Recycling is the easiest and most effective way to act in an eco-friendly manner. You can do your part for the earth everyday simply by recycling your bottles, cans, paper and more. Boston College has made it even easier for you by providing the proper waste receptacles in popular areas around campus. You may also have noticed the new sorting system in McElroy as of the spring semester 2008. Click here to learn more about it.
See information below to see what you can recycle and where, and watch the following six minute video that shows where BC's recycled material is processed.
What's Being Recycled on Campus
PAPER
Paper of any color, size, or type - newspapers, magazines, file folders, copy paper, junk mail, cardboard, pizza boxes (so long as the leftovers are eaten first), you name it! - can be recycled on campus. Remember: “If you can rip it, you can recycle it.” However, used paper towels, napkins and tissues cannot be recycled. In every residence hall and all around campus (including the dining halls and libraries) you can find bins for “Mixed Office Paper” (usually maroon or blue) where these items may be placed. Help save space in the bins for your friends and neighbors by breaking apart boxes before recycling them.
Although bath tissues and paper hand towels cannot be recycled, Boston College recently converted to using new EcoLogo certified bathroom tissue and hand towels from Kruger Products. Four types of bath tissue and paper towels are currently in use in restrooms across campus, and the GreenQuality promise assures that the products are manufactured under the highest possible sustainability standard. The products in use contain 100% recycled fiber (RF) and 88% post-consumer (PC) content. Furthermore, all of the shipping cartons are 100% RF and all products and packaging contain no lead or other heavy metals. The products in use meet or exceed the EPA's Leadership in Environmental Efficiency and Design (LEED) program, created by the US Green Building Council.
Glass & Plastic
Just about every plastic, metal, or glass container can be recycled on campus. Everything except Styrofoam and plastic bags can be recycled. Water bottles, soda cans, tuna cans, or iced tea bottles can be tossed into the “Commingled Only” containers (usually green) found throughout campus and in the residence halls, or into the black trash cans labeled “Bottles & Cans” found in the Dust Bowl and other outdoor areas.
RECYCLING TOTES
BC recycling totes have made their way to the dorms! All rooms on campus will have personal recycling totes and suites will have an additional bin to encourage even more recycling on campus. This will make it easier for students to recycle in their rooms, and then bring the material to the proper receptacles located in each residential building.
USED INK CARTRIDGES & BATTERIES
When its time to replace the ink in your printer, bring the used cartridge down to your building’s laundry room and place it in a white box on the wall labeled “Ink Cartridge Recycling.” While you’re at it, bring along those dead batteries from your camera and toss them into the white “Battery Box” next to the “Ink Cartridge Recycling” box.
When batteries are not disposed of properly, they end up in landfills or are incinerated. As batteries decay in landfills, the metals within them that are potentially toxic, such as mercury, cadmium and nickel, can leach into the ground and contaminate local drinking water and fish. If the batteries are incinerated, they may cause vaporization into the air of metals such as mercury. Other metals, such as cadmium and lead, can concentrate in the ash produced.
For more information on recycling batteries on campus click here. To dispose of Laser Printer Toners, click here and fill out the appropriate forms.
COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS
Not sure what to do with that old busted printer? Bring it to Information Technology Services (ITS) and have them recycle it for you. For more information see our “Out with the Old” section of our Information Technology Page or visit our Special Recycling page
FOOD WASTE
Couldn’t finish that plate of pasta or chicken parm last night at dinner? BC Dining Services will compost those leftovers to help reduce your impact on the environment. See our Dining Services page for further information.
Cleansweep
Cleansweep is one of the many ways Boston College helps the environment by reducing waste, recycling and reusing. It provides a way for students living on lower campus to give away items that are still good, but that they cannot or do not want to bring home for the summer. It allows members of Boston College to connect with and support the Greater Boston community in a thoughtful, respectful, meaningful and helpful manner.
Read the BCM article RECYCLED: The Things They Leave Behind or the Chronicle’s take in Around Campus: Making a Cleansweep of it
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Boston College recycles as much as possible when beginning work on new projects, or when renovating older buildings. Material used or being replaced in construction projects is specified to be energy saving, especially for certain types of mechanical equipment. Recycling goals for future large-scale projects are projected to be around 85%.
CARPET RECYCLING
Boston College has recently introduced a new carpet recycling program, which has enjoyed substantial success during renovation projects that require carpet replacement. Not only was the amount of waste carpet ending up in landfill reduced, Boston College was also able to gain value added services from Allied Waste, the waste management company. It turns out that effective segregation and recycling of waste benefits waste management providers as well. Allied Waste provided the carpet containers as well as the trash and recycle totes in the Mods free of charge.
Recycling at Boston College
To learn more about the Recycling Program at Boston College, including recycling in the residence halls, recycling videos and other related links, please click here.
Watch this Slide Show on Recycling at Boston College.
See what Residential Life has to say about recycling in the halls.
The Boston College Law Library also encourages recycling.
Start your own recycling center in your dorm! Set up containers or boxes for you and your roommates to place appropriate recyclables. At the end of the week it will be easier to carry the boxes down the hall and into the proper container.
If you don’t have recycling in your dorm and would like to start a program, please call 617-552-0338.
Recycling Contests
What better way to encourage recycling than through a friendly competition? Visit our Recycling Contests page to see the latest events and winners.
