Sustainability

• Consider digital vs. printing to eliminate unnecessary paper and ink waste
• Purchase sustainable office supplies such as refillable pens, reuse previous supplies vs. buying new ones, and make use of scrap paper for notes.
• Buy items with recycled content to reduce the need for new materials to be used. This includes items such as paper and office supplies.
• Consider reusing packing paper and old boxes when shipping or transporting items.
• Consider reusable bags and paper bags over plastic when transporting items and for promotional giveaways. Certified compostable bag options are also preferred to plastic, but it is suggested for reusable bags first.
• Seek alternatives to coffee pods such as a refillable pod for coffee grounds. Using a common area coffee pot vs. single pods will save money, energy, and waste.
• Bring a reusable water bottle or mug instead of disposable
  • A reusable mug can be used at dining locations to reduce waste.
  • There is at least one refillable water station in each building on main campus and can be found on the Sustainability map.
• Use the reusable to-go containers available in The Commons and Regattas dining halls to reduce the need for single-use materials
• Communicate with others in your department on how you can work together to reduce and reuse.

• Recognize the recycling bins: Recycle bins have a slot and circle “saturn” opening or have the word “recycle” on them. Recycling bins on campus also use a clear bag to distinguish them from trash bins, which use a black bag. Place recycling items only in the clear bags to ensure proper collection.
• Recycle empty bottles, cans, paper and cardboard in recycling bins on campus.
• Ensure recyclables are clean of food residue and empty of any liquids.
• Know the items that are not accepted in recycling bins, as these are considered contamination:
  • Please do not include disposable take-out containers, pizza boxes, plastics other than bottles and jugs. These items should be placed in a trash receptacle.
• Use the warehouse surplus form for items such as furniture, electronics, ink cartridges, and batteries or alert your supervisor or manager
  • Contact IT services and then the warehouse to recycle computers and electronics with sensitive information. Alert your supervisor or manager of these items for proper procedures.
• Recycle hard-to-recycle items in three designated blue bins on campus. These items include plastic bags, ink cartridges, and batteries can be recycled in following locations:
  • DSU (2nd floor): at the top of the stairs take a right to the student lounge
  • Freeman Center: by Warwick Boulevard Entrance
  • Trible Library (2nd floor): by the Media Center in the copier enclave
• Inform others in your department about proper recycling methods and reach out to Brian Kelley, Sustainability Specialist, for training and informational sessions. Please email brian.kelley@cnu.edu.

Staff and supervisors responsible for the collection of trash and recyclables shall be aware of proper procedures for recycling collection and contamination determination: please review the Recycling Collection Protocol.