Georgetown uses a single-stream recycling system, which means all common recyclable materials (with the exception of corrugated cardboard) should be placed in the same bin. This shift is meant to make recycling simpler for our University community members and reduce contamination in the waste stream. Please help Georgetown recycle properly by always following the labels on the bins!

Leo’s has become the go-to destination for composting in the Georgetown community since March 2023. The Leo O’Donovan (Leo’s) dining hall at the Main Campus offers a convenient space for composting waste. Here, not only can you compost the remains of your recent meal, but you can also contribute by bringing compost from your residential halls.

As of August 2023, each residential hall is now equipped with updated recycling bins featuring clear signage. This positive change was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Georgetown Sustainability Office and the Planning and Facilities Management Offices, who joined forces over the summer to enhance the recycling infrastructure across campus.

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.

Recycling Sign

Trash Sign

Compost Sign

Cardboard Sign

*All recyclable materials MUST be clean and empty*

• Unwaxed Cups and Containers
• Flattened Cardboard (not corrugated) – must be flattened and placed in designated cardboard recycling areas
• Milk, Juice, & Soup Cartons
• Books, including Phone Books
• Junk Mail & Office Paper

*All recyclable materials MUST be clean and empty*

• Cups and Containers
• Bottles & Lids
• Bulky Items
• 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.

*All recyclable materials MUST be clean and empty*

• Steel & Aluminum
• Bottles/Cans/Containers

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. 

The Office of Sustainability, in partnership with The Planning and Facilities Management Department, has recently launched a battery recycling pilot. Battery recycling boxes are located across campus in the LXR lobby, the Healy Family Student Center, the Kennedy Hall Lobby, the PFM copy room, the Environmental Health and Safety Office, and the Student Services Center. Learn more about how you can recycle batteries at Georgetown

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

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.

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!

Georgetown REUSE collects clothing at most locations of The Corp. 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.

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!)

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

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.

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

University computers are recycled through UIS. Contact your departmental tech staff or call the UIS Help Desk to initiate this. More information is available here: https://uis.georgetown.edu/computers/replacement-program/disposal

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.

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 (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Georgetown’s Recycling Department coordinates the recycling activities in all academic, administrative and residential areas on campus and in all University owned off-campus housing and office facilities. In addition to providing pick-up from the various recycling containers around campus, Georgetown’s Recycling Center in the Harbin Hall Garage can receive and process many specialized materials for recycling and/or proper disposal. These materials include rechargeable batteries, CFL bulbs, toner cartridges, electronics (including computers, cell phones, printers, etc), and common household non-hazardous materials such as cardboard, furniture, paints, and metal (see below for details). The recycling center is open for drop off of materials from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday and by special appointment.

Georgetown University also operates and/or cooperates with several special programs for collection of paper, “reuse” of furniture, and donations of clothing and cells phones for reuse. See the descriptions of these programs below to learn how to participate or contribute.

Recycling containers for the most common types of materials for recycling (cans, bottles, and paper) are provided in each building, on each floor, and other locations around campus. Please help make our recycling process as efficient as possible by using the appropriately labeled containers for each type of material. Resorting materials wastes both time and money.

For any question regarding recycling or the proper disposal of waste, please contact the Recycling Office at 202-687-2033. If we can’t answer your question, we’ll at least get you to someone who can.

Facilities Management
(202) 687-3432
Submit a Work Order

Call Special Events at x7-3881 to request recycling containers. If you will be serving food and beverages in recyclable containers, feel free to make an announcement directing guests to the recycling facilities. Ensure that you coordinate with your catering servers so they use the bins properly, and ensure that whoever is involved with clean-up empties the containers into an official recycling station at the event’s end.