Boston College Recycling Facts
Boston College collaborates with the Institutional Recycling Network (IRN) to properly reuse and dispose of various materials. The IRN was established by and for recyclers to address the numerous issues they face – large numbers of materials recycled, distance to markets, multiple vendors to identify and manage, never-ending paperwork, limited processing and storage capabilities, limited budgets. The company helps simplify the recycling process and improves the economics of recycling. The IRN also helps Boston College compile statistics on the amount of campus recycling.
Throughout 2007, there have been a number of renovation projects on campus. As much as possible, the replaced construction material was recycled through the IRN.
BC & The Red Sox
Boston College is one of several universities participating in Fenway Park's Green Team. Read the following articles for more information.
MLB.com - Mar. 11, 2008 - Baseball Makes Pitch to go Green
The Heights - Apr. 7, 2008 - UGBC, Red Sox Unite
The Green Daily - Apr. 22, 2008 - Boston Red Sox Celebrate Earth Day
Where Can I Recycle My...
PLASTIC BAGS
Do you have a pile of plastic bags hiding somewhere? Many local grocery stores have a drop off location for plastic bags. Check with the grocer you frequent, or visit one of the following locations:
Starmarket/Shaws:
1065 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA 02115 617-783-5878
1717 Beacon St., Brookline MA 02445 (617) 566-1802
33 Kilmarnock Street, Boston MA 02215 617-267-4684
Trader Joe’s
1317 Beacon Street, Brookline MA 02446 Phone: 617-278-9997
748 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 02139 Phone: 617-491-8582
899 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02115 Phone: 617-262-6505
PERSONAL ELECTRONICS
Not sure what to do with that old TV now that you have a new high power, HDTV? What about those old light bulbs? Fortunately, many companies are accepting back their older products for recycling. Sony and Best Buy are some of the companies that allow you to bring in, drop off, or mail in used electronic equipment. See a list of companies with take back programs, courtesy of The Electronics TakeBack Coalition or from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. If you are unsure how to recycle your electronics, it’s always best to return to the manufacture for details.
Ever wonder what to do with your old VHS tapes? Keep them from ending up in a landfill by sending them to Alternative Community Training, a nonprofit Missouri company that provides jobs to people with disabilities. Workers erase the tapes, reselling the ones that are in good chape and recycling the plastic parts of the rest. They've recycled more than 1 million tapes so far! Mail tapes (at the cheaper USPS media mail rate) to ACT, 2200 Burlington, Columbia, MO 65202. Information thanks to Arianne Cohen at womansday.com.
Other organizations have formed specifically to facilitate electronics recycling. Examples include ElectronicsRecycling.com, Earth 911, and EPA Bulb Recycling. These sites help you find a local recycling drop off center, advertise recycling events, and tell you what can and cannot be recycled. Although it may take a few extra steps to recycle your electronics and gadgets, the toxins prevented from going into landfills as the equipment decays will help secure the environment and humanity’s longevity.
CATALOGS
The easiest way to recycle catalogs is not to have them delivered in the first place. If you receive unwanted catalogs, cancel them to save on trees, printing, recycling and landfill space. Fourth Grade students at Park School are challenging you to cancel your catalog subscriptions. Have the students tell you how to do this in Ted Wells Catablog or visit CatalogChoice.org for more information.
Reducing & Reusing
Although recycling is important, it’s only one part of the famous trio. Recycling can be easier since it’s similar to throwing something away, just putting it in a different bin. However, there are many opportunities in a day to help the environment by reducing waste or reusing materials. See more information provided by the EPA on Municipal Solid Waste.
REDUCE
Reducing waste often starts with reducing consumption. This implies purchasing durable goods that are made of recycled materials, do not contain hazardous material, and have minimum packaging. The Natural Resources Defense Council offers more tips for how you can reduce your impact on the environment, or visit iVillage
Another easy way to reduce waste is to cancel catalog subscriptions. If you receive unwanted catalogs, canceling them saves on trees, printing, recycling and landfill space. Fourth Grade students at The Park School are challenging you to cancel your catalog subscriptions. Have the students tell you how to do this in Ted Wells Catablog or visit CatalogChoice.org for more information.
Many municipalities don't accept catalogs as part of their recycling program so find a second home for them. Keep them out of the landfill by dropping them off at a local hospital, assisted living home, senior residence facility or school (they use them for art classes and other projects). It's the next best thing.
You can also reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by visiting DMA Consumers and following the steps on their site.
REUSE
By reusing materials you’re recycling the product while reducing your waste. Reusing products can be easy and fun if you’re creative about it. Try these simple tips:
- Use china instead of take out containers if you don’t plan on eating somewhere else. This is one of the main goals of the McElroy Sorting System.
- Refill a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water, juices, or soda.
- Use decorate newspaper to wrap a present instead of wrapping paper.
- Donate old clothes or electronics, so long as they’re still in good condition.
More Recycling Information
For information related to recycling in your community, please see our Community Resources Page.
Watch this "Recycling Rocks" Video by a Boston College Alumnus.
Ever wonder what those funny numbers mean on the bottom of plastic products? They're called Resin Identification Codes, and the American Chemistry Council website provides an excellent definition, along with a chart describing these codes. They also provide tips for recycling plastics.
Interested in reading more about current recycling trends? See the following sites for recycling magazines.
Resource Recycling
Recycling Today
Waste Age
BioCycle