Where Can I Recycle?
Where Can I Recycle?
Campus recycling locations depend on the type of material(s) to be recycled. This page includes information on the following:
- Indoor and Outdoor Recycling Stations
- Universal Waste
- Hazardous Waste
- Surplus Items
INDOOR & Outdoor RECYCLING STATIONS
Indoor Recycling Stations
Note: Recycling is campus-wide, but the services might look different depending on your location on campus. In all buildings, you should take your recyclables to a central location for staff to collect. For buildings such as UREC, Belk Gym, Popp Martin Student Union, Cone Center, Prospector, and athletic facilities, please follow building-specific policies for trash disposal.
Public Areas
Public areas inside campus buildings are outfitted with recycling stations that collect three categories of waste: trash, cans & bottles, and paper. The university has standardized the signs at these stations.
The bins carrying these signs come in many forms, but the university is converting to a few standard bin styles shown below. The current campus design standard for public areas is a cabinet that provides the users with cues such as color, shapes, restrictive openings, and standardized words and symbols. Another common set used in some space-limited locations is three plastic bins that share features with the campus standard cabinets, also known as SlimJims. The plastic bin sets are also common in shared workspaces and break rooms for staff access.
Offices & Office Clean Out Services
Office Bins
Office spaces, including cubicles and workstations, are equipped with a blue desk-side recycling bin and a black mini trash bin (see image below). These bins operate on a self-service system, meaning individual staff members are responsible for taking their bins to a nearby recycling station to properly sort their waste. This standard has been in place since 2009 to reduce labor costs and waste. Click here to learn more about office bin standards at UNC Charlotte.
Office Clean Out
For employees cleaning out office spaces with large amounts of paper that nearby bins cannot hold, there are special bins that can be requested through this form. The recycling team will deliver an empty toter and/or curbside recycling bin (see image to the right).
Outdoor Recycling Stations
There are 200 outdoor recycling stations across campus. Outdoor recycling stations collect two types of materials: Cans & Bottles and Trash. Due to rain, paper cannot be collected at these stations.
universal waste
Campus staff can safely dispose of fluorescent lamps, lead-acid batteries, latex paint, and e-waste at the Universal Waste Shed. To ensure that staff is available for dropoffs, please fill out the Universal Waste Dropoff Form before bringing any materials.
The Universal Waste Facility is open Monday – Friday from 7:00 am – 11:00 am, and from noon – 1:30 pm.
Universal Waste and Packaging Requirements
| Fluorescent Lamps | Lamps should be packaged in boxes to protect from breaking. Please keep same sized lamps together and do not tape lamps together. |
| Lead Acid Batteries | Please cover or tape the terminals to prevent arcing. |
| Latex Paint | Container must not be leaking. Dried latex paint can be thrown in the dumpster. |
| Alkyd or Other Paint Types | Container must not be leaking. Even if dried, non-latex paint should come to the Universal Waste Facility. |
| Spray Paint | Container must not be leaking. |
hazardous waste
Unknown liquids, chemicals, oil-based paints, and anything toxic or flammable is considered hazardous waste. Please do not drop any of this off at the recycling warehouse/universal waste shed. Anyone needing to dispose of hazardous waste should contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
surplus items
Unwanted furniture and electronics should be taken to Inventory Control & Surplus Property. Click here to learn more about this service and scheduling a pick-up.