Your Guide to Demystifying Recycling at BU
You may wonder, “Why does this item with a recycling symbol not go into the recycling bin?” Or “I didn’t realize this could be recycled.” It can be confusing, but we are here to help demystify recycling and help you better sort your waste.
In Massachusetts, we have one of the best recycling systems in the country. The optical sorters at recycling facilities separate the items you place in one of the blue mixed recycling bins. This high-tech equipment separates glass bottles from paper, cardboard from cans, and plastics from metals.
While this technology can help ensure we separate items at recycling facilities, it is just as important for us to recycle right and place items into the correct bin! When recycling, remember to remove contaminants such as food waste and wrappers from ending up in the recycling.
At BU, we have mixed recycling bins around campus! At these bins, signs detail what you can and can’t put into recycling, but a few items may surprise you to find are or are not recyclable. Something that might be recyclable elsewhere may not be in Massachusetts or vice-versa.
What You Can Put in the Mixed Recycling Bin:
Always recycle your glass, plastic, or metal bottles, cans, jugs, jars, and tubs – make sure they are clean and don’t have any food waste in them. Anything larger than a credit card is good to go! And remember to put the lid or cap back on before putting it into the bin.
Always recycle paper and cardboard products, including pizza boxes. Until a few years ago, we could not recycle pizza boxes in MA because of concern over the leftover cheese and grease found in boxes. Now, we can recycle these boxes, including those with grease!
What You Can’t Put in the Mixed Recycling Bin
Hot coffee cups
Even though hot coffee cups look like they are all paper, they have a thin plastic or wax lining in them, preventing the cups from being sorted properly at the recycling facility. Ditch the disposables and bring a reusable mug to coffee shops around campus (most of them have discounts for reusables).
Shredded paper
At recycling facilities, shredded paper can end up floating to the floor or turn to pulp after getting wet. BU has two Shred + Recycle Events per year, where BU brings in shredding trucks that securely destroy sensitive documents while also recycling the shredded paper.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags, including grocery bags, cannot be recycled in mixed recycling bins. They can tangle the equipment and cause malfunction. Many stores, including most grocery stores, have receptacles to recycle grocery bags. Ditch those plastic bags altogether, and bring a reusable one when shopping!
Black and Dark-Colored Plastic
Black and other dark-colored plastics cannot be recycled. The optical sorters bounce a beam of light off them. Black and dark-colored plastics absorb this light and cannot be sorted correctly. Place black and dark-colored plastic in the trash bin.
Cartons (juice, milk, soup)
Cartons are made of multiple layers of plastic and paper. To be recycled, they must be sent to a special facility that can separate the layers.
Batteries
Batteries are a serious fire hazard at recycling facilities, and you cannot recycle them in a mixed recycling bin. BU has several battery drop-off bins on campus. Find the closest location to you here!
If you are curious to know if something is recyclable, check out Recycle Smart MA’s Recyclopedia – an encyclopedia of recycling in Massachusetts.
