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Home >> Our Services >> Plant Services >> University Recycling

Washington State University Recycling will introduce Single Stream or Co-mingled recycling to the WSU Campus. The new system will be implemented incrementally between July 21st and the beginning of classes August 18th 2008. The major changes for users will be different labeling and the removal of the 3 color beverage collection containers from campus buildings. Most recyclable materials will be placed in a single "co-mingled" container. Large amounts of cardboard will still be collected separately because of the excessive bulk, but small amounts can be included in the comingled. Glass will also be collected separately, but not at all locations. We don’t generate enough glass on the campus to justify separate glass collection at all locations.

The program is just kicking off and it’s already clear that the term “Single Stream Recycling’ is creating some confusion. Especially given the fact that; we have chosen to collect some commodities separately (glass, corrugated cardboard and aluminum cans).

In its most literal sense, Single Stream recycling would collect all recyclables in a single container. Unfortunately there are a few items that do not work well as commingled materials so we have chosen to collect those items separately for people who wish to recycle some of the items that are not accepted as single stream.

• Glass - Glass will break during baling for shipment and would create a hazard for workers involved in sorting, so it is not accepted in single stream collections. We will still accept glass as a separate commodity for people who wish to recycle glass. Because of Glass’s low market value and the cost to ship to West Coast market; glass in this area is crushed and used as aggregate.

• Food Soiled Cardboard and Milk/Juice cartons – Food soiled papers create a health risk for workers and cannot be accepted as comingled. WSU recycling will collect Cardboard separately and Pizza boxes may be placed in with the cardboard. Milk and Juice cartons should be handled as trash.

• Cardboard – Cardboard is an acceptable item in Single Stream Recycling. However, the massive amounts we receive and the bulk of cardboard boxes would overwhelm containers. We will continue to provide a separate cardboard container for large quantities of cardboard. If you chose to put cardboard in the comingled containers; that is fine.

• Aluminum cans – Because of the value of Aluminum; we will have separate containers for Aluminum cans at selected locations. Aluminum cans are acceptable in Single Stream if you prefer to include them.
  
  Most of the remaining items that are not accepted in Single Stream Recycling are not currently accepted in most Recycling programs. #’s 5, 6 & 7 Plastics are actually considered contamination in most recycling end markets. We recommend not purchasing items packaged in these containers; if you do they should be placed in the trash, not the comingled recycling containers. To see the list items accepted and not accepted as single stream or comingled please go to.
   

Below is the list of items accepted and not accepted as Single Stream Public Recycling Station

Single-Stream Recycling Program