be clean)
  • Film containers (plastic)
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Milk cartons and juice boxes (must be clean)
  • Plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs (labeled #1 through #7)
  • Pie pans

Remove all caps and lids. Rinse bottles, jars, etc. Flatten drink boxes. No food-contaminated items are accepted.

Batteries

Take your personal used NiCd, NiMH, Li ion, Li polymer and lead acid batteries to Thurston County HazoHouse for free recycling. Work areas that generate used batteries from college owned equipment should contact Environmental Health and Safety at (360) 867-6111 for more information. Batteries from personal vehicles are accepted for recycling at most auto supply stores.

Beverage Containers

Beverage containers are recycled in the co-mingle containers at recycle stations or in the glass and plastic containers located in the exterior areas of student housing.

Drink boxes, such as milk, juice or soy cartons should be rinsed and flattened before placing in the  containers. Please also remove the lids and caps before recycling.

Printer and Copier Cartridges

Most cartridges include a return shipping label when purchased. Repack the used cartridge in the original shipping box, affix the return label and send it through Mailing Services.

If you do not receive a return shipping label, the Greenr Bookstore has a supply of free mailers with labels which you can use to return small cartridges.

If you have a larger cartridge and do not have a return shipping label, place the cartridge in a box next to the recycle station and it will be picked up and recycled.

Chemicals, Solvents, Sharps and Hazardous Wastes

All chemicals, solvents and hazardous wastes must be disposed of through Environmental Health and Safety. You will need to fill out a "Dangerous Waste" label and attach it to the materials before they can be picked-up. Call (360) 867-6111 for more information.

Fluorescent Tubes

  • Do not remove or dispose of fluorescent tubes of bulbs yourself.
  • Do not put fluorescent tubes in recycle or waste containers.
  • Submit a work request through Facilities by calling (360) 867-6120. Be sure to leave your name, phone number and building location. The lamps will be removed and recycled appropriately.

Furniture, Computers, Equipment and Machinery

Unneeded furniture, computers, equipment and machinery can be stored for future use or disposed of via the state's Surplus Property Program. Contact the following for removal and pick-up services:

  • Computers: )360) 867-6627
  • Furniture: (360) 867-6120
  • Vehicles or motorized equipment: (360) 867-6354
  • Machinery and non-motorized equipment: (360) 867-6326

Student Housing

Mixed paper, glass and plastic and aluminum and Landfill are located in the A Dorm courtyard, behind the Housing Community Center, in the mods and in the loop between S & T dorms.

Food scraps are also recycled. Each housing unit is supplied with a compost container to collect food scraps. The scraps are taken to collection stations located by the recycling centers where student workers pick them up and take them to Evergreen's Organic Farm for processing.

Landscape or Yard Waste

Most campus yard waste is collected by Facilities Services. If you see landscape or yard waste that needs to be collected, call (360) 867-6349.

Metal Scraps

Metal scraps are recycled through the State Surplus Program and direct sale to a vendor. For information or access to the area, call (360) 867-6349.

Paint

All oil based and some older latex paint must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Newer latex paint can be solidified by filling with an agent such as clumping kitty litter. Call (360) 867-6111 for instructions on how to dispose of paint.

Paint from your home or personal use can be disposed at HazoHouse at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center. The service is free to homeowners. HazoHouse does not accept latex paint. Dry-out unusable latex paint at home and place the dry paint cans in the garbage.

Pallets and Clean Wood Waste

Supplies are sometimes delivered to campus on pallets or in shipping crates. Clean wood (no paint, oil, styrofoam or tape) is recyclable. Wood treated with preservatives is not recyclable.

Place clean wood waste in the beige dumpsters located at the Arts Annex and Communications Building loading docks. Wood pallets can be left at the loading dock of any building.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam packaging products are not recycled, but they can be reused. If you need "peanuts" or other styrofoam packaging materials, call (360) 867-6326 to see if any are available.

Vehicle Batteries, Oil, Tires and Antifreeze

Vehicle batteries, oil, tires and antifreeze are recycled through Motor Pool. Contact Motor Pool at 867-6354 if you have college-generated materials that need to be disposed of. Items generated from your personal vehicles may be taken to HazoHouse at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center.