Recycling

Mission Statement The Rochester Institute of Technology Recycling Department exists to actively promote proper waste management through Recycling and Waste Minimization. We do this by developing solutions, initiatives, and educational programs that encourage sustainable behavior throughout the University in order to facilitate change in our Global community.



What is RIT doing?
RIT switches to Single Stream Recycling!

The Single Stream Recycling system is an easier way to recycle many different materials by combining them into just one container. This simplifies recycling!



• Complete List of Recyclable Materials

  • ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

    • All Colors of Glass
    • Glass Bottles of All Colors
    • Paper & Cardboard
    • Cardboard Pizza Boxes
    • Paperboard Cereal Boxes
    • Magazines & Newspapers
    • Office Paper & Junk Mail
    • Gable-Top Cartons
    • Metals – Aluminum, Steel, Tin
    • Aluminum Beer & Soda Cans
    • Steel Aerosol Cans
    • Tin Cans

    NOT ACCEPTABLE

    • Trash & Perishables
    • Plastic Bags & Wrap
    • Caps & Lids
    • Hazardous Materials
    ACCEPTABLE PLASTICS

    • 1 - PETE - Cups & Water Bottles
    • 2 - HDPE - Soda Bottles
    • 3 - V - Vinyl (PVC piping)
    • 4 - LDPE
    • 5 - PP - Polypropylene (Plastic Dishware)
    • 6 - PS - Polystyrene (Styrofoam)

    Please contact Environmental Health & Safety at 585-475-2040 to properly dispose of Hazardous and Universal Waste.

• Accomplishments

  • • Began accepting plastics #3-7 in addition to #1-2 in 2011
    • Created an updated RIT Recycling Department logo in 2011
    • Introduced new on-campus events to the annual RecycleMania agenda in 2011
    • Switched from separating recyclables to Single Stream Recycling in 2011
    • Participated in the 1st annual Student Environmental Summit in 2010
    • Major updates to the department in 2009 including a gain of over 300 recycling bins around campus
    • Participation in the RecycleMania Tournament since 2008
    • Collected over 12 tons of E-Waste to be recycled in 2008
    • Collected over 5 tons of Universal Waste to be recycled in 2007
    • Collected over 9 tons of E-Waste to be recycled in 2007
    • Became members of the NRC and NYSAR in 2003
    • Added over 300 new recycling bins around campus 2002
    • Start of the Recycling Program under FMS in 2000

• Current Initiatives

  • • Maintain accessibility of recycling bins in hallways to every 100 feet
    • To have consistent, reliable, and accurate educational programs to raise awareness about recycling at RIT
    • Benchmarking other universities and keeping up with our competition’s programs
    • Assisting student and faculty led organizations and groups with events involving recycling and sustainability
    • Committed to annual events for America Recycles Day, Earth Day, and RecycleMania
    • Event branding enhancement to make our events more identifiable
    • Exploring new methods of communication within the RIT Recycling Department to increase efficiency in the work place

• Goals

  • • To increase our average recycling rate to 50%
    • To host events involving recycling education and awareness throughout the academic year
    • To collaborate more with student, faculty, local organizations and groups

• RecycleMania!

  • Recyclemania is a 10-week nationwide competition between colleges and universities to promote waste reduction and recycling activities to their campus communities. Schools report recycling and trash data which are ranked according to various categories.

    To learn more about RecycleMania visit http://www.recyclemania.org

    RecycleMania 2011 Results

    

• Events

  • RecycleMania Kick-Off
    January 30, 2012
    

    Look for these events throughout the academic year 2011-12

    
    • Move in
    • America Recycles Day
    • E-Waste Recycling
    • Recyclemania Kickoff
    • Dorm Challenge
    • RecyclOlympics
    • Earth Day-Parade
    • ImagineRIT
    • Move Out

• Why Recycle?

  • • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The United States is one of the world’s largest trash producers, while over half of the garbage we throw out can be recycled!
    • Recycling prevents pollution caused by manufacturing of products using virgin materials!
    • Recycling conserves energy and natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals!
    
    • According to Recycling Facts by Weyerhaeuser, recycling 1 ton of paper saves about 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water, 165 gallons of gas, 580 pounds of air pollution, and 4 kWh of energy (enough to power 10, 40-watt CFL bulbs for 10 hours).
    • Therefore in 2011, RIT recycled over 190,000 pounds (95 tons) of paper - saving over 1615 trees, 665,000 gallons of water, 27.5 tons of air pollution, 380 kWh of energy, and 15,675 gallons of gas!

Additional Information

• EPA Site on Waste Statistics – Link: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal.index.htm
• EPA Site on Recycling – Link: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm
• EPA Site on Recyclable Materials – Link: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/index.htm
• Recycling Facts – Link: http://www.cityofinglewood.org/pdfs/pw/Recycling_Facts.pdf

What Can You Do?

• Remember to properly recycle!
• Look for the recycling bins conveniently located all around campus!
• Come to the RIT Recycling Events!

Meet The Recycling Team

The RIT Recycling Department operates under Facilities Management Services by a group of student workers. We appreciate the assistance of student and employee volunteers. Please contact us if you are interested in getting involved!