Recycling, Compost & Waste

As you get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends, family and food, a little preparation can go a long way in avoiding wasted food. Nearly a third of all food produced in the U.S. ends up being thrown out. Don't let your holiday feast be part of the problem - shop with a menu in mind, and check your fridge to see if you have any food which needs to be used before it goes bad. After you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, keep those leftovers for delicious meals instead of throwing them out.

For over seven years, the University Book Store has been supporting campus sustainability through its plastic bag recycling program. Although standard plastic bags are banned in Seattle, the University Book Store uses bags made with a thicker plastic, which is allowed. The plastic in the book store bags is at least 2.25 mil thick (one mil is equal to one-thousandth of an inch), which allows the bags to be more easily reused and eventually recycled.

Throughout October, be sure and use your reusable mug for coffee on campus. Not only will it cut consumption and waste - you'll also help UW move the national leaderboard!

During the month of October, the University of Washington is part of the national "Kill the Cup" University Challenge, a campaign to reduce waste from disposable coffee cups by promoting reusable cups. The schools which have the highest rate of reusable cup use and social awareness will earn grants for sustainability projects on campus.

The Odegaard Undergraduate Library recently revamped its restroom and public area waste diversion practices in order to help support sustainability on campus.

Volunteers needed to give away free compost bins during student move-in! 

Looking to make a difference in UW campus sustainability? Volunteer with UW Recycling to give away free compost bins to incoming students at the UW campus apartments. UW Recycling will be tabling outside of Mercer Court, Stevens Court, and Cedar apartments during student move-in. We need volunteers to help educate new and returning apartment residents about recycling and composting at UW and offer residents a free compost bin for their apartment.

Do good for the environment, earn money for your RSO, and get into football games for free!

UW Recycling and Intercollegiate Athletics are looking for a reliable and environmentally aware student organization to provide recycling outreach to tailgaters prior to each home football game. The shift is 3-5 hours, depending on game start time, and a minimum of 6 volunteers per game is required. You will be walking throughout the parking lots to distribute recycling bags to tailgaters, promote recycling, and answer questions.

As a result of UW Recycling’s annual waste diversion event known as SCRAM (Students Cleanup, Recycle and Moveout), the University of Washington’s Seattle campus donated a grand total of 28.7 tons of reusable items to local charities and non-profit organizations, a 60% increase from 17.9 tons in 2014.

Don’t know what to do with your old or damaged clothes? Don't throw them away - many thrift stores, dropboxes and other locations in the area will take them and reuse or recycle them, reducing waste in the landfill.

It doesn't matter if the clothes are ripped, stained, or otherwise damaged - find the nearest donation location instead of putting them in the trash.

Graduation is just around the corner, which means it’s time for UW Recycling to gear up for two annual waste diversion events: Students Cleanup, Recycle and Moveout (SCRAM) and Husky Neighborhood Cleanup. Both programs capture unwanted items from thousands of students as they move out of residence halls and the north campus community that is home to Greek Row.

The University of Washington’s Seattle campus earned a spot on the list of top 20 schools in RecycleMania, a national collegiate waste diversion tournament. For the first time in the University’s three years of participation, UW finished 17th overall with a recycling rate of nearly 63%. Additionally, the University surpassed other Pac-12 schools by 20% in total waste diversion, which includes both recycling and composting.