Recycling Opportunities

Princeton University promotes reuse and recycling of unneeded materials. A summary of the most common recyclable materials is available on the Office of Sustainability website. Receptacles for mixed paper, bottles and cans, and batteries are available upon request through Building Services (609-258-8000). The following is a partial list of recycling opportunities for campus-generated materials, along with the person to contact for more information.

The programs listed below serve the Princeton campus community only. No outside or privately-generated material may be brought to campus for recycling/processing.

ItemProcedureContact
Anti-freezeCollected by Garage or EHSMichael Hutchinson (Garage) or Stanley Howell (EHS)

Batteries

  • Lithium
  • Alkaline
  • Magnesium
  • Mercury
  • Nickel Cadmium
  • Lead Acid
Rechargeable batteries collected by EHS in white receptacles; lead-acid batteries placed in large blue drums to be collected by Interstate Battery.EHS
Automobile batteriesCollected by Electric Shop or GarageKen Grayson (Electric) or Michael Hutchinson (Garage)
ComputersResource RecoveryDaron Groce, (Resource Recovery)
Concrete and asphaltSpecial recyclerRobin Perkins (Facilities Building Services)
Electronic equipmentMust go through Resource RecoveryDaron Groce (Resource Recovery)
Food - UneatenDonated to local soup kitchensDonna Pilenza (Campus Dining)
Food WastesUsed for animal feedRobin Perkins (Facilities Building Services)
Fluorescent bulbs containing mercuryLabeled/Marked bulb boxes collected by Building ServicesFacilities Work Order (609-258-8000)
**Loading Dock Service Program

Glass, Aluminum and Plastic

  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Detergent/softener containers
  • Aluminum, steel, tin cans
  • Plastic drink bottles
  • Empty chemical containers
  • Paper juice and milk cartons
  • Juice boxes
  • Yogurt containers
*Mixed Recycling Bins (Bottles/Cans/Paper)Robin Perkins (Facilities Building Services)
Lead shieldingThrough EHS - redistribute to other labs or universitiesEHS
Mercury and mercury-containing equipmentCollected with chemical waste or by appointmentEHS
OilCollected with chemical waste or may be brought to GarageEHS or Michael Hutchinson (Garage)

Paper

  • Brown paper bags
  • All office paper
  • Cardboard
  • Envelopes
  • Magazines
  • Manila Folders
  • Magazines
  • Paperback books
  • Phone books
  • Post-Its
*Mixed Recycling Bins (Bottles/Cans/Paper)Robin Perkins (Facilities Building Services)
PalletsArrange through Building ServicesFacilities Work Order (609-258-8000)
**Loading Dock Service Program
Pipette tip containersCollected by Molecular Biology for Fisher ScientificBill Huston (Molecular Biology)
Scrap metalsSpecial arrangement with Building ServicesFacilities Work Order (609-258-8000)
**Loading Dock Service Program
Soldering scrapsCollect with hazardous wasteEHS
TiresCollected by GarageMichael Hutchinson (Garage)
TransparenciesMay be sent to 3M-Gemark for recycling (does not have to be a 3M product)3M

*See Office of Sustainability website for more information (here)

**Loading Dock Service provided to all University loading docks

Resources

Staff

Facilities Building Services
609-258-3490

Environmental Health and Safety
609-258-5294