What Materials Can Be Recycled on Campus?

How Do I Recycle a Particular Type of Item?

Click any link in the box above to jump to that particular material. Or, scroll down for a complete list of recyclable items, alphabetical by type of material. Additional information on reusing, repairing, or donating items can be found at Reuse DC.

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are considered “comingled recyclables” and can be placed in any recycling station or solar-powered Big Belly containers, in the bin labeled “Cans” or “Glass / Plastic / Cans.” Please empty out aluminum cans before recycling them. 

Note: For recycling in Residence Halls please do not place your recyclable items inside bags – instead, place them directly into the lined, central recycling bins provided on your floor. For apartments and townhouses, place your recyclable items only in clear bags or empty them directly into the outdoor recycling toters. Recyclable items in black or opaque bags cannot be visually inspected for contamination by Georgetown recycling staff and will be treated as trash.

Bicycles

Bicycles are accepted for donation as part of the annual Move Out Drive.

Cardboard

All types of cardboard, including corrugated cardboard boxes for shipping and packing, as well as non-corrugated cardboard (such as cereal boxes and shoe boxes) are recyclable. Corrugated cardboard can be recycled by flattening the box and placing next to any indoor recycling station. (Non-corrugated cardboard can be recycled in any bin labeled “paper.”) Please clean food-scraps, cheese and any other material out of pizza boxes before placing them to be recycled with cardboard.

Cell Phones

Old cell phones and PDAs (including their batteries and peripheral items like cords) can be recycled using the same process for computers. Make sure to remove all your personal information and data before recycling your old phone!

Clothing

Georgetown REUSE collects clothing in the lobbies of Kennedy and McCarthy Halls. You may also contact a local charity organization to schedule a pickup or drop-off of gently used clothing, or wait until the annual Move Out Drive each May to donate your clothing.  More information about recycling clothing in DC can be found at ReThread DC.

Coffee Cups

If your coffee cup is made of unwaxed paper and has a plastic lid, simply take the lid off, recycle the lid with plastics, and place the empty paper cup and clutch in the paper bin. If the cup is made of Styrofoam, most likely it cannot be recycled and must go in the trash. However, if printed on the bottom of the foam cup is a #7 inside the “three arrows” recycling logo, it is recyclable with plastics. (The best option is, of course, to bring a re-usable, stainless steel to-go mug!)

Note: For recycling in Residence Halls please do not place your recyclable items inside bags – instead, place them directly into the lined, central recycling bins provided on your floor. For apartments and townhouses, place your recyclable items only in clear bags or empty them directly into the outdoor recycling toters. Recyclable items in black or opaque bags cannot be visually inspected for contamination by Georgetown recycling staff and will be treated as trash.

Computers and Related Electronics

Students can recycle your old computers through Facilities Management, which sends discarded computers to be recycled at a certified facility. University computers are recycled through UIS.

Student Computers

Students can recycle your personal laptops and desktops, as well as external hard drives, other data-storing devices, and other electronics, by dropping your items off at the Regents Hall Garage. The Regents Hall Garage is located on the 1st floor of Regents past the elevators, through the double doors, and down the hallway. There are large containers labeled for computers and peripherals. For further information contact Renad Uri at renad.uri@georgetown.edu.

Remember to back up any data you wish to keep before recycling your computer!

University Computers

Faculty, staff and students can recycle the following types of electronics:

  • Flat Monitors
  • CRT Monitors (Cathode Ray Tube)
  • All Televisions (CRT/DLP/LCD/LED,
  • Magnetic Data Tape Cartridges
  • Mixed Media (Recorded CDs, DVDs)
  • Floppy Disks, VHS tapes, etc.)
  • Large Copiers, Printers, Plotters

To recycle household and office electronics:

  • Then, please submit a work order through Facilities Work Management to request a pick-up for the items at your office. There may be a small fee for pick up.
  • OR, you can deliver the items to the Regents Hall Garage and place them in the large containers marked for electronics.

Working electronics in good shape with all cords and parts can also be donated through the annual Move Out Drive.

Electronics

See “Computers and Related” Electronics above

Furniture (Students)

Students who wish to donate their surplus personal furniture at the end of the academic year can participate in the annual Move Out drive, which collects unwanted, reusable items in good condition to donate to charity.

Glass Bottles

Glass bottles (beverage and other containers) are considered “common recyclables” and can be tossed in any blue recycling station and in the solar-powered Big Belly containers, in the bin labeled “bottles” or “Glass / Plastic / Cans.” Types of glass include juice, soda, Snapple, and water bottles. Glass food jars are acceptable. Please empty out the containers before recycling these items.

Note: For recycling in Residence Halls please do not place your recyclable items inside bags – instead, place them directly into the lined, central recycling bins provided on your floor. For apartments and townhouses, place your recyclable items only in clear bags or empty them directly into the outdoor recycling toters. Recyclable items in black or opaque bags cannot be visually inspected for contamination by Georgetown recycling staff and will be treated as trash.

Ink Jet and Toner Cartridges

Ink-jet and toner cartridges can be recycled through the Xerox Green World Alliance program: https://www.xerox.com/about-xerox/recycling/enus.html?CMP=VAC-GWA . Xerox will accept any brand of toner cartridges in their Eco-Boxes.

Metal (Bulk)

Georgetown can provide for the recycling of all types of bulk metal including mixed steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, brass, copper, machinery and equipment. Please place a Work Order through Facilities Management to arrange for pick up and disposal.

Newspaper

See Paper (Mixed / Office), below.

Paper (Confidential)

Papers of a sensitive or confidential nature must be shredded prior to being recycled. Currently, this is handled through a private a shredding company and administered through the Planning and Facilities Management Department. The cost of shredding is charged to the office that utilizes the service based on the amount of paper being discarded.  To set up a one-time confidential shredding pick-up please place a Work Request through Facilities Management. To set up a recurring shredding service, please contact the Planning and Facilities Management Business Office at 202-687-7553.

Paper (Mixed/ Office Paper)

Any paper that doesn’t need to be shredded is considered “common disposables” and can be tossed in any blue recycling station and in the solar-powered Big Belly containers, in the bin labeled “paper.” Acceptable types of paper include white and colored copier paper, legal pad paper, file folders, coated and construction paper, magazines, paperback books, telephone books, newspapers, and paper coffee cups.

Note: For recycling in Residence Halls please do not place your recyclable items inside bags – instead, place them directly into the lined, central recycling bins provided on your floor. For apartments and townhouses, place your recyclable items only in clear bags or empty them directly into the outdoor recycling toters. Recyclable items in black or opaque bags cannot be visually inspected for contamination by Georgetown recycling staff and will be treated as trash.

Plastic Bottles & Containers

Plastic bottles and other plastic containers are considered “common recyclables” and can be tossed in any blue recycling station or in the solar-powered Big Belly containers, in the bin labeled “bottles” or “Glass / Plastic / Cans.” All numbered plastic containers are acceptable, such as plastic drink bottles, shampoo, liquid soap containers, plastic food cartons, plastic silverware, coffee lids. Food containers with no food residue. Please empty out the containers before recycling these items.

Note: For recycling in Residence Halls please do not place your recyclable items inside bags – instead, place them directly into the lined, central recycling bins provided on your floor. For apartments and townhouses, place your recyclable items only in clear bags or empty them directly into the outdoor recycling toters. Recyclable items in black or opaque bags cannot be visually inspected for contamination by Georgetown recycling staff and will be treated as trash.

Note: For information about proper disposal of hazardous waste items, please visit https://safety.georgetown.edu/ and https://ehs.georgetown.edu/.