Acceptable

    White/colored paper
    White/colored envelopes with windows
    Booklets/manuals
    Fax/telex copy paper
    Greeting cards
    Adding machine tape
    Paper ream wrappers
    Post-It notes
    Soft covered books with white pages
    Manila folders
    Magazines
    Newspapers
    Telephone directories 
    Brown/golden kraft envelopes

Not Acceptable

    Paper with food waste on it
    Pizza boxes
    Lunch bags
    Coffee cups
    Cellophane (candy wrappers)
    Tissues
    Paper towels
    Carbon Paper

Acceptable

    Corrugated boxes
    Paperboard (cereal/shoe boxes)

Not Acceptable   

    Pizza boxes with food waste on it  
    Juice Cartons   
    Waxed cardboard

Acceptable

    Aluminum cans
    Steel cans
    Unbroken glass of any color
    Beverage container lids
    Plastics with a number 1-5 in the center of the recycling symbol

Not Acceptable

    Styrofoam
    Plastic without symbols listed above
    Plastic with a number 6 or 7 in the center of the recycling symbol

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 PETE: Polyethylene Terephthalate. Commonly used in soft drinks, juice, and cough syrup containers and microwave trays.

#2 HDPE: High Density Polyethylene. Commonly used in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles.

#3 V: Polyvinyl Chloride. Commonly used in film for meat packaging and some rigid plastic containers.

#4 LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene. Commonly used in newspaper and grocery bags.

#5 PP: Polypropylene. Commonly used in yogurt containers and deli trays.

#6 PS: Polystyrene. Commonly used in plastic cups and plates and to-go containers.

#7 OTHER: Other mixed resins. Commonly used in mixed plastic containers or plastic products. 

#7 Compostable: Commonly made from starch, corn, sugar or potato and say 'compostable'.

Batteries

Alkaline batteries and Rechargeable batteries

Alkaline batteries are the most common types of batteries, and are accepted in any size
(AAA, AA, C, D, 9volt).  Note: Taping of 9volt battery terminals is required.

Rechargeable batteries (Nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, lead acid). Recycle methods:Send through campus mail (less than 10 lbs) to: Recycling-Facilities Management Services.

Or Drop off at:

Facilities Management Building: 2nd floor Facilities Service Response Center or 3rd floor Environmental Health & Safety Department.

University Center Recycling Education Center (Green Room)

Mellon Institute Store Room - 3rd Floor

Please do not drop off LARGE or HEAVY batteries in the Green Room.

Send an email request to EH&S using the computer recycling form and they will have a professional pick-up heavy batteries at your office or lab for FREE.   Computer Pick-up Request Form

Computer Recycling Program Environmental Health and Safety

Questions about the computer recycling program?   Computer Pick-up Request Form
Call Mark Banister: 268-1493 OR Call EH&S at 8-8182 

Media

Recycle old floppy or zip disks - cassette or VCR tapes

Mail through campus mail (less than 50 lbs) to: Recycling-Facilities Management Services (FMS)

University Center Green Room CD recycling bin
For large volumes of zip/floppy disks and cassette/VCR tapes, send to:  www.greendisk.com

CD's and Jewel Cases

University Center Green Room CD recycling bin
Mail through campus mail (less than 50 lbs) to: Recycling-Facilities Management Services (FMS)

Ink-Jet, Toner, Laser Cartridges and Cell Phones

Carnegie Mellon participates in a recycling program with Vision Business Products to recycle Ink-Jet, Toner & Laser Cartridges.  Either drop off at an on-campus recycle box, mail to Facilities Management Services or start your own program.

Mail through campus mail (less than 50 lbs) to: Recycling-Facilities Management Services (FMS)
    UC Recycling Center Green Room
    Wean Hall 5th Floor
    Hunt Library Entrance
    Newell-Simon Hall 4th Floor
    Porter Hall 107
    Tepper School Lobby
    CFA Basement near elevator
    Facilities Management
    Mellon-3rd Floor Store Room
    Pittsburgh Technology Center
    UTDC
    Whitfield Hall

Start Your Own Toner Recycling Program FREE
Vision Business Products, a CMU preferred vendor, will give you a UPS prepaid box, you fill it up, UPS will take it away, and VBP will send you another box.  Do you want to try it?  Give Janie a call at 412-276-3588 ex 233.

Furniture

University Receiving and Stores recycles used office furniture.  Contact them for details 412-268-3301.

Scrap Metal

Scrap metal items collected for scrap can include *air conditoning units, *refrigerators, metal desks, shelves, chairs, building materials, lab equipment, fax machines, printer & copier machines, motors, pumps, valves and pipes.  *Please generate an FMS work order to pick up and reclaim the refrigerent from air conditioning units and refrigerators prior to disposal.  

Recycle methods;

-Place a work order to schedule a pick up with Facilities Management
-Drop off scrap metal near the Facilities Management Building by Wean Hall (next to the salt bin on Roberts Drive).
-Students contact housing facilitiy coordinator to request a work order.

Household Chemical Waste Collections

To learn more about these collections in the region.

City of Pittsburgh Recycling

Find out what you can recycle & drop off locations in the city.

Earth 911

Input a zip code to find where you can recycle certain items where you live.

For more information on sustainability resources in our region and beyond visit the Sustainability Resources Page