The need to reduce waste, cut costs, and promote "green" efforts is quickly becoming a way of life for many students and faculty members. It is a perfect time to improve the recycling and trash systems before next school year. 59% of students surveyed by The Princeton Review indicated that a college/universities commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school. A new class of students will be coming back to campus, and then the next group will begin to tour and apply to colleges in the fall. By running a school-wide recycling program, you can help ensure that the amount of trash that ends up in landfills is reduced, and that recyclable items are turned into new products.
Promoting environmental stewardship is important to sustainable practices and dedication to waste management. We have provided our school and university customers with attractive, durable and cost-effective recycling containers and bins. We offer a wide variety of College Campus Recycling Containers and have an extensive selection of:
Recycling Bins for Administrative Offices
Recycling Bins for Outdoor Spaces
Your first stop should be at our Campus Recycling page. Once you've had a chance to browse some options, here are four tips that can help you build a successful recycling program for your college or university:
1. Put Recycling Bins in Accessible Places
Having recycling bins in the right places can make all the difference when it comes to getting students to recycle. Placing recycling bins in residence halls is a great place to start, and having the right recycling containers can make all the difference. The Simple Sort recycling bin collection offers customizable recycling stations, which can include bins for bottles & cans, organic compostables, paper, and other trash. The Kaleidoscope collection offers attractive, customizable recycling station options as well, with bins that can handle recyclables, trash, paper, and cans & bottles.
Beyond the residence halls, dining halls, faculty lounges, and outdoor spaces are also vital for an effective recycling program. For dining halls a recycling station with a tray holder can increase accessibility, for example the Sessanta Triple 69 Gallon Station is a great option. Faculty lounges call for sleek systems, choose a bin from The Aristata Collection. Outdoor bins need to be durable, without sacrificing the aesthetics of the campus. The Sustainability Collections offers outdoor bins that can withstand any weather, be customized to match your unique campus, and promote effective recycling.
2. Reflect Your School's Spirit and Aesthetic
When you're considering introducing recycling bins to your school's campus, choosing bins that reflect the look and feel of your school's campus can make them an aesthetically pleasing part of your school's environment. For campuses with a more classical look and architectural style, the Aristata collection offers schools recycling bins that blend in well with a more traditionally-styled campus. Should your campus have a modern edge, then the Precision collection provides schools with recycling bins that have a sleek, modern design.
Many containers come with free, customizable graphic designs, providing your school's campus with recycling bins that are as eye-catching as they are eco-friendly.
3. Provide Sustainable and Functional Recycling Options
The point of providing recycling bins on your school campus is to offer students sustainable ways to dispose of their waste. An important aspect of this is the functionality of your recycling bins. The Stadium collection is a great option for areas like football stadiums, campus plazas, and other large areas that need to be able to handle a large amount of foot traffic. Other large-capacity recycling bins, such as the ErgoCan XL with Dome Lid, are able to handle high volumes of recyclables.
4. Signage for Instruction
Students want to do the right thing; therefore, genuine confusion is commonly the cause of contamination. Contaminants are often items like candy wrappers, gum wrappers, and “paper-like” items such as napkins and wax-coated paper cups. Signage for waste streams that delineates what items can be placed in each waste stream receptacle directly above its corresponding bin decreases the amount of contamination by 54%. Choose Spectrum with Signs to help guide recyclers in the right direction through clear signage.
Choosing a waste system with clear signage removes the guesswork, making recycling easier to understand.